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

Zurakowski, 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 Zurakowski surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zurakowski in America

Zurakowski is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zurakowski surname appeared 142 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 Zurakowski.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zurakowski 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 Zurakowski

The surname Zurakowski has its origins in Poland, dating back to the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Polish word "żur," which means "crane," a bird species native to the region. This could imply a connection with someone who lived near a crane nesting area or exhibited characteristics associated with the bird, such as grace or agility.

The earliest documented references to similar surnames can be traced back to the areas of Eastern and Central Poland, particularly around the Masovian Voivodeship. Records from the 14th and 15th centuries show variations like Żurak, indicating family names were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic shifts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zurakowski appears in 1426 in the Masovian lands, where a noble named Jan Zurakowski owned several plots of land. Throughout the 16th century, the surname surfaced in various legal documents, including court records and land grants, suggesting the family held notable social status within the region.

Among the notable individuals with this surname, the most prominent is Janusz Zurakowski, born in 1914 and deceased in 2004. He was a renowned Polish-Canadian aviator who made significant contributions to aviation history. Another historical figure is Wincenty Zurakowski, a 17th-century landowner whose philanthropic efforts were documented in church archives.

In the 18th century, the surname was borne by Antoni Zurakowski, an influential figure in Polish politics, instrumental in local governmental reforms. From the 19th century, a key bearer of the name was Maria Zurakowska, born in 1850 and recognized for her literary works that contributed to Polish cultural heritage.

The surname Zurakowski remains linked to several Polish localities, such as Zurakowice, which indicates the toponymic origins of the name bearing a strong connection to places rather than merely familial lineage. This pattern persisted into the early 20th century, as individuals with this surname continued to engage in various social, political, and cultural activities in Poland and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zurakowski

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

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

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

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