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

Zachwieja, 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 Zachwieja surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zachwieja in America

Zachwieja is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zachwieja surname appeared 179 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 Zachwieja.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zachwieja 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 Zachwieja

The surname Zachwieja predominantly originates from Poland, with its roots tracing back to medieval times, specifically around the 14th to 16th centuries. It is widely regarded as being most common in the southern regions of Poland, particularly in areas such as Lesser Poland (Małopolska) and Silesia (Śląsk). The name derives from the Polish verb "zachwiać" which translates to "to falter" or "to sway," potentially indicating an ancestral occupation or characteristic associated with physical movement or instability.

The earliest documented references to the surname Zachwieja can be found in local Polish church records and tax documents from the late 1500s. A notable mention is in the 1580 records from Kraków, where one Mirosław Zachwieja is listed as a landowner. This suggests the family had some prominence or standing within their community.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Zachwieja appeared sporadically in Polish judicial and municipal registers. For example, in a 1624 court document from Warsaw, Jakub Zachwieja is mentioned in a land dispute, reflecting the involvement of individuals with this surname in legal and civic matters. Another instance is noted in Lublin in 1697, where a merchant named Łukasz Zachwieja was granted trading rights in the city, indicating economic activities.

By the 19th century, industrialization and increased mobility saw bearers of the Zachwieja surname spread to other parts of Poland and Central Europe. Among them was Maria Zachwieja, born in 1832, who became well-regarded in her community in Wrocław for her contributions to local education reforms. This period also saw the name appearing in immigration records, as some individuals moved to the Americas and Western Europe in search of new opportunities.

In terms of famous individuals, one of the earliest is Jan Zachwieja (born 1704, died 1760), who was a known participant in the Bar Confederation, a Polish military association. The 20th century brought attention to Andrzej Zachwieja, an athlete born in 1923 who competed in post-war international cycling competitions representing Poland. His achievements helped bring recognition to the name within the sporting community.

Research into medieval and Renaissance Polish cartography occasionally highlights villages with names phonetically similar to Zachwieja, although none directly correspond to modern locations. It remains likely that the surname originated from a small, now-lost settlement or was possibly an occupational surname tied to a specific trade or characteristic.

In summary, the surname Zachwieja has a deep-rooted history in Poland, with its etymological origins linked to an ancestral trait or occupation related to swaying or instability. Historical references to individuals with this surname in various legal, economic, and social contexts provide a rich tapestry of its legacy. Notable names throughout history include Mirosław Zachwieja, Jakub Zachwieja, Łukasz Zachwieja, Maria Zachwieja, and Andrzej Zachwieja, signifying a diverse set of contributions to their respective fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zachwieja

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

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

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

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