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

Zolnowski, 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 Zolnowski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zolnowski in America

Zolnowski is the 74826th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zolnowski surname appeared 258 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 Zolnowski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zolnowski 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 Zolnowski

The surname Zolnowski has its roots in Eastern Europe, specifically in Poland. The name is classified as a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a geographic location where an early bearer of the name lived or held land. The earliest origins of the surname are likely from the region of Greater Poland, a historical area situated in west-central Poland. The name itself is derived from the Polish term "zolny," which is related to "zol," meaning "salt." This suggests that the name may have originally described individuals who lived near salt mines or were involved in the salt trade.

The first recorded instances of the surname Zolnowski can be traced back to the late medieval period. One of the oldest references to the name appears in legal documents from the 15th century. A notable early mention is from the 1428 court records of Poznań, where a certain Jakob Zolnowski is cited as a witness in a land dispute. This indicates that the family was already established and of some standing during this period.

In the 16th century, another prominent figure bearing the surname Zolnowski emerged. Stanisław Zolnowski, born around 1530, is documented as a landowner and local official in the Kalisz area. His involvement in various legal proceedings and local governance highlights the family's continuing prominence in the region. Stanisław's lineage can be traced through several generations, many of whom held similar positions of influence and authority.

The Zolnowski name appears in several regional chronicles throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1652, a Sebastyjan Zolnowski is mentioned in the records of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as a steadfast ally to the royal court, particularly during the wars against Sweden. His loyalty and contributions to the defense efforts are commemorated in several historical texts and accounts from this time period.

One of the most prominent bearers of the name in the 19th century was Józef Zolnowski, born in 1807. Józef was a noted scholar and mathematician who contributed significantly to academic life in Poland. He worked extensively in Kraków and published several influential papers on algebra and geometry. His works were well-regarded in scientific communities across Europe, helping to establish a legacy of intellectual achievement for the Zolnowski family.

The Zolnowski surname continued to carry weight into the early 20th century, with figures like Jan Zolnowski, born in 1875. Jan was a distinguished officer in the Polish military and played a key role during World War I. His leadership and strategic acumen earned him several commendations, and he is remembered as a patriot who helped lay the groundwork for Poland's independence in 1918.

Throughout its history, the surname Zolnowski has been associated with individuals of notable standing, spanning various fields including governance, scholarship, and military service. The legacy of the Zolnowski name continues to be a testament to its historical significance in Poland and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zolnowski

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!