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

Zitnik, 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 Zitnik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zitnik in America

Zitnik is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zitnik surname appeared 271 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 Zitnik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zitnik 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 Zitnik

The surname Zitnik originates from Central Europe, specifically the regions encompassing modern-day Slovenia and parts of Croatia. The name first appeared during the medieval period, around the 12th to 13th centuries. These areas were rich in Slavic culture and tradition, reflected in the etymology of the surname.

Zitnik is derived from the Slavic word "žito," which means "grain" or "wheat." The suffix "nik" is a common Slavic suffix indicating a person associated with a particular occupation or characteristic, similar to the English suffix "-er." Therefore, Zitnik can be interpreted to mean "grain-grower" or "one who works with grain." This suggests that the original bearers of the surname were likely involved in agriculture, specifically in grain cultivation.

The surname Zitnik can be traced in historical records and manuscripts from the regions of Carniola and Styria, which were part of the Holy Roman Empire and later the Austrian Empire. Early references to the name can be found in ecclesiastical documents, where local priests recorded birth, marriage, and death entries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in a 14th-century document listing residents of a small village near Ljubljana, where a certain Matija Zitnik is mentioned. Another notable mention is found in a 15th-century land deed in the province of Styria, where a farmer named Gregorij Zitnik is listed as a landowner.

By the 16th century, the surname Zitnik had become relatively well-established in the regions of Carniola and Styria. Notable figures include Jozef Zitnik (1520–1590), a respected blacksmith and community leader in the small town of Ptuj. His contributions to the local guilds and town defenses during the Ottoman wars are documented in local chronicles.

In the 17th century, Jurij Zitnik (1645–1710) emerged as a prominent figure. A miller by trade, Jurij was known for his innovative techniques in milling and grain processing. Records from that era, particularly in the regions surrounding Maribor, provide details of his work and his influence on local agricultural practices.

Moving into the 18th century, another significant individual was Franc Zitnik (1765–1825), a teacher and advocate for rural education. Franc's efforts in establishing schools in rural Slovenian villages left a lasting impact on education in the region. His contributions are noted in several educational reforms documents from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Finally, in the 19th century, Ivan Zitnik (1830–1898), a notable politician, and writer from Ljubljana, played a key role in the Slovenian national awakening. Ivan's works on Slovenian culture and his efforts in the political arena are recorded in various historical texts and contribute to the understanding of Slovene national identity.

The surname Zitnik remains a testament to the agricultural roots and cultural heritage of the Slavic peoples in Central Europe. Through historical records and notable figures, the name has preserved its significance over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zitnik

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

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

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

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