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

Zitkus, 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 Zitkus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zitkus in America

Zitkus is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zitkus surname appeared 194 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 Zitkus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zitkus 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 Zitkus

The surname Zitkus has its origins in Lithuania, a country in Northern Europe. Lithuania, known for its rich history and cultural heritage, was a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the medieval period. The suffix "us" is common in Lithuanian surnames, often indicating familial or regional connections. Zitkus is believed to be derived from the Lithuanian word "žydra," meaning "blue" or "azure," potentially referring to someone with blue eyes or living near water.

The name Zitkus first appeared in written records during the 16th century, a time when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was one of the largest and most influential states in Europe. Manuscripts from this period provide evidence of the name in administrative and land ownership documents, reflecting the importance of family lineage and property in Lithuanian society. One such early example can be found in a 1578 registry of landowners, where a Jurgis Zitkus was listed as owning several hectares of land in the Vilnius region.

The Zitkus name appears in various historical records over the centuries, often linked to landowners and merchants. In the 17th century, the name appears in documents pertaining to the union between Poland and Lithuania, such as the records of the Union of Lublin in 1569, which solidified the political and social connections between the two nations. A notable individual was Kazimieras Zitkus, born in 1642 and known for his contributions to local governance in the Trakai region.

In the 18th century, following the partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, many families with the surname Zitkus faced political and social upheaval. Records from this period, such as taxation lists and census-type registries, include the name Zitkus, highlighting their continued presence and adaptation to changing political landscapes. An example from 1789 lists Janina Zitkus as a notable merchant in the Kaunas trade records, indicating the surname’s association with commerce.

Throughout the 19th century, as Lithuania experienced waves of unrest and eventual incorporation into the Russian Empire, the Zitkus name remained prominent, though often altered by Russian administrative practices. Archival materials such as birth registries and military service records mention figures like Aleksandras Zitkus, born in 1823, who served as a local magistrate in the Klaipeda region until his death in 1888. His work in local governance exemplified the endurance of the Zitkus name through turbulent times.

In the early 20th century, as Lithuania gained independence following World War I, the Zitkus name continued to find mention in national records. The surname was carried by individuals like Petras Zitkus, born in 1895, who became known for his contributions to Lithuanian literary circles and the independence movement. His works and public service were part of the broader national awakening that defined Lithuania’s early years of statehood.

The surname Zitkus, through centuries of historical records and notable individuals, showcases a lineage deeply connected to the socio-political fabric of Lithuania. Its appearance in early manuscripts, land records, merchant activities, and governance documents underscores the surname's longstanding presence and significance in Lithuanian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zitkus

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

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

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

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