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

Żańkowski, 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 Żańkowski surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Żańkowski in America

Żańkowski is the 147095th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Żańkowski surname appeared 103 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Żańkowski.

The history of the last name Żańkowski

The surname Zankowski has its roots in Poland, generally believed to have originated in the medieval period. The name is associated with Poland's historical regions, predominantly in areas such as Masovia. It likely emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th to 15th centuries, a common period for the development of many Polish surnames.

Derived from the Polish suffix -owski, which denotes belonging or origin, the surname Zankowski may be linked to a place of origin, perhaps a village or locality named Zanków. The prefix Zank- could be related to an older Polish or Slavic personal name or word, denoting a person or characteristic associated with that place. In this case, Zanków would be a geographical determinant of the family's origin, translating roughly to "of Zanków."

Historical records of the Zankowski name are scattered. One of the earliest references can be found in 16th-century Polish church records and tax registries. These documents mentioned individuals with the surname in contexts suggesting land ownership and local governance, indicating the surname might have been tied to noble or landed families.

A notable historical figure bearing the surname was Jan Zankowski (b. 1563 – d. 1624), a minor noble who served in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's military during the wars against the Ottoman Empire. His name appears in several military dispatches and correspondence from the early 1600s.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Antoni Zankowski (b. 1774 – d. 1829) emerged as a prominent figure. He was an advocate for Polish independence during the partition periods and is recorded for his participation in the Kosciuszko Uprising of 1794, which sought to defend Poland from partition by Austria, Prussia, and Russia.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Maria Zankowska (b. 1851 – d. 1907), a notable poet and literary figure of the Polish Romantic movement. Her works often explored themes of nature and patriotism, reflecting the national struggles of her era.

In the 20th century, Stefan Zankowski (b. 1917 – d. 1944) became known as a member of the Armia Krajowa, the Polish Home Army, which fought against German occupation during World War II. He was involved in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and is remembered for his bravery and leadership.

In addition to these, Piotr Zankowski (b. 1955 – d. 1998), a distinguished chess grandmaster, served as an example of the surname’s presence in intellectual and competitive spheres in the later half of the 20th century. He earned accolades in various international tournaments and remains a celebrated figure in the chess community.

The surname Zankowski encapsulates a rich history intertwined with Poland's social, military, and cultural development, reflecting the enduring legacy of the regions and people from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Żańkowski

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Żańkowski 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.

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

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

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