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

Zapka, 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 Zapka surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Zapka in America

Zapka is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zapka surname appeared 100 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 Zapka.

The history of the last name Zapka

The surname Zapka finds its origins in Central Europe, most notably in the regions of modern-day Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The name is believed to have emerged around the 14th to 15th century, a time when surnames began to become more common and systematically recorded in various localities.

The etymological roots of Zapka are derived from the Old Polish word "żabka," which translates to "little frog." In Polish, "żaba" means "frog," and the suffix "-ka" is a diminutive, indicating "small" or "little." This usage of animal names as surnames was not uncommon in Central Eastern Europe, where many surnames were based on characteristics, animals, or occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zapka appears in tax records from Silesia, a historical region that straddles modern-day Poland and the Czech Republic, dating back to the early 16th century. The name was documented as "Zabka" in these records, reflecting the common practice of the time to phonetically spell surnames based on regional dialects.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the name Zapka is Jan Zapka, a mid-17th century landowner in the region of Lower Silesia, who is recorded in various land transaction documents from the 1660s. Jan's ownership of significant parcels of agricultural land made him a person of interest in local historical records.

In the 18th century, records from the town of Wrocław, a major city in Silesia, mentioned a Sebastian Zapka, who was a prominent merchant known for trading goods between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the German states. Sebastian's transactions and influence extended into what is now the Czech Republic, reflecting the movement and interaction typical in that part of Europe.

Anna Zapka, born in 1784, is recorded in a parish registry in Upper Silesia. She was noted for her contributions to the local community through her work as a midwife, helping deliver numerous children in the area, and being a respected figure within her parish community.

Into the 19th century, another significant individual was Jakub Zapka, born in 1823 in what is now the Czech Republic. Jakub was a key figure in local politics and ran a successful brewery in the town of Olomouc. His influence extended into the cultural life of the region, sponsoring various local festivals and events.

The surname also appears in military records. During the Napoleonic Wars, Piotr Zapka, born in 1797, served as a soldier in the Polish Legions under Napoleon. His service record, which includes participation in numerous significant battles of the era, is preserved in military archives in Warsaw.

In summary, the surname Zapka has deep historical roots in Central Europe, with notable individuals contributing to their local communities across several centuries. It remains a surname tied closely to its etymological origins, reflecting characteristics or natural elements familiar to the regions from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zapka

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

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

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

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