Zmuda last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zmuda

A Polish surname potentially derived from "żmuda", meaning difficulty or hardship.

Zmuda, 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 Zmuda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zmuda in America

Zmuda is the 23333rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zmuda surname appeared 1,091 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 Zmuda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zmuda 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 23333 22384 4.15%
Count 1,091 1,073 1.66%
Proportion per 100k 0.37 0.40 -7.79%

The history of the last name Zmuda

The surname Zmuda has its origins in Poland, with early historical traces emerging from the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old Polish word "zmuda," which means "effort" or "toilsome work." This etymological root suggests that the original bearer of the surname might have been someone known for their hard work or perseverance.

Historically, the name Zmuda appears in Polish records dating back several centuries. One of the earliest mentions of the surname can be found in church registers and civil documents from the late 14th century. These documents often recorded the names of landowners, tenants, and other community members, providing some of the first tangible evidence of the Zmuda name.

The spelling of the surname has remained relatively consistent over the centuries, although variations such as Zmuda and Smuda have been noted. These slight changes in spelling are often attributed to regional dialects and the transcription practices of the time.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Zmuda is Mieczysław Zmuda, a prominent Polish artist born in 1905 and known for his contributions to modern art. His works were celebrated for their innovative use of color and form, earning him a respected place in the Polish art community until his death in 1973.

Another significant figure is Antoni Zmuda, a military leader active during the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1785, Antoni's tactical acumen and leadership earned him recognition and respect in the Polish army. His career was marked by numerous battles, and he played a crucial role in several key victories until his death in 1834.

Further back in history, we find Jan Zmuda, a scholar and theologian born in 1647. Jan became known for his extensive writings on religious philosophy and ethics, which influenced the intellectual currents of his time. His works were widely read and respected, marking him as a key figure in the academic landscape of 17th-century Poland.

The name Zmuda also appears in connection with the village of Zmuda in eastern Poland. Historical references to this village date back to the 15th century, and it is likely that the surname originated from this geographic location. The relationship between place names and surnames is well documented, with individuals often adopting the name of their home village or town.

Lastly, one must mention Katarzyna Zmuda, a noted poet of the 19th century. Born in 1820, Katarzyna's poetry reflected the social and political changes of her time. Her works were celebrated for their emotional depth and literary excellence, and she remained an influential figure in Polish literature until her death in 1889.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zmuda

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

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 Zmuda was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.88% 1,057
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.73% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.92% 10
Hispanic Origin 0.92% 10

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 Zmuda has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.88% 96.37% 0.53%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.73% 0.75% -2.70%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.92% 1.86% -67.63%
Hispanic 0.92% 0.65% 34.39%

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

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

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"Zmuda last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zmuda-surname-popularity/.

"Zmuda last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zmuda-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zmuda last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zmuda-surname-popularity/.

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