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

Živković, 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 Živković surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Živković in America

Živković is the 44808th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Živković surname appeared 479 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 Živković.

We can also compare 2010 data for Živković 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 Živković

The surname Zivkovic originates from the Balkan region, specifically from areas that are now part of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Its roots can be traced back to the South Slavic population during the medieval period. The surname is derived from the given name Zivko, which itself comes from the Slavic word "živ," meaning "alive" or "living." The suffix "vic" is a common patronymic in South Slavic languages, indicating "son of." Therefore, Zivkovic essentially means "son of Zivko."

Historical references to Zivkovic can be found in various medieval manuscripts and records, reflective of the surname's widespread use among South Slavic populations. One of the oldest mentions appears in documents from the 14th century in Serbia. Additionally, variations of the name can be seen in different dialectal forms, sometimes spelled as Zhivkovich or similar variants.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is found in the records of the Dubrovnik Republic in the 15th century, where a merchant named Petar Zivkovic was documented in 1487. This area, being a prominent trading hub, often noted documented names of merchants and notable traders, making it a rich source for historians studying Slavic surnames.

Another prominent historical figure with this surname was Mihailo Zivkovic, a Serbian military leader born in 1856 and passed away in 1930. He played a significant role during the Serbian-Turkish wars and later in World War I, where he achieved the rank of general. His contributions were crucial in several battles, and his leadership left a lasting legacy.

In the realm of politics, refer to the Montenegrin diplomat Vaso Zivkovic, who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1846 and dying in 1907, Zivkovic was instrumental in the negotiations between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire, helping secure more autonomous status for Montenegro.

In more artistic circles, the name was carried by Stevan Zivkovic, a Serbian painter born in 1900 who contributed significantly to the development of Serbian modern art. His works are still celebrated in Serbian art museums and continue to inspire contemporary artists.

Milka Zivkovic, a prominent Serbian educator and writer born in 1925, made substantial contributions to the field of education, particularly focusing on pedagogical methods in secondary education and publishing numerous influential works on the topic. She passed away in 1987 but left behind a robust academic legacy.

These historical references showcase the revered and storied lineage of the surname Zivkovic, reflecting its deep roots and varied contributions to regions across the Balkans. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have left their marks in military, political, cultural, and educational fields, cementing Zivkovic as a notable name in South Slavic history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Živković

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

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

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

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