NameCensus.

UK surname

Pawlak

A Polish occupational surname referring to a person who tended or bred peacocks or worked with their feathers.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, South Lakeland and North Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pawlak is 650 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

650

2016, ranked #8,181

Peak year

2016

650 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016, ranked #8,181.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Pawlak surname distribution map

The map shows where the Pawlak surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Pawlak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pawlak over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 251 #15,696
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 345 #12,839
2009 modern 385 #12,070
2010 modern 434 #11,223
2011 modern 471 #10,418
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 605 #8,691
2014 modern 646 #8,299
2015 modern 647 #8,224
2016 modern 650 #8,181

Geography

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Where Pawlaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, South Lakeland, North Hertfordshire, Wiltshire and Ealing. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 011 East Staffordshire
2 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
3 North Hertfordshire 005 North Hertfordshire
4 Wiltshire 026 Wiltshire
5 Ealing 010 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pawlak

These lists show first names that appear often with the Pawlak surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pawlak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pawlak, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Pawlak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pawlak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pawlak is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pawlak is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pawlak falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pawlak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pawlak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pawlak

The surname Pawlak is of Polish origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Polish word "pawlak," which means "a man from a small village or town." The name likely originated in the rural areas of central Poland, where many small hamlets and villages dotted the landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pawlak surname can be found in the Książęca Księga Henrykowska (The Henryków Book of Princes), a medieval Polish manuscript dating back to the late 13th century. This document contains records of land ownership and transactions, including references to individuals with the Pawlak name.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Pawlak surname became more widespread throughout Poland, appearing in various historical records and documents. Notable individuals bearing this name include Jan Pawlak (1548-1618), a Polish nobleman and landowner from the Masovian region, and Katarzyna Pawlak (1601-1676), a prominent figure in the Polish Reformation movement.

In the 17th century, the Pawlak surname gained further prominence with the birth of Michał Pawlak (1638-1711), a renowned Polish mathematician and astronomer. His contributions to the fields of mathematics and celestial mechanics were significant, and he is credited with developing new methods for calculating the orbits of comets.

Another notable figure was Stanisław Pawlak (1745-1821), a Polish military commander who fought in the Kościuszko Uprising against the Russian Empire in the late 18th century. His bravery and leadership during the rebellion earned him widespread recognition and respect among his compatriots.

The 19th century saw the rise of Józef Pawlak (1819-1887), a influential Polish writer and journalist who played a vital role in promoting the Polish language and literature during the period of partitions. His works, which often explored themes of national identity and cultural preservation, were widely read and celebrated across the Polish lands.

As the centuries progressed, the Pawlak surname continued to be associated with various notable individuals, including artists, scholars, and political figures, all of whom contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of Poland and its diaspora communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Pawlak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Pawlak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016. That gives Pawlak a modern rank of #8,181.

What does the Pawlak surname mean?

A Polish occupational surname referring to a person who tended or bred peacocks or worked with their feathers.

What does the Pawlak map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pawlak bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.