Bondra
A surname of Slavic origin indicating a bondar, or maker of wooden staved vessels.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Bondra. That puts it at #88,020 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bondra 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#88,020
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
211
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 211 bearers of the surname Bondra in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 88020th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bondra, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bondra
The surname Bondra has its origins in Slovakia and the surrounding regions of Central Europe. It is believed to have derived from the Old Slavic word "bondar," which referred to a cooper or barrel-maker. This occupation was prevalent in the area during the medieval period, and it is likely that the name was initially used to identify individuals who worked in this trade.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bondra can be found in historical documents from the 16th century. In 1537, a record from the town of Brezno in present-day Slovakia mentions a "Ján Bondra," who was a local craftsman. Additionally, the name appears in various parish records and tax registers from the 17th and 18th centuries in the regions of Slovakia and Moravia.
One notable figure bearing the Bondra surname was Jozef Bondra, a Slovak writer and poet who lived from 1876 to 1960. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and contributed significantly to the development of Slovak literature. Another individual of note was Jaroslav Bondra, a Slovak ice hockey player who played for various teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1990 and 2004.
In the 19th century, the name Bondra began to spread beyond its Central European origins as families immigrated to other parts of the world. One such example is Ladislav Bondra, a Slovak-American ice hockey player who played in the NHL from 1989 to 2007. He was born in 1968 in Lutsk, Ukraine, but his family had roots in Slovakia.
The Bondra surname has also been associated with various place names in Slovakia, such as the village of Bondra, which is located in the Michalovce District. This village likely took its name from the prevalent occupation of barrel-making in the area.
Another notable figure with the Bondra surname was Ján Bondra, a Slovak politician and lawyer who lived from 1859 to 1936. He played a significant role in the Slovak national movement and was a member of the Hungarian Parliament, representing Slovak interests.
While the Bondra surname may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the regions of Central Europe where it originated. The name continues to be carried by individuals of Slovak descent and serves as a link to the past and the traditions of barrel-making that were once so prevalent in the area.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bondra
Among Census respondents with the surname Bondra, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Bondra 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 Bondra surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.0%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bondra 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #92,601 | #88,020 | 4.9% |
| Count | 184 | 211 | 14.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bondra bearers went from 184 to 211 (+14.7% change). The surname moved up 4,581 positions in the national ranking, going from #92,601 to #88,020.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bondra
FAQ
Bondra surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bondra?
The surname Bondra holds position #88,020 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bondra surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bondra, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.0%. 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.