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

Zerka, 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 Zerka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zerka in America

Zerka is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zerka surname appeared 141 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 Zerka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zerka 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 Zerka

The surname Zerka traces its origins to Eastern Europe, with notable occurrences in Poland and the surrounding regions. The name likely emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. During this time, surnames began to formalize and were often derived from geographical locations, occupations, physical characteristics, or given names.

The name Zerka is believed to derive from a Slavic root word, possibly the word "żerka," which means "to feast" or "to eat heartily" in some dialects. This could indicate that the name was originally a nickname for a person who enjoyed eating or was associated with hosting feasts. Alternatively, the name could denote a place name, as many surnames from this area do. For instance, small villages or localities named Żerki or Żerko might have lent their names to inhabitants, who then carried the surname Zerka.

Historical records show sporadic mentions of the surname Zerka in various civic documents and parish registers starting in the 16th century. One of the earliest records is from a 1598 church registry in Krakow, Poland, referring to a Jan Zerka, a local merchant known for his extensive trading network.

Another significant historical figure is Katarzyna Zerka, born in 1621 and recorded in a 1665 court document in Lublin, Poland, where she was involved in a property dispute, demonstrating the presence and some level of affluence of the Zerka family in the region.

During the 18th century, the surname began appearing in more formalized records. Aleksander Zerka, born in 1743 in the Mazovia region, is noted in military records as a captain in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's army during the Bar Confederation (1768–1772), a significant rebellion against Russian influence.

The 19th century brought more documentation due to better record-keeping practices. Maria Zerka, born in 1808 in Warsaw, was a notable figure in the intellectual circles of her time, contributing essays and articles to early Polish literary journals. Her contributions helped pave the way for increased female participation in scholarly activities.

In the early 20th century, Jozef Zerka (1874-1942) emerged as a prominent figure in the political landscape of Poland. As a member of the Polish Socialist Party, Jozef played a considerable role in pre-World War II politics, advocating for workers' rights and national independence, which ultimately led to his arrest and execution during the Nazi occupation.

The surname Zerka, although not widespread, has a rich history deeply rooted in Polish and Slavic traditions. The individuals bearing this name have contributed to various aspects of society, from commerce and military service to intellectual and political realms. Each mention in historical documents helps piece together the legacy and significance of the Zerka lineage over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zerka

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

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

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

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