Explore the Family Name Sokol
The meaning of Sokol
Polish (Sokół); Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Rusyn, Belorussian, Croatian, and Slovenian; Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic; also Sokół): from Slavic sokol (Polish sokół) ‘falcon’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a falconer, or a nickname for someone thought to resemble a falcon. In some of the languages it probably arose from the former use as a personal name, too. As a Jewish name it is generally artificial.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sokol in the United States?
The surname Sokol, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, has seen a slight decrease in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, Sokol was ranked 5751 in terms of popular surnames, and by 2010, it had slipped to 6158 - a drop of roughly 7.08%. However, the actual count of individuals with the Sokol surname increased slightly from 5517 in 2000 to 5559 in 2010, showing a growth of 0.76%. Despite this growth, the proportion of people named Sokol per 100,000 decreased by approximately 8.29%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,751 | #6,158 | -7.08% |
| Count | 5,517 | 5,559 | 0.76% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.05 | 1.88 | -8.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sokol
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the Sokol surname identify as White, although the percentage decreased from 97.28% in 2000 to 95.66% in 2010. The data also revealed an increase in the number of Sokols identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic, with a growth of 168.00% and 68.50%, respectively. Those identifying as having two or more races also rose by 35.96%, while the percentage of those identifying as Black saw a small rise of 22.22%. However, there was a decline of 15.38% in the number of Sokols identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.28% | 95.66% | -1.67% |
| Hispanic | 1.27% | 2.14% | 68.5% |
| Two or More Races | 0.89% | 1.21% | 35.96% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.25% | 0.67% | 168% |
| Black | 0.18% | 0.22% | 22.22% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.13% | 0.11% | -15.38% |
Sokol ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Sokol is Ashkenazi Jewish, which comprises 23.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Eastern European (21.4%) and British & Irish (21.4%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 23.8% |
| Eastern European | 21.4% |
| British & Irish | 21.4% |
| Other | 33.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Sokol
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Sokol have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 45.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 45.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 45.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 45.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 45.70% |
What Sokol haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Sokol is R-Z92, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z92 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-M417 and R-M458, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Farkas, Frank, Held, Pawlowski, Klein, Schwartz, Stern, Schuster, Baron, Urban.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Sokol surname are: K1a1b1a, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M420Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Sokol have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Sokol" Surname 40.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Sokol" Surname 37.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Sokol" Surname 25.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Sokol" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Sokol?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Sokol are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition