2000
#114,166
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 142
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Cacek
A Czech surname derived from the Slavic root "cak", meaning "to wait, hope or expect".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 158 Americans carry the last name Cacek. That puts it at #129,045 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,169,331 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cacek surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
158
1 in 2,169,331
Census rank
#129,045
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
138
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 138 bearers of the surname Cacek in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 129045th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cacek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cacek
The surname Cacek is of Czech origin, originating in the region of Bohemia during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Czech word "čáček," which means "a little stork" or "a small wading bird." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a distinctive gait or appearance reminiscent of a stork.
In the 13th century, the use of inherited surnames became more common in Bohemia, as families sought to establish their identities and distinguish themselves from others. The earliest known record of the Cacek surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus et Epistolaris Regni Bohemiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Bohemia, which mentions a certain "Martinus Czaczek" in the year 1369.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing this surname was Jan Cacek (c. 1450-1520), a respected scholar and rector of the University of Prague during the Renaissance period. He was known for his contributions to the field of theology and his advocacy for educational reforms.
Another prominent figure was Karel Cacek (1588-1660), a Bohemian nobleman and military commander who served under the Holy Roman Emperor during the Thirty Years' War. He played a significant role in several battles against the Protestant forces and was renowned for his strategic prowess.
In the 18th century, the Cacek family established themselves as prominent landowners in the region of Moravia. František Cacek (1719-1795) was a highly respected landowner and philanthropist, known for his charitable works and support for local communities.
During the 19th century, the Cacek surname gained international recognition with the exploits of the explorer and naturalist Josef Cacek (1821-1888). He embarked on several expeditions to South America and the Caribbean, documenting various plant and animal species, and contributing to the advancement of natural sciences.
Another notable figure from this period was the artist and sculptor Václav Cacek (1843-1912), whose works adorned many public spaces and churches across Bohemia and Moravia. His sculptures were celebrated for their intricate details and symbolic representations of Czech culture and history.
Throughout its history, the Cacek surname has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Czaczek, Czacek, and Čáček, reflecting the linguistic and cultural changes in the regions where it was prevalent. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained intact, serving as a testament to the rich heritage of the Czech people.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cacek
Among Census respondents with the surname Cacek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Cacek bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Cacek surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2% · 130
- Hispanic or Latino4.3% · 6
- Two or more races1.4% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cacek
Cacek appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#119,508
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 145
+3 bearers (+2.1%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 5,342 places
2020
#129,045
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 138
-7 bearers (-4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 9,537 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #114,166 | 142 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #119,508 | 145 | 0.05 | +3 bearers (+2.1%) | Down 5,342 places |
| 2020 | #129,045 | 138 | 0.05 | -7 bearers (-4.8%) | Down 9,537 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Cacek surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #119,508 | #129,045 | -8.0% |
| Count | 145 | 138 | -4.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | -7.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cacek bearers went from 145 to 138 (-4.8% change). The surname moved down 9,537 positions in the national ranking, going from #119,508 to #129,045.
FAQ
Cacek surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cacek?
Name Census estimates that about 158 living Americans carry the surname Cacek. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,169,331 residents.
How common is Cacek?
Cacek ranks #129,045 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 138 people with the surname Cacek. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (158), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Cacek.
Has Cacek become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cacek went from 145 recorded bearers to 138. That is a decrease of 7 (-4.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #119,508 to #129,045.
What does the Census say about the background of Cacek?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cacek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.3%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Cacek in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.2% (130 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cacek appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.2%), Hispanic (4.3%), Two or More Races (1.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Cacek (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Cacek mean?
A Czech surname derived from the Slavic root "cak", meaning "to wait, hope or expect". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Cacek (0.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Cacek?
Want to know how many Americans have the surname Cacek? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.