NameCensus.

UK surname

Pollak

A surname of Slavic origin referring to someone from Poland or of Polish descent.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Pollak surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #31,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Hackney and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pollak is 195 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1257.1%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2014

195 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pollak had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pollak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pollak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pollak 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
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 36 #29,370
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 161 #20,822
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 151 #21,574
2004 modern 157 #21,168
2005 modern 157 #21,128
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 164 #21,137
2009 modern 161 #21,879
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Pollaks 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 South Hams, Hackney, Barnet and Carmarthenshire. 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 South Hams 002 South Hams
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 Barnet 034 Barnet
4 Hackney 003 Hackney
5 Carmarthenshire 002 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pollak

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pollak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pollak, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Pollak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pollak household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pollak is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pollak 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

Pollak falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pollak is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pollak

The surname Pollak originates from the Czech Republic and Poland, emerging in the Middle Ages around the 13th century. It is derived from the Polish word "polak," meaning "a person from Poland." This surname was likely given to individuals who moved from Poland to other regions, identifying their place of origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pollak dates back to 1389, when a merchant named Jan Pollak was mentioned in a document from the city of Prague. Another early reference can be found in the Bременник, an old East Slavic chronicle from the 15th century, which mentions a nobleman named Fyodor Pollak.

In the 16th century, the name Pollak appeared in various records across Central and Eastern Europe. One notable bearer was Andrzej Pollak (1516-1572), a Polish diplomat and scholar who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

During the 17th century, the surname Pollak spread to other parts of Europe. In 1624, a merchant named Jakob Pollak was recorded in the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Another notable figure was Johann Pollak (1633-1701), a German composer and organist from Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland).

The 18th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Pollak. Johann Michael Pollak (1732-1806) was a Czech philosopher and professor at the University of Prague. In the same century, Joachim Pollak (1759-1828) was a Polish-German physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most notable bearers of the surname Pollak was Hermann Pollak (1838-1897), an Austrian architect who designed several prominent buildings in Vienna, including the Palais Ephrussi and the Burgtheater.

Throughout history, the surname Pollak has been spelled in various ways, such as Polak, Pollack, and Pollacek, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. While the name originated in Central and Eastern Europe, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pollak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pollak surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Pollaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 10.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hampstead London in Middlesex leads with 6 Pollaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 283.02x.

Place Total Index
Hampstead London 6 283.02x
Islington London 4 30.26x
Hackney London 3 39.22x
St George Bloomsbury 1 128.21x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pollak surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Margaret 2
Earnistone 1
Emilia 1
Henriette 1
Mary 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pollak surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 2
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Herman 1
Louis 1
Otto 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pollak households.

FAQ

Pollak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pollak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Pollak surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pollak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Pollak a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Pollak surname mean?

A surname of Slavic origin referring to someone from Poland or of Polish descent.

What does the Pollak map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pollak 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.