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Nowak Family History

Nowak Name Meaning

Polish Rusyn (from Poland) Sorbian and Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): nickname for a newcomer to a place or someone new to a profession or occupation from a derivative of Polish and Sorbian nowy ‘new’. This surname is extremely common in Poland and also very frequent in Germany (see also 2 below). Germanized or Americanized form of Czech and Slovak Novák and Slovenian Croatian Serbian Ukrainian Rusyn and Jewish Novak both generally meaning ‘newcomer’. Compare Nowack .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022

Similar surnames: Nowik, Novak, Kozak, Polak, Bosak, Dolak, Nosek, Kolak, Kobak, Kowal

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Where is the Nowak family from?

You can see how Nowak families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Nowak family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Nowak families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 27 Nowak families living in Ontario. This was about 34% of all the recorded Nowak's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Nowak families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Nowak surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Nowak

What Nowak family records will you find?

Census Records
There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Nowak. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nowak census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
Search Canadian census records for Nowak
Passenger Lists
There are 24,000 immigration records available for the last name Nowak. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
View all Nowak immigration records
Draft Cards
There are 21,000 military records available for the last name Nowak. For the veterans among your Nowak ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.
View all Nowak military records

Census Records

There are 49,000 census records available for the last name Nowak. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Nowak census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Nowak

Passenger Lists

There are 24,000 immigration records available for the last name Nowak. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Nowak immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 21,000 military records available for the last name Nowak. For the veterans among your Nowak ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Nowak military records

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What is the average Nowak lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Nowak life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Nowak in 1940 was 51, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Nowak

Browse profiles of historical people with the Nowak last name

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