NameCensus.

UK surname

Robak

A Polish surname derived from the word "robak" meaning "worm" or "maggot".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Isle of Wight and Tamworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Robak is 117 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2015

117 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Robak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Robak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Robak 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 30 #34,701
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 32 #34,790
2003 modern 35 #34,609
2004 modern 34 #34,868
2005 modern 41 #34,478
2006 modern 54 #33,780
2007 modern 62 #33,346
2008 modern 76 #32,279
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 82 #32,449
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Robaks 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 Hillingdon, Isle of Wight, Tamworth, Cardiff and Wycombe. 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 Hillingdon 011 Hillingdon
2 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
3 Tamworth 010 Tamworth
4 Cardiff 003 Cardiff
5 Wycombe 016 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Robak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Robak

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Robak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Robak 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Robak is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Robak 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

Robak falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Robak 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 Robak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Robak

The surname ROBAK is of Polish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the region known today as Poland. The name is derived from the Polish word "robak," which translates to "worm" or "caterpillar." It is believed that the surname was initially used as a nickname or a descriptive identifier, perhaps referring to someone who worked with silkworms or had a profession related to agriculture or textiles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROBAK surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Poloniae, a collection of historical documents dating back to the 12th century. In this manuscript, a person named "Robertus Robak" is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction in the town of Poznań in the year 1245.

During the 15th century, the ROBAK surname gained prominence in the region of Małopolska (Lesser Poland) and Mazowsze (Masovia). The Akta Grodzkie, a series of court records from this period, document several individuals bearing the ROBAK name, including Jan Robak, a merchant from Kraków born around 1430, and Maciej Robak, a landowner in the village of Milanówek, whose birth year is estimated to be around 1470.

In the 16th century, the ROBAK surname spread to other parts of Poland, as evidenced by the presence of individuals with this name in various historical records. One notable figure was Bartłomiej Robak, a scholar and translator born in Gdańsk (Danzig) in 1524, who is credited with producing the first Polish translation of Virgil's Aeneid.

As the centuries progressed, the ROBAK surname continued to be well-represented in various Polish communities. In the 18th century, Józef Robak (1737-1809) was a prominent painter and engraver from Warsaw, known for his religious works and portraits. Another notable figure was Stanisław Robak (1790-1858), a military officer who fought in the November Uprising against Russian rule in 1830-1831.

During the 19th century, the ROBAK surname found its way into various regions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as many Poles migrated or were displaced due to political and economic circumstances. One such individual was Franciszek Robak (1822-1897), a Polish engineer and inventor who worked in Vienna and is credited with developing an early form of the magnetic compass.

Throughout its long history, the ROBAK surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, military figures, and professionals. While the specific origins of the name may be rooted in an agricultural or textile-related profession, the ROBAK surname has left an indelible mark on the rich cultural heritage of Poland and its diaspora communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Robak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Robak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Robak a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Robak surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from the word "robak" meaning "worm" or "maggot".

What does the Robak map show?

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