Find out how popular the last name Zabka is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zabka.

Zabka, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zabka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zabka in America

Zabka is the 74141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zabka surname appeared 261 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zabka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zabka to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zabka

The surname Zabka is of Slavic origin, specifically from regions that are now part of modern-day Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages, roughly around the 13th to 15th centuries, when surnames began to be solidified as hereditary identifiers in Slavic territories. The name is derived from the word "żabka," which in Polish means "little frog" or "young frog," likely used as a nickname for someone with a noticeable characteristic or trait likened to a frog, or perhaps someone who lived near wetlands or ponds.

Historical references to the surname Zabka can be found in various old records and manuscripts from the regions where it originated. For example, in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), church records from the late 15th century mention individuals with the surname Zabka involved in local governance and trade. In Poland, land records and tax documents from the 16th century also record the name Zabka, indicating its presence among the peasant and minor nobility classes.

The earliest recorded example of the name Zabka appears in a 1392 Bohemian manuscript detailing a boundary dispute between local lords, where a Jan Zabka of Plzen is noted as a witness. Another early instance is found in Polish court records from 1428, which mention a Wojciech Zabka being fined for a minor infraction. These examples show that the name was relatively widespread and recognized in these regions by the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

In terms of place names, there are villages and areas in Poland known as Żabki, which might share etymological roots with the surname Zabka. Likewise, in Slovakia, the surname Zabka has historical connections to small rural communities where the name has been preserved over generations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the surname Zabka. One of them is Jan Zabka, a 15th-century Czech merchant who played a crucial role in the local trade routes between Bohemia and Poland. Another is Katarzyna Zabka, a Polish midwife born in 1563, known for her contributions to rural healthcare. In the 18th century, we have Michal Zabka, a Slovak farmer who became a prominent community leader in his village. The 19th century saw the emergence of Pavel Zabka, a Czech writer and early nationalist, born in 1847 and died in 1908, who wrote extensively about Bohemian culture and history. Finally, in the early 20th century, a Polish soldier named Marek Zabka, who fought in World War I, was recognized for his bravery and decorated posthumously in 1918.

The surname Zabka, with its intriguing origins and historical presence in Central and Eastern Europe, reflects a rich cultural heritage tied to the regions' landscapes, folklore, and societal developments over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zabka

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zabka.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zabka was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zabka has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zabka was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zabka, please contact us.

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