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

Zelek, 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 Zelek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelek in America

Zelek is the 46138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelek surname appeared 462 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 Zelek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelek 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 Zelek

The surname Zelek has its origins in Poland, with its use and recognition tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from old Polish words or possibly from ancient Slavic roots, associated with descriptions of personal characteristics or professions. In Poland, surnames often took shape between the 14th and 17th centuries, coinciding with the time period of the name Zelek.

The areas where the surname Zelek was originally from include various regions in Poland, particularly in the former provinces of Poland such as Kraków and Masovia. Due to Poland's complex history and territorial changes, surnames often spread and evolved across different regions. The surname Zelek may also have variations or similar spellings in neighboring Slavic countries, though it remains predominantly Polish in origin.

Historical references to the surname Zelek can be found in old Polish records and church manuscripts. For example, in the 16th century, church records often listed family names for purposes of taxation and communal identification. An early recorded example of the name dates back to 1537 in the parish registers of Kraków.

One notable individual bearing the surname was Jan Zelek, who was born in 1590 and served as a landowner and minor noble in the Kraków region. His contributions to local governance and church financing were significant, and his name frequently appeared in records pertaining to land grants and legal matters.

In the mid-18th century, a prominent figure named Stanisław Zelek emerged. Born in 1732, he became known for his military service in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's army. Records from 1765 mention his participation in key battles and his role in local defense initiatives.

Another noteworthy person was Antoni Zelek, born in 1810, who worked as a merchant and was known for his philanthropic efforts in Warsaw. His establishment of various trade connections contributed to the economic growth of the region during the late 19th century.

In the realm of culture, Maria Zelek, born in 1889, was a distinguished Polish painter and sculptor. Her works, which often depicted rural Polish life, were exhibited in prominent galleries throughout Poland and received acclaim during the early 20th century.

Finally, Włodzimierz Zelek, a linguist and historian born in 1905, made substantial contributions to the study of the Polish language and Slavic etymology. His published works in the 1950s and 1960s remain valuable resources in the field of onomatology.

The history of the surname Zelek is thus deeply rooted in Polish heritage, with its bearers contributing to various facets of society across centuries. The name, with its rich historical references, continues to be a testament to the cultural and familial legacies of Poland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelek

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

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

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

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