2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Chernikoff
A Russian surname derived from "chernik" meaning charcoaler or one who produces charcoal.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 115 Americans carry the last name Chernikoff. That puts it at #155,682 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,980,473 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chernikoff 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
115
1 in 2,980,473
Census rank
#155,682
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
100
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 100 bearers of the surname Chernikoff in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155682nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chernikoff, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (13.0%) and Two or More Races (12.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chernikoff
The surname Chernikoff is of Russian origin, with its roots dating back to the 17th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Moscow and the surrounding areas. The name is derived from the Russian word "cherny," meaning "black," which may have referred to the color of the person's hair or complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chernikoff surname can be found in the Russian census records of the late 17th century. The name appears to have been prominent among the merchant class and artisans of Moscow during that time period.
In the 18th century, the Chernikoff surname gained some prominence with the rise of Ivan Chernikoff, a renowned Russian painter and portraitist (1701-1766). His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Russia, and his legacy helped establish the Chernikoff name as one associated with artistic talent.
Another notable figure bearing the Chernikoff surname was Nikolai Chernikoff (1828-1898), a Russian military officer who fought in the Crimean War and the Russo-Turkish War. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him several commendations and honors.
In the late 19th century, the Chernikoff family expanded its reach beyond Russia with the emigration of several members to other parts of Europe and North America. One such individual was Yuri Chernikoff (1867-1932), who settled in New York City and became a successful businessman in the textile industry.
As the 20th century dawned, the Chernikoff name continued to gain recognition in various fields. One such individual was Ekaterina Chernikoff (1905-1988), a renowned Russian ballet dancer who performed with the Bolshoi Ballet and later taught at the Vaganova School in St. Petersburg.
Throughout its history, the Chernikoff surname has been associated with a diverse range of professions and achievements, from the arts and military to business and academia. While its origins can be traced back to 17th-century Russia, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals who have left their mark on the world in their own unique ways.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chernikoff
Among Census respondents with the surname Chernikoff, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (13.0%) and Two or More Races (12.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Chernikoff 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 Chernikoff surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White73.0% · 73
- American Indian and Alaska Native13.0% · 13
- Two or more races12.0% · 12
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chernikoff
Chernikoff 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
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+4 bearers (+3.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,400 places
2020
#155,682
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-15 bearers (-13.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 11,541 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.6%) | Down 5,400 places |
| 2020 | #155,682 | 100 | 0.03 | -15 bearers (-13.0%) | Down 11,541 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 Chernikoff 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 | #144,141 | #155,682 | -8.0% |
| Count | 115 | 100 | -13.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -16.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chernikoff bearers went from 115 to 100 (-13.0% change). The surname moved down 11,541 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #155,682.
FAQ
Chernikoff surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chernikoff?
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the surname Chernikoff. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,980,473 residents.
How common is Chernikoff?
Chernikoff ranks #155,682 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 100 people with the surname Chernikoff. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (115), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Chernikoff.
Has Chernikoff become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chernikoff went from 115 recorded bearers to 100. That is a decrease of 15 (-13.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #155,682.
What does the Census say about the background of Chernikoff?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chernikoff, the largest self-reported group is White at 73.0%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (13.0%) and Two or More Races (12.0%). 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 Chernikoff in the 2020 Census, accounting for 73.0% (73 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chernikoff appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (73.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (13.0%), Two or More Races (12.0%). 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 Chernikoff (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 Chernikoff mean?
A Russian surname derived from "chernik" meaning charcoaler or one who produces charcoal. 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 Chernikoff (0.03 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 many people have the last name Chernikoff?
Want to know how many people are called Chernikoff? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.