Bartok
A Hungarian surname derived from the medieval masculine name Bartholomew.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 754 Americans carry the last name Bartok. That puts it at #34,707 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 454,581 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bartok surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
754
1 in 454,581
Census rank
#34,707
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
651
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 651 bearers of the surname Bartok in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 34707th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartok, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bartok
The surname Bartok is believed to have originated in Hungary, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Hungarian word "bartok," which means "axe" or "hatchet." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to a person who worked as a woodcutter or lumberjack.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bartok can be found in a Hungarian census record from the late 15th century, where it was spelled "Bartouck." This variation in spelling was common in those times due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
By the 16th century, the name had spread to various regions of the Hungarian Kingdom, with notable families bearing the Bartok surname residing in towns such as Eger and Debrecen. In the 17th century, a wealthy merchant named Istvan Bartok was mentioned in a trade document from the city of Sopron, indicating the name's association with the merchant class.
The name Bartok gained further recognition in the 19th century with the birth of the renowned Hungarian composer and pianist Bela Bartok (1881-1945). His works, which incorporated elements of Hungarian folk music, helped to elevate the Bartok name to international prominence.
Another notable figure with the Bartok surname was the Hungarian-American mathematician Pal Bartok (1924-2019), who made significant contributions to the field of combinatorics and graph theory. He was born in Budapest and later emigrated to the United States, where he taught at various universities.
In the realm of sports, Zoltan Bartok (1923-1990) was a Hungarian Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay in 1952.
The name Bartok has also been associated with various place names in Hungary, such as the village of Bartokmuzsaj, which was likely named after a person or family with the Bartok surname.
While the surname Bartok has its roots in Hungary, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the Hungarian word "bartok," reflecting the rich history and linguistic heritage of the Magyar people.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bartok
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartok, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bartok bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bartok surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9%
- Hispanic or Latino4.5%
- Two or more races1.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bartok surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,707 | #34,707 | 0.0% |
| Count | 651 | 651 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bartok bearers went from 651 to 651 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #34,707 to #34,707.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bartok
FAQ
Bartok surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bartok?
The surname Bartok holds position #34,707 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 754 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bartok surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bartok, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.