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

Zajack, 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 Zajack surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zajack in America

Zajack is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zajack surname appeared 198 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 Zajack.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zajack 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 Zajack

The surname Zajack originates from Eastern Europe, primarily from the regions that are now part of Poland and the Czech Republic. The name dates back to medieval times, likely emerging around the 12th or 13th centuries. It is derived from the Old Slavic word "zając," which means "hare." This could suggest that the first bearers of the surname were either hare hunters, lived in an area with a notable hare population, or perhaps were nicknamed for their agility or quickness.

In terms of historical references, the name Zajack appears in various old records and manuscripts. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname is in a 14th-century Polish land registry, where a Mikołaj Zajack is listed as a landowner in Lesser Poland. This indicates that the family had already established some level of prominence and landownership by this time.

Another notable mention occurs in the Codex Gigas, a manuscript from the Czech Republic dating back to the early 13th century. This manuscript includes a reference to a Václav Zajack, a scribe who was known for his illuminated manuscripts. His work contributed significantly to the cultural and literary history of the region.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Katarzyna Zajack, a Polish noblewoman recognized for her philanthropic efforts and support of the arts. Born in 1505 and passing in 1578, her contributions to various charitable causes were well-documented in local histories.

During the late 17th century, Jan Zajack, a military officer in the service of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, gained recognition for his role in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. His bravery and tactical acumen were celebrated in various military chronicles of the time.

Moving into the 19th century, Józef Zajack, a mathematician and academic, made significant contributions to the field of algebra. Born in 1821 and passing in 1889, his works were published in several prominent European journals, and he was a respected figure in the academic community of his era.

The surname has seen various older spellings, including Zajaczek and Zaiacz, indicating regional variations and phonetic spellings in different historical documents. Despite the changes, the core meaning related to "hare" has remained consistent. While the name Zajack may not be extremely common, those who carry it often have deep-rooted connections to the historical and cultural fabric of Eastern Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zajack

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

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

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

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