Explore the Family Name Zajac
The meaning of Zajac
Polish and Rusyn (from Poland) (Zając); Slovak, Rusyn (from Slovakia), and Czech (rarely Zajác): from Polish zając, Slovak and dialect Czech zajac, Rusyn zayats ‘hare’, a nickname for a swift runner or a shy person. This form of the surname is also found in Croatia and Serbia, where it is of Slovak origin. The same Sorbian surname (from Upper Sorbian zajac) is apparently found only in translated Germanized forms (see Haase and Hase). Compare Zajack, Zayac, and Ziats. Some characteristic forenames: Polish Kazimierz, Andrej, Andrzej, Casimir, Danuta, Iwona, Jerzy, Krzysztof, Leszek, Piotr, Stanislaw, Wladyslaw.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zajac in the United States?
The surname Zajac, according to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, experienced a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 6141st most common surname and slipped to 6444th by 2010, marking a change of -4.93%. Meanwhile, the count of individuals with this surname increased slightly by 2.63%, rising from 5135 in 2000 to 5270 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people fell marginally by -5.79% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,141 | #6,444 | -4.93% |
| Count | 5,135 | 5,270 | 2.63% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.9 | 1.79 | -5.79% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zajac
In terms of ethnicity, based on findings from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority of individuals with the Zajac surname identified as White in both 2000 (96.51%) and 2010 (96.98%), showing a minimal increase of 0.49%. The percentage who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander dropped by -11.32%, from 0.53% in 2000 to 0.47% in 2010. Those reporting as being of two or more ethnic identities saw a significant decrease from 1.29% to 0.66%, a change of -48.84%. The Hispanic representation saw a moderate increase of 16.43%, going from 1.40% to 1.63%. There were no reported individuals identifying as Black in 2000 but this rose to 0.25% in 2010. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category remained static at 0.00% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.51% | 96.98% | 0.49% |
| Hispanic | 1.4% | 1.63% | 16.43% |
| Two or More Races | 1.29% | 0.66% | -48.84% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.53% | 0.47% | -11.32% |
| Black | 0% | 0.25% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Zajac 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 Zajac is Eastern European, which comprises 47.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (21.1%) and French & German (12.6%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Eastern European | 47.5% |
| British & Irish | 21.1% |
| French & German | 12.6% |
| Other | 18.8% |
Possible origins of the surname Zajac
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 Zajac have recent ancestry locations in Poland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland | 67.50% |
| Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland | 67.50% |
| Masovian Voivodeship, Poland | 63.50% |
| Lublin Voivodeship, Poland | 52.40% |
| Silesian Voivodeship, Poland | 51.60% |
What Zajac 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 Zajac is R-L260, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L260 is descended from haplogroup R-M420. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS3402 and G-P287, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Kowal, Wargo, Hudak, Jaworski, Kwiatkowski, Rutkowski, Kozak, Kovach, Wilk, Krupa.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zajac surname are: H1, U2_3_4_7_8_9, 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 Zajac 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.
"Zajac" Surname 41.7%
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.
"Zajac" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zajac" Surname 29.2%
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.
"Zajac" Surname 15.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zajac?
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 Zajac are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition