Zajkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zajkowski

A Polish surname derived from the word "zajac" meaning hare or rabbit.

Zajkowski, 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 Zajkowski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zajkowski in America

Zajkowski is the 41038th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zajkowski surname appeared 531 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 Zajkowski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zajkowski 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 41038 42056 -2.45%
Count 531 486 8.85%
Proportion per 100k 0.18 0.18 0.00%

The history of the last name Zajkowski

The surname Zajkowski has its origins in Poland, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. Specifically, the name is closely associated with the Eastern and Northern regions of Poland, often appearing in records from Masovia (Mazovia) and Podlachia (Podlasie).

The name Zajkowski is derived from the Polish words "zajęc" or "zając," which mean "hare" in English. This etymology suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived in an area with a large hare population, or someone who exhibited characteristics associated with a hare, such as agility or speed. The suffix "-owski" is a common adjectival form indicating "from" or "belonging to" a particular place, implying that the original bearers of the name hailed from a location associated with hares, or a village known as Zajki or similar.

One of the earliest references to the name Zajkowski in historical documents dates back to the 15th century. Records from 1461 mention a nobleman named Jan Zajkowski, a landowner in the region of Masovia. This early documentation indicates that the name was established among the Polish nobility and landowners.

By the 16th century, the name Zajkowski appeared in several legal documents and property records. One such notable individual was Stanisław Zajkowski, born in 1527, who served as a local magistrate in the town of Płock. His role in the community and frequent mentions in legal records underscore the family's continued prominence.

The 17th century saw another significant Zajkowski emerge: Marcin Zajkowski, born in 1603, who was a well-known soldier and part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's military campaigns. Marcin's valor and leadership were documented in various military records, securing the name's association with martial prowess and bravery.

In the 18th century, the Zajkowski family continued to play a notable role in Poland's history. One such figure was Kazimierz Zajkowski, born in 1735, who was a participant in the Bar Confederation—a rebellion against Russian influence in Poland. His involvement in this historical event signifies the name's connection to the Polish struggle for sovereignty.

Another important individual bearing the surname was Józef Zajkowski, born in 1831, who became known as a poet and writer during the 19th century. His works contributed to Polish literature and cultural identity during a period of partitions and political upheaval, making him a cultural torchbearer for his nation.

In summary, the Zajkowski surname has deep historical roots in Poland, with early references to nobility and landowners. The name, derived from associations with hares and specific locales, has been borne by individuals involved in significant historical events and cultural contributions spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zajkowski

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

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 Zajkowski was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.99% 515
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.94% 5
Hispanic Origin 1.32% 7

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 Zajkowski has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.99% 95.88% 1.15%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.94% 2.67% -95.84%
Hispanic 1.32% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zajkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zajkowski-surname-popularity/.

"Zajkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zajkowski-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zajkowski last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zajkowski-surname-popularity/.

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