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

Zoldak, 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 Zoldak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zoldak in America

Zoldak is the 62189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zoldak surname appeared 322 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 Zoldak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zoldak 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 Zoldak

The surname Zoldak is of Eastern European origin, specifically from the regions that encompass modern-day Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. The name's history dates back to at least the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Polish and Slovak word "żołdak," which roughly translates to "mercenary" or "soldier." The term itself derives from the Old Polish "żołd," meaning "pay" or "wages," indicating that the name was likely occupational, referring to one who was paid for military service.

In historical records, the name first appears in regional manuscripts and land deeds. During the 14th and 15th centuries, variations of the name can be found in documents related to military enlistments and land grants in the Kingdom of Poland and the Kingdom of Hungary. An early reference to the name appears in a Polish land registry from 1374, noting a "Jacek Zoldek," a landowner who had served in a local militia. This underscores its association with military service and those who held roles as soldiers or mercenaries.

Another significant historical reference can be traced to the Slovak region in the early 1500s, where a manuscript mentions a "Mikuláš Zoldak" who was noted for his service during the Ottoman wars. Mikuláš became a minor local hero, and his descendants carried the name with pride through subsequent generations. Records from Bratislava in 1572 mention him as a distinguished veteran, further cementing the name's military connotations.

Throughout history, the surname Zoldak appears in various forms reflecting the linguistic shifts of the region. For example, in Hungary, variations such as "Zsoldos" appeared in records, deriving from the same root word for "soldier." In Poland, "Zoldek" remains a recognizable variant. One notable individual, Jan Zoldak, born in 1621 in Kraków, served as a captain in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Khmelnytsky Uprising and received commendations for his service.

In the 18th century, the name can be found in migration records as bearers of the surname moved westward. One such individual, Antoni Zoldak, born in 1750, emigrated to Vienna where he became a respected member of the local community and documented his family's history, contributing to our understanding of the name's heritage. Antoni's journal, preserved in an Austrian archive, provides insight into the life and struggles of a family bearing the Zoldak surname.

By the 19th century, the name Zoldak had spread to various parts of Europe and even the United States. Helena Zoldak, born in 1823 in what is now Slovakia, emigrated to the United States in 1856. She was among the early settlers of Cleveland, Ohio, a city that saw a notable influx of Eastern European immigrants during that time. Her letters to relatives back home reveal the perseverance and adaptation of the Zoldak family as they navigated their new environment while maintaining ties to their heritage.

Through these historical references and notable individuals, the surname Zoldak encapsulates a rich history of military service, migration, and adaptation across centuries. The name remains a testament to the enduring legacy of those who bore it, from medieval soldiers to pioneering immigrants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zoldak

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

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

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

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