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

Zalesky, 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 Zalesky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zalesky in America

Zalesky is the 51066th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zalesky surname appeared 408 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 Zalesky.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zalesky 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 Zalesky

The surname Zalesky is primarily of Slavic origin, with its roots deeply embedded in Poland. The name likely first appeared in the Middle Ages, roughly between the 12th and 14th centuries, a period marked by the formation and consolidation of various Polish principalities. The name is derived from the Polish word 'zalesie,' which translates to 'behind the forest' or 'wooded area,' pointing towards a geographic origin related to forested lands or settlements near or within forests.

Early instances of the surname Zalesky and its variants can be found in medieval Polish records. One of the earliest documented references is from the 15th century, where various forms of the name appeared in legal and tax records. The name has several variations, including Zaleski, which is a more common spelling in Poland and may have been anglicized to Zalesky upon migration to English-speaking countries.

One historical figure bearing this surname is Jan Zaleski, a notable Polish nobleman from the 16th century who was actively engaged in the political and military conflicts of his time. Born in 1520 and passing away in 1585, Jan Zaleski was known for his loyalty to the Polish crown and played a prominent role in several key battles against the Teutonic Knights.

In the 17th century, another bearer of the name was Katarzyna Zaleska, a prominent noblewoman who lived from 1610 to 1675. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and contribution to the establishment of educational institutions in her region.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Michal Zaleski, a well-known figure in Polish literature, born in 1702 and dying in 1776. Michal made substantial contributions to the Polish Enlightenment, and his works often reflected the socio-political climate of Poland during the partitions.

In the 19th century, notably during the period of Polish partitions, the surname Zalesky continued to be associated with influential figures. Antoni Zaleski, born in 1818 and deceased in 1887, was a key participant in the January Uprising of 1863 against Russian domination. His efforts were instrumental in the underground resistance movement, and his legacy remains significant in Polish history.

In the 20th century, Wojciech Zalesky, an engineering pioneer born in 1905 and who died in 1980, significantly contributed to the industrial development of post-war Poland. His works in the field of civil engineering were instrumental in rebuilding the country's infrastructure following the devastations of World War II.

The surname Zalesky has thus a rich history, spanning several centuries and marked by contributions to different fields, ranging from nobility and philanthropy to literature, political resistance, and engineering. The geographic and linguistic origins of the name reflect the significant role that forested regions played in the lives of those who bore it, and its variations mirror the historical and cultural shifts within Poland and across regions where Polish migrants settled.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zalesky

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

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

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

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