NameCensus.

UK surname

Zak

A shortened form of Polish or Ukrainian surnames derived from the personal name Zachary, meaning "remembered by God."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carse and Grangemouth Old Town, Caerphilly and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zak is 468 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

468

2016, ranked #10,507

Peak year

2016

468 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016, ranked #10,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Zak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zak surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zak 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
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 86 #29,484
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 257 #15,777
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 399 #11,740
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 447 #10,969
2015 modern 456 #10,715
2016 modern 468 #10,507

Geography

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Where Zaks 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 Carse and Grangemouth Old Town, Caerphilly, Waltham Forest, Reading and Breckland. 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 Carse and Grangemouth Old Town Falkirk
2 Caerphilly 005 Caerphilly
3 Waltham Forest 025 Waltham Forest
4 Reading 007 Reading
5 Breckland 015 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Zak

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Zak is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Zak 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

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

Meaning and origin of Zak

The surname "ZAK" is believed to have originated in Poland, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Polish word "zak," which translates to "disciple" or "novice." This name was likely given to individuals who were associated with religious orders or monasteries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ZAK" can be found in the Księga Henrykowska, a 13th-century manuscript that documented land ownership and transactions in the Silesian region of Poland. This document mentions a nobleman named Zbigniew Zak, who owned a significant portion of land near the town of Henryków.

In the 14th century, the name "ZAK" was also found in the Księga Ławnicza, a legal record book maintained by the city council of Kraków. This record includes several references to individuals with the surname "ZAK," indicating that the name had spread to other parts of Poland by that time.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname "ZAK" was Jan Zak, a Polish painter and engraver who lived from 1520 to 1584. His artworks, which often depicted religious scenes, can still be found in several churches and museums throughout Poland.

In the 17th century, a Polish military commander named Stanisław Zak gained recognition for his bravery and leadership during the Polish-Ottoman War. He was born in 1615 and died in 1683 after sustaining injuries in the Battle of Vienna.

Another prominent individual with the surname "ZAK" was Józef Zak, a Polish philosopher and educator who lived from 1785 to 1858. He was a professor at the University of Vilnius and made significant contributions to the fields of logic and ethics.

As the name "ZAK" spread across Europe, it also appeared in various place names and surnames with slight variations in spelling. For example, in Germany, there are towns and villages named Zakrzów and Zakhausen, which may have derived from the same linguistic roots as the surname "ZAK."

While the surname "ZAK" has its origins in Poland, it has since been adopted by individuals of various nationalities and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the migration and intermingling of populations throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zak surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 468 in 2016. That gives Zak a modern rank of #10,507.

What does the Zak surname mean?

A shortened form of Polish or Ukrainian surnames derived from the personal name Zachary, meaning "remembered by God."

What does the Zak map show?

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