Zubek last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zubek

A Polish surname derived from "zub" meaning tooth or tusk.

Zubek, 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 Zubek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zubek in America

Zubek is the 52383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zubek surname appeared 396 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 Zubek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zubek 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 52383 54880 -4.66%
Count 396 351 12.05%
Proportion per 100k 0.13 0.13 0.00%

The history of the last name Zubek

The surname Zubek has its origins in the Slavic regions of Central Europe, particularly in Poland. This name likely dates back to the medieval period, possibly arising around the 12th or 13th century. The geographical areas most associated with the surname are likely to include Silesia and Lesser Poland, regions known for their rich histories and turbulent pasts filled with shifting borders and diverse influences.

The etymological roots of Zubek can be traced to the Old Polish word "ząb," which means "tooth." The diminutive suffix "-ek" often denotes a small or endearing form, so Zubek could historically be interpreted as "little tooth" or "toothy one." The surname may have originally been a nickname or occupational name related to dentistry or a person's notable teeth. Similar surnames in the region include Zub, Zubeck, and Zubczyk, all bearing connections to the same root word.

Historical records indicate that the name Zubek appears in various documents and manuscripts from the medieval period. For instance, a 14th-century Polish record mentions a man named Janusz Zubek, who was a landowner in the Silesian area. Manuscripts from church registers in the Kraków area also list a family named Zubek in the early 15th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is from the 1420s, where a merchant named Mikołaj Zubek was mentioned in trade documents from the town of Opole. Another notable figure, Stanisław Zubek, served in the Polish military during the 1600s and played a part in the defense against Swedish invasions.

Wojciech Zubek, a scholar born in 1642 and passed away in 1710, contributed significantly to the academic landscape of Poland. His works in theology and philosophy are still referenced in some historical texts. Additionally, Katarzyna Zubek, a notable weaver in the 18th century, became renowned in the region of Lesser Poland for her intricate and innovative textile designs.

By the 19th century, the Zubek name had spread to other parts of Europe and even made its way to the United States. Józef Zubek, born in 1835, was an early immigrant who contributed to the Polish communities in Chicago during the late 1800s, aiding in the establishment of cultural and social organizations.

In summary, Zubek is a historical surname deeply embedded in the cultural and linguistic history of Poland and its surrounding regions. It has been borne by individuals of various professions and statuses, each contributing to its rich legacy. The surname Zubek stands as a testament to the enduring and evolving history of Central Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zubek

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

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 Zubek was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.47% 386
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.47% 94.87% 2.70%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 3.42% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 1.42% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

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

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

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

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