2000
#56,687
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 337
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.12
Very Rare Last name
Csonka
A surname of Hungarian origin meaning "crippled" or "mutilated".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Csonka. That puts it at #60,717 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Csonka 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
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#60,717
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
358
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 358 bearers of the surname Csonka in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 60717th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Csonka, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Csonka
The surname Csonka is of Hungarian origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Hungarian word "csonka," which means "maimed" or "lacking a limb." It's believed that this surname was initially bestowed upon individuals who had sustained injuries or physical disabilities, particularly the loss of a limb, during wars or other conflicts.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Hungary experienced numerous military campaigns and battles against invading forces, such as the Mongols and the Ottomans. During these turbulent times, many soldiers and warriors likely acquired the surname Csonka, reflecting their sacrifices and wounds sustained in combat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Csonka can be found in the Liber Regius, an official register of Hungarian nobility from the late 14th century. This document mentions a nobleman named Petrus Csonka, who served as a knight and held lands in the region of Zemplén.
In the 15th century, the Csonka family gained prominence in the region of Szabolcs, where they owned significant estates and played a role in local governance. A notable figure from this era was Mihály Csonka (c. 1420-1492), a respected landowner and military commander who fought against the Ottoman Turks.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Csonka name appeared in various historical records and documents across Hungary. One prominent individual was István Csonka (1561-1628), a clergyman and writer who authored several religious texts and served as the bishop of Eger.
In the 18th century, the Csonka family had significant presence in the region of Somogy. János Csonka (1720-1785) was a notable figure from this era, serving as a magistrate and playing a crucial role in local administration.
Another notable bearer of the Csonka surname was Pál Csonka (1892-1964), a Hungarian military officer and politician who served as the Minister of Defense during the interwar period and later became a member of the Hungarian Parliament.
Throughout history, the Csonka surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, clergy, landowners, and government officials. While the name's origins may have been rooted in physical disability, it has since evolved to represent a proud Hungarian lineage with a rich historical legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Csonka
Among Census respondents with the surname Csonka, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and Hispanic (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Csonka 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 Csonka surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.8% · 318
- Two or more races4.7% · 17
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 13
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 7
- Black or African American0.6% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Csonka
Csonka 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
#61,123
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 329
-8 bearers (-2.4%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Down 4,436 places
2020
#60,717
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 358
+29 bearers (+8.8%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Up 406 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #56,687 | 337 | 0.12 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #61,123 | 329 | 0.11 | -8 bearers (-2.4%) | Down 4,436 places |
| 2020 | #60,717 | 358 | 0.12 | +29 bearers (+8.8%) | Up 406 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 Csonka 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 | #61,123 | #60,717 | 0.7% |
| Count | 329 | 358 | 8.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.12 | 8.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Csonka bearers went from 329 to 358 (+8.8% change). The surname moved up 406 positions in the national ranking, going from #61,123 to #60,717.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Csonka
FAQ
Csonka surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Csonka?
Name Census estimates that about 411 living Americans carry the surname Csonka. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 833,952 residents.
How common is Csonka?
Csonka ranks #60,717 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 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 358 people with the surname Csonka. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (411), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 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 Csonka.
Has Csonka become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Csonka went from 329 recorded bearers to 358. That is an increase of 29 (+8.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #61,123 to #60,717.
What does the Census say about the background of Csonka?
Among Census respondents with the surname Csonka, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and Hispanic (3.6%). 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 Csonka in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.8% (318 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Csonka appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.8%), Two or More Races (4.7%), Hispanic (3.6%). 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 Csonka (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 Csonka mean?
A surname of Hungarian origin meaning "crippled" or "mutilated". 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 Csonka (0.12 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 Csonka?
Want to know how many people have the last name Csonka? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.