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

Žabkar, 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 Žabkar surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Žabkar in America

Žabkar is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Žabkar surname appeared 103 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Žabkar.

The history of the last name Žabkar

The surname Zabkar originates from Slovenia and can be traced primarily to the region of Lower Carniola, known locally as Dolenjska. The first recorded instances of the name can be dated back to the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th centuries. This region, characterized by its rolling hills and rich medieval heritage, was a cultural melting pot, especially influenced by both Slavic and Germanic traditions.

Zabkar is derived from the Slovenian word "zabje," meaning "frog," combined with the suffix "kar," which typically denoted an occupation or characteristic. Hence, Zabkar originally referred to "someone who deals with frogs," possibly indicating a person who lived near marshy lands or was involved in frog-catching, which was a common practice in certain rural regions. The name shares similarities with other regional surnames like Zupan and Zajec, which also describe occupations or characteristics linked to rural life and nature.

The name Zabkar appears in various historical documents, such as church records and land grants, predominantly in the Lower Carniola region. One of the earlier recorded instances of this surname is found in a 1447 land registry from the village of Velike Lašče, describing a Jernej Zabkar as a landowner and farmer.

Prominent historical figures bearing the surname Zabkar include Matija Zabkar, a renowned 16th-century Slovenian chronicler who documented local folklore and traditions, born around 1523 and passing in 1588. Another significant name is Katarina Zabkar, a 17th-century herbalist and healer from the village of Žužemberk, revered for her knowledge of local medicinal plants, born in 1632 and died in 1691.

In the 19th century, the name appeared in records more frequently as family lines grew and spread across the Slovenian territories. One notable individual was Ivan Zabkar, a military officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army, born in 1821 and died in 1885, recognized for his service during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.

The early 20th century saw Drago Zabkar, a prominent lawyer and political figure involved in the Slovene People's Party, born in 1872 and an influential advocate for Slovenian autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Another significant figure was Marija Zabkar, a poet and women's rights advocate, born in 1898. She played a critical role in advancing women's education in Slovenia during the interwar period and passed away in 1971.

The surname Zabkar, deeply rooted in Slovenian history and culture, encapsulates the rural and natural heritage of the region, linking those who bear it to a lineage of storytellers, healers, soldiers, and advocates for social progress.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Žabkar

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Žabkar 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.

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 Žabkar was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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