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

Zakrajšek, 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 Zakrajšek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zakrajšek in America

Zakrajšek is the 68949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zakrajšek surname appeared 285 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 Zakrajšek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zakrajšek 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 Zakrajšek

The surname Zakrajsek originates from Slovenia, a historically rich country located in Central Europe. Slovenia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 and has even deeper historical roots influenced by Slavic, Roman, and Germanic cultures. The name Zakrajsek is typically recognized as being derived from the Slovene words "za" meaning "behind" and "kraj" meaning "place" or "area." The suffix "sek" is a diminutive, so the name can be loosely interpreted as "little place behind."

The earliest references to the surname Zakrajsek can be traced back to the medieval period, though precise dated records are scarce. Slovenian church records and census documents from the 16th and 17th centuries often mention individuals bearing the surname. These records primarily come from regions like Upper Carniola and Lower Styria, where the surname was relatively common among rural populations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Zakrajsek is Matej Zakrajsek, found in a 1654 church registry from the Upper Carniola region. The name appears in various local records over the centuries, sometimes spelled slightly differently due to phonetic translations and regional dialects.

In the 18th century, the name Zakrajsek gained prominence through Anton Zakrajsek, a noted landowner born in 1742 in the region of Styria. He made significant contributions to the local economy through innovations in agriculture, and his management practices were well documented in regional archives.

Moving into the 19th century, we find another notable Zakrajsek, Franc Zakrajsek (1801-1875), who was a member of the Slovenian intelligentsia and contributed to Slovene national movements during the Austro-Hungarian period. His letters and records have been preserved in the Slovenian National Archives, shedding light on his active role in cultural and political forwarding of the Slovenian identity.

In the early 20th century, Joze Zakrajsek, born in 1885, became well-known for his participation in the Slovene resistance during World War II. His acts of bravery and leadership are recorded in wartime diaries and military documents. He became a local hero, and his legacy is still honored in parts of Slovenia today.

Another prominent figure includes Marija Zakrajsek, a school teacher and advocate for women's education born in 1903. She was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions in Slovenia during the interwar period. Her contributions are documented in various educational annals and local histories.

Lastly, the name Zakrajsek appears in the annals of sports history with Ivan Zakrajsek, a Slovenian athlete born in 1922, who competed in international wrestling competitions and brought home multiple medals. His athletic prowess was well-documented in sports records of the time, contributing to a sense of national pride.

The surname Zakrajsek, thus, carries a rich tapestry of historical significance, rooted deeply in Slovenian cultural and social spheres, evolving through centuries of regional history and contributing in myriad ways to the fabric of Slovenian life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zakrajšek

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

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

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

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