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

Zombek, 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 Zombek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zombek in America

Zombek is the 69579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zombek surname appeared 282 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 Zombek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zombek 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 Zombek

The surname Zombek is believed to have its origins in Central or Eastern Europe, particularly in regions such as Poland or Slovakia. The name appears to be of Slavic origin, and its earliest known usage can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The areas around modern-day Poland and Slovakia were often regions of significant migration and cultural exchange, leading to a variety of surname formations.

The etymology of Zombek suggests that it may have originated from a nickname or descriptive term. In old Slavic languages, the root "zomb" could relate to a person of particular characteristics, possibly a diminutive form indicating small stature, youth, or perhaps a specific trait. The suffix "bek" is typically a diminutive or affectionate form in many Slavic languages, indicating "little" or "son of." Hence, Zombek might have originally referred to "little Zomb" or "son of Zomb."

Historical references to the surname Zombek are sparse but present. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 16th century in Polish church records, where a Antoni Zombek is listed as a resident of a small village near Krakow, around 1560. Such records indicate the use of the surname in ecclesiastical contexts, which were some of the few written documents preserved from that time.

One notable bearer of the surname Zombek is Jan Zombek, born circa 1625, who was a minor Polish nobleman and served as a local magistrate in the region of Lesser Poland. His involvement in local governance provides an example of the surnames' association with regional politics and social affairs.

In the 18th century, a Marek Zombek is documented as a craftsman in the town of Banská Bystrica, in present-day Slovakia. His workshop's accounts and transactions were recorded in the town's archives dated 1742 to 1765, showing the involvement of those with the surname in local commerce and industry.

Moving into the 19th century, Wojciech Zombek, born in 1803, became a notable figure in the Austro-Hungarian Empire's military service. He ascended to the rank of lieutenant before his death in 1848 during the tumultuous period of European revolutions.

Another prominent individual was Katarzyna Zombek, born in 1888, who became well-known for her work in Polish folk art, particularly wood carving. Her artistic contributions were recognized in early 20th century exhibitions, and her works remain highlighted in regional museums.

In addition, there is record of a Joseph Zombek from the early 20th century who emigrated from Poland to the United States in 1911, contributing to the spread of the surname beyond Europe. His life and stories are depicted in letters held in a family archive indicating his adaptation to American life and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Each of these historical figures demonstrates the way the surname Zombek has appeared and evolved through different walks of life and regions, giving a rich tapestry to its history and etymology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zombek

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zombek, 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!