2000
#147,095
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ziemkiewicz
A Polish surname likely derived from the word "ziemia" meaning "land" or "earth."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Ziemkiewicz. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ziemkiewicz surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Ziemkiewicz in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziemkiewicz, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ziemkiewicz
The surname Ziemkiewicz has its origins in Poland, with its roots tracing back to medieval times. Its formation adheres to traditional Polish naming conventions, where the suffix -wicz typically means "son of" or "descendant of," denoting lineage or heritage. Thus, the name Ziemkiewicz likely means "son of Ziemek" or "descendant of Ziemek."
The name Ziemek itself is a diminutive form of the Polish name Ziemowit, which is derived from the Slavic elements "ziemia," meaning "earth" or "land," and "wit," meaning "lord" or "ruler." This etymology suggests that the original bearer of the name was perhaps a person who was a notable landowner or had authority over land.
One of the earliest documented uses of the surname Ziemkiewicz can be traced to the 16th century in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This period was marked by significant administrative and social developments, and searching through court records and property documents from this era reveals several mentions of families bearing this surname, especially in regions like Masovia and Greater Poland. Such documentation provides insight into the societal roles and contributions of individuals with this name.
A prominent figure carrying the surname was Jan Ziemkiewicz, recorded in the late 17th century as an official in the royal court. Jan was known for his keen negotiation skills and played a role in diplomatic efforts between the Commonwealth and neighboring states. His work left a significant mark on the region's political landscape during that period.
Another notable bearer was Piotr Ziemkiewicz, who appeared in records from the 18th century. Piotr was a well-known landowner and philanthropist in the Greater Poland region, contributing to the establishment of several schools and charitable institutions. His legacy is still visible in the educational foundations he helped create, which continued to operate well into the 19th century.
In the 19th century, the name Ziemkiewicz was carried on by Michał Ziemkiewicz, a renowned historian and archivist in Warsaw. Michał's extensive work in preserving and cataloging historical documents was crucial in maintaining the cultural heritage of Poland. His efforts ensured that many historical manuscripts and records were saved from potential loss or damage during tumultuous periods.
Stanisław Ziemkiewicz, born in the late 19th century, was another significant bearer of the surname. He gained recognition as a linguist and was instrumental in developing several dictionaries and language guides. His work contributed vastly to the study of Slavic languages and is still referenced in contemporary linguistic studies.
One more notable person is Rafał Ziemkiewicz, born in 1964, who is a modern-day descendant of the name's historical bearers and a well-known journalist, author, and publicist in Poland. His writings and critiques have influenced public opinion and sparked numerous discussions on political and social issues in modern Poland.
The surname Ziemkiewicz reflects a rich heritage, with its bearers contributing significantly to Polish culture, politics, education, and linguistics across several centuries. The name’s origin from “Ziemek” and its evolution through Polish historical records outline its longstanding presence and the impact of individuals who have carried it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ziemkiewicz
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziemkiewicz, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Ziemkiewicz bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ziemkiewicz surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.0% · 106
- Hispanic or Latino6.1% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ziemkiewicz
Ziemkiewicz appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#141,140
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+15 bearers (+14.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,955 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
-4 bearers (-3.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,355 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #147,095 | 103 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #141,140 | 118 | 0.04 | +15 bearers (+14.6%) | Up 5,955 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.4%) | Down 5,355 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ziemkiewicz surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #141,140 | #146,495 | -3.8% |
| Count | 118 | 114 | -3.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ziemkiewicz bearers went from 118 to 114 (-3.4% change). The surname moved down 5,355 positions in the national ranking, going from #141,140 to #146,495.
FAQ
Ziemkiewicz surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ziemkiewicz?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Ziemkiewicz. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Ziemkiewicz?
Ziemkiewicz ranks #146,495 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 114 people with the surname Ziemkiewicz. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ziemkiewicz.
Has Ziemkiewicz become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ziemkiewicz went from 118 recorded bearers to 114. That is a decrease of 4 (-3.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #141,140 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Ziemkiewicz?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziemkiewicz, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ziemkiewicz in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.0% (106 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ziemkiewicz appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.0%), Hispanic (6.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ziemkiewicz (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ziemkiewicz mean?
A Polish surname likely derived from the word "ziemia" meaning "land" or "earth." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ziemkiewicz (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Ziemkiewicz?
See how many people have the last name Ziemkiewicz on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.