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

Zacharski, 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 Zacharski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zacharski in America

Zacharski is the 82908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zacharski surname appeared 227 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 Zacharski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zacharski 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 Zacharski

The surname Zacharski has its origins in Poland, a country with a rich history of linguistic and cultural development. The name is particularly associated with the region of Lesser Poland, known in Polish as Małopolska, which has been one of the historical provinces of the country. The surname likely emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century.

The name Zacharski is derived from the Polish word "zachar," which historically meant "a miner" or "a worker who digs." This root word itself stems from the Old Polish "zacharzać," meaning "to dig" or "to excavate." The suffix "-ski" is typical in Polish surnames and denotes a connection to a place or occupation. Therefore, Zacharski originally referred to someone who worked as a miner or was associated with mining activities.

Early records and manuscripts from Poland make references to the surname Zacharski in various forms. One of the earliest mentions is found in the 1570 census registers where an individual named Jan Zacharski was listed as a miner. Over the centuries, variations in spelling such as Zacharsky and Zakarski were noted in different records, reflecting regional dialects and transcription errors.

One notable historical figure with this surname is Michał Zacharski (1630-1702), a known scribe and chronicler in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. His works included extensive records of the daily life and economic conditions in Małopolska. Another significant bearer of the surname is Józef Zacharski (1789-1861), a participant in the November Uprising of 1830-31, a national movement against the Russian Empire's rule.

Antoni Zacharski, born in 1845 and died in 1916, was a renowned composer and musician from Kraków, who contributed significantly to Polish folk music. His works are still celebrated for their incorporation of traditional Polish melodies. Stanisław Zacharski, a prominent figure during World War II, served as a major in the Polish resistance movement against the Nazi occupation. Born in 1910 and executed in 1944, his bravery is commemorated in several memorials across Poland.

In the 20th century, Marian Zacharski (born in 1951) gained international notoriety as a Polish intelligence officer. His espionage activities in the United States during the Cold War brought significant attention to the surname. He was arrested in 1981 and later exchanged in a spy swap, remaining a controversial figure in intelligence history.

The surname Zacharski, with its roots deep in the occupational origins and historical records of Poland, has witnessed varied spellings and has been borne by many notable individuals throughout history. Its legacy continues to reflect the rich tapestry of Polish cultural and historical identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zacharski

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

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

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

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