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

Zapolski, 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 Zapolski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zapolski in America

Zapolski is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zapolski surname appeared 271 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 Zapolski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zapolski 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 Zapolski

The surname Zapolski is of Eastern European origin, primarily found in Poland. The name is derived from the Old Polish word "zapola" which means "behind the field." This geographical surname likely referred to families who lived behind or near fields or open lands. The name began appearing in records during the medieval period, around the 14th century, when surnames were becoming more common in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Zapolski can be traced back to the late 14th century in Polish lands. Notably, a certain Andrzej Zapolski appears in a 1398 land record in the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland. The surname has various spelling variations over the centuries, reflecting linguistic changes and regional dialects, with forms such as Zapolski, Zapolsky, and Zapolskij.

The name is also associated with nobility in Polish history. During the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th and 17th centuries, several members of the Zapolski family were noted for their roles in regional governance and military campaigns. One well-known figure was Jan Zapolski, born in 1560 and died in 1621, a noble landowner who played a significant part in the Commonwealth’s administrative affairs.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, including military records and legal deeds. Another notable person is Adam Zapolski, who served as a cavalry officer during the Polish-Swedish wars in the early 1600s. His contributions are documented in military annals from 1625 to 1630, indicating his involvement in crucial battles of the period.

The village of Zapole in Poland is believed to be one of the geographical markers associated with the surname. This connection to place names further underscores the often topographical nature of Polish surnames. In addition to Poland, the surname can also be found in records from Ukraine and Belarus, reflecting the migrations and border changes over centuries in Eastern Europe.

In the 18th century, Marianna Zapolska, born in 1727 and died in 1789, became notable for her charitable work and was known in her community for establishing one of the first local schools in her region. Her legacy in education is still remembered in some Polish local histories.

The 19th century saw continued presence of individuals with the surname Zapolski. One prominent example is Józef Zapolski, born in 1802 and active in the Polish independence movements of the 1830s. His efforts in these uprisings were documented in various revolutionary chronicles, and he is remembered for his persistent fight for Polish sovereignty.

Zapolski remains a surname rich in historical significance. Its journey through centuries of Polish and Eastern European history reflects stories of nobility, military service, and local contributions, making it a fascinating subject for onomatological study.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zapolski

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

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

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

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