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

Zawada, 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 Zawada surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zawada in America

Zawada is the 30250th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zawada surname appeared 774 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 Zawada.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zawada 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 Zawada

The surname Zawada has its origins in Poland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Lesser Poland (Małopolska) and Silesia, which were historically significant areas during the formation of the Polish state. The name is likely derived from the Old Polish word "zawada," which means "obstacle" or "hindrance." This word might have been used to describe a geographical feature such as a rugged terrain, or a person’s role as a guardian or defender of a territory.

The surname appears in various historical records dating back several centuries. One of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in 14th-century Polish documents. In 1376, a certain Jakub de Zawada is recorded in the Silesian records. This shows that the name was already established in Poland by then and was associated with noble families and landowners.

Over time, the surname has been documented in various forms, including Zavadsky and Zavadzinski, depending on regional dialects and orthographic practices of the time. The village of Zawada, found in several places across Poland, particularly in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, lends to the understanding that the surname could also be locational, indicating origin from any of these places.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname Zawada include Wojciech Zawada, a Polish nobleman born in the 15th century, who participated in the local councils and played a role in regional politics. Another significant figure is Karol Zawada, born in 1812, who was known for his contributions to Polish culture and literature during the Romantic period in Poland.

In the realm of sports, the surname gained international recognition through Antoni Zawada, born in 1920, who was a renowned Polish footballer and represented Poland in international competitions during the early mid-20th century. Another sports-related personality is Krzysztof Zawada, born in 1960, who is known for his achievements in high-altitude mountaineering and has multiple first ascents to his credit, including expeditions to the Himalayas.

The historical journey of the surname Zawada reflects both geographical and cultural influences, which have shaped its use and significance over the centuries. Its appearance in historical records and manuscripts signifies its long-standing presence and the prominent roles played by individuals with this surname in various fields, from nobility and politics to sports and cultural contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zawada

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

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

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

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