NameCensus.

UK surname

Zajac

A Polish or Slovak occupational surname referring to a person who herded or hunted hares or rabbits.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Plymouth and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zajac is 1,005 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,005

2016, ranked #5,783

Peak year

2016

1,005 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,005 in 2016, ranked #5,783.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Zajac surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zajac surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zajac 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 222 #17,032
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 337 #12,738
2006 modern 415 #10,928
2007 modern 499 #9,574
2008 modern 574 #8,690
2009 modern 642 #8,148
2010 modern 709 #7,710
2011 modern 761 #7,225
2012 modern 870 #6,407
2013 modern 921 #6,242
2014 modern 939 #6,182
2015 modern 973 #5,941
2016 modern 1,005 #5,783

Geography

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Where Zajacs 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 Tameside, Plymouth, Northumberland, Peterborough and Southampton. 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 Tameside 013 Tameside
2 Plymouth 029 Plymouth
3 Northumberland 030 Northumberland
4 Peterborough 012 Peterborough
5 Southampton 007 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zajac

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Zajac

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Zajac, 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 Zajac surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Zajac 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, Zajac 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

Zajac 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

Zajac 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 Zajac 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 Zajac, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Zajac

The surname Zajac originated in Poland, with its earliest recorded examples dating back to the 14th century. The name is derived from the Polish word "zajac," meaning "hare" or "rabbit," suggesting that the original bearers of the name may have had an association with these animals, either as hunters, breeders, or as a descriptive nickname.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Zajac can be found in the Akta Grodzkie, a collection of court records from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where a certain Stanislaw Zajac was mentioned in 1402. The name also appears in various medieval Polish manuscripts and chronicles, indicating its widespread use among the Polish nobility and commoners alike.

During the Middle Ages, the Zajac family established itself in various regions of Poland, with branches residing in cities such as Krakow, Warsaw, and Poznan. The name's spelling variations included Zayatz, Zayac, and Zajac, reflecting the different regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Zajac throughout history include Stanislaw Zajac (c. 1500-1570), a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Livonian War; Jakub Zajac (1640-1705), a Polish Jesuit missionary and explorer who traveled to South America; and Michal Zajac (1804-1885), a Polish painter renowned for his landscape and religious works.

In the 19th century, the Zajac surname gained further prominence with the birth of Ignacy Zajac (1832-1891), a Polish politician and journalist who played a significant role in the Polish independence movement. Another notable figure was Henryk Zajac (1870-1942), a Polish economist and professor who made important contributions to the field of agricultural economics.

As the Polish diaspora spread across the world, the Zajac surname traveled with them, with descendants now found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, the name's roots can be traced back to its Polish origins, where it has been a part of the country's rich cultural and historical tapestry for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zajac surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zajac surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,005 in 2016. That gives Zajac a modern rank of #5,783.

What does the Zajac surname mean?

A Polish or Slovak occupational surname referring to a person who herded or hunted hares or rabbits.

What does the Zajac map show?

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