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

Zawatski, 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 Zawatski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zawatski in America

Zawatski is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zawatski surname appeared 238 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 Zawatski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zawatski 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 Zawatski

The surname Zawatski originates from Poland and is typically associated with Eastern European heritage. Spanning back to the medieval period, the name is believed to have been derived from geographical and topographical features that were common in the areas where it was found. The root of the surname appears to be "zawada," a Polish word meaning "obstacle" or "hindrance," often referring to a specific type of terrain like a ford, dam, or a place where water flow is obstructed.

Zawatski is most commonly associated with Poland's Masovian and Lesser Poland regions, areas characterized by their rivers and varied landscapes. The historical variants of the surname include Zawadzki, Zawacki, and Zawada, among others. These variations suggest that the surname's bearers often lived near or were associated with places with challenging terrains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zawatski can be found in old Polish church and municipal records from the 16th and 17th centuries. The name appears in various legal documents, including property transactions and census lists, reflecting the lives and statuses of individuals within their communities.

Sebastian Zawadzki (1752-1809) was a notable figure bearing a variant of the surname. He was a respected member of the Polish nobility and served as a soldier during important periods in Polish history, including the Bar Confederation. His life and deeds were documented in noble records of the time.

Józef Zawadzki (1781-1838) was another prominent individual who carried a variant of the surname. He was a significant figure in Polish academic circles, known for his contributions to chemistry and his tenure as a professor at the University of Vilnius. His scholarly works were published during the early 19th century, leaving a lasting impact on Polish science.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zawatski surname appeared among migrants who ventured to the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. These individuals sought better opportunities and often settled in areas with significant Polish communities. Among them was Felix Zawatski (1854-1921), who emigrated to the United States and became an early settler in Chicago, contributing to the growth and development of the Polish-American community there.

During World War II, Jadwiga Zawacka, born in 1899, emerged as a key member of the Polish resistance. She served as a courier, crossing enemy lines multiple times to deliver vital information, and was later recognized for her bravery and contributions to the war effort. Zawacka's legacy lives on as a symbol of Polish resilience and patriotism.

In scholarly circles, Tadeusz Zawadzki (1921-1943) is remembered for his role in the Polish underground resistance against Nazi occupation. A young and dedicated member of the Scout Movement, his heroic actions and untimely death at the age of 22 have been commemorated in Polish literature and history.

Surnames like Zawatski not only provide insight into family histories but also reflect the broader cultural and historical contexts in which these families lived. From nobility and scholars to war heroes, the bearers of this surname have woven their stories into the rich tapestry of Polish and global history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zawatski

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!