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

Zak, 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 Zak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zak in America

Zak is the 6540th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zak surname appeared 5,177 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Zak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zak 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 Zak

The surname "ZAK" is believed to have originated in Poland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Polish word "zak," which translates to "disciple" or "novice." This name was likely given to individuals who were associated with religious orders or monasteries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ZAK" can be found in the Księga Henrykowska, a 13th-century manuscript that documented land ownership and transactions in the Silesian region of Poland. This document mentions a nobleman named Zbigniew Zak, who owned a significant portion of land near the town of Henryków.

In the 14th century, the name "ZAK" was also found in the Księga Ławnicza, a legal record book maintained by the city council of Kraków. This record includes several references to individuals with the surname "ZAK," indicating that the name had spread to other parts of Poland by that time.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname "ZAK" was Jan Zak, a Polish painter and engraver who lived from 1520 to 1584. His artworks, which often depicted religious scenes, can still be found in several churches and museums throughout Poland.

In the 17th century, a Polish military commander named Stanisław Zak gained recognition for his bravery and leadership during the Polish-Ottoman War. He was born in 1615 and died in 1683 after sustaining injuries in the Battle of Vienna.

Another prominent individual with the surname "ZAK" was Józef Zak, a Polish philosopher and educator who lived from 1785 to 1858. He was a professor at the University of Vilnius and made significant contributions to the fields of logic and ethics.

As the name "ZAK" spread across Europe, it also appeared in various place names and surnames with slight variations in spelling. For example, in Germany, there are towns and villages named Zakrzów and Zakhausen, which may have derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname "ZAK."

While the surname "ZAK" has its origins in Poland, it has since been adopted by individuals of various nationalities and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the migration and intermingling of populations throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zak

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

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

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

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