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

Zaks, 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 Zaks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaks in America

Zaks is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaks surname appeared 361 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 Zaks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaks 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 Zaks

The surname Zaks is primarily of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, deriving from several different Eastern European countries, including Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. Historically, Zaks is a variation of the surnames Zak or Zach, with roots extending back to the Hebrew name Yitzhak, commonly anglicized as Isaac. This surname appeared among the Jewish communities in these regions as early as the 16th century, cementing its presence through various historical documents and records.

One possible etymological interpretation suggests Zaks originated from the Yiddish diminutive form of the Hebrew name Yitzhak, which means "he will laugh" or "he will rejoice." While Isaac is a biblical patriarch, in Jewish culture, the name became common, and its diminutives and variations have been widely adopted as surnames.

Historical references to the surname Zaks can be found in various community records and legal documents. For example, census records from the Russian Empire in the late 18th and early 19th centuries frequently mention Zaks. These records demonstrate the name's prevalence within Jewish communities during that period.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Zaks dates back to the 1600s in Poland where the name appears in communal tax records and marriage registries. This indicates the name was well-established within the Jewish diasporas of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

One notable figure with the surname Zaks was Rabbi Chaim Zaks (1812-1874), a prominent Jewish scholar and author from Lithuania, known for his contributions to the study of the Talmud. Another important historical figure is Wolf Zaks (1898-1977), a Polish-born American chemical engineer and inventor, who made significant advancements in the field of plastics during the mid-20th century.

Nathan Zaks (1864-1941), born in what is now Ukraine, was a well-known Yiddish theater actor and playwright who contributed to the preservation and promotion of Yiddish culture through his works. His career spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he acted in various cities across Europe and America.

In addition to these early figures, Sir Maurice Zaks (1906-1972) was a British businessman and philanthropist of Russian Jewish descent who was ennobled for his contributions to industry and charity. His efforts significantly impacted the sectors of manufacturing and education in the UK during his lifetime.

Lastly, Judith Zaks (1930-1998) was an Israeli historian and author who extensively researched Jewish history and the Diaspora. Her publications remain influential in the field, shedding light on the narratives of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.

These historical figures and records highlight the surname Zaks' rich legacy across different regions and centuries. The surname continues to evoke the cultural and scholarly heritage of the Jewish communities from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaks

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

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

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

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