2000
#62,775
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 298
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.11
Very Rare Last name
Herek
An occupational surname possibly derived from the word "Herec" meaning "actor" or "performer" in several Slavic languages.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 372 Americans carry the last name Herek. That puts it at #66,015 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 921,383 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Herek 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
372
1 in 921,383
Census rank
#66,015
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
324
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 324 bearers of the surname Herek in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 66015th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Herek, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Herek
The surname HEREK is believed to have originated in Poland, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old Polish word "herak," which referred to a type of cloak or outer garment worn by nobility or those of high social standing.
The earliest recorded instances of the name HEREK can be found in historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly in regions that were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time. Some of these records include mentions of individuals bearing the name in medieval town registries and land ownership documents.
One notable figure with the surname HEREK was Jan Herek, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Krakow during the 15th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the trade of textiles and spices, and his success allowed him to acquire significant wealth and property.
Another historical figure of note was Katarzyna Herek, a noblewoman from the 16th century who was known for her philanthropic efforts. She established a charitable foundation that provided support for widows and orphans, and her name is mentioned in several chronicles and church records from that period.
In the 17th century, the HEREK surname appears in connection with the village of Herekówka, located in what is now southeastern Poland. This suggests that the name may have also been associated with a specific geographic location or derived from a place name.
During the 18th century, a prominent military leader named Michal Herek gained recognition for his service in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's armed forces. He participated in several campaigns against foreign invaders and was known for his strategic military skills.
Throughout the centuries, variations in spelling have been observed, including Herac, Herak, and Herec, likely due to regional dialects and transcription practices of the time. However, the core form of HEREK has remained relatively consistent in historical records.
While the surname HEREK is not among the most common in Poland today, it continues to carry a rich historical legacy, reflecting its noble roots and the contributions of individuals who bore this name throughout the ages.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Herek
Among Census respondents with the surname Herek, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Herek 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 Herek surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.0% · 282
- Hispanic or Latino8.3% · 27
- Two or more races3.4% · 11
- Black or African American0.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Herek
Herek 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
#66,164
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 299
+1 bearers (+0.3%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 3,389 places
2020
#66,015
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 324
+25 bearers (+8.4%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 149 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #62,775 | 298 | 0.11 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #66,164 | 299 | 0.10 | +1 bearers (+0.3%) | Down 3,389 places |
| 2020 | #66,015 | 324 | 0.11 | +25 bearers (+8.4%) | Up 149 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 Herek 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 | #66,164 | #66,015 | 0.2% |
| Count | 299 | 324 | 8.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.11 | 8.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Herek bearers went from 299 to 324 (+8.4% change). The surname moved up 149 positions in the national ranking, going from #66,164 to #66,015.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Herek
FAQ
Herek surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Herek?
Name Census estimates that about 372 living Americans carry the surname Herek. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 921,383 residents.
How common is Herek?
Herek ranks #66,015 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 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 324 people with the surname Herek. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (372), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 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 Herek.
Has Herek become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Herek went from 299 recorded bearers to 324. That is an increase of 25 (+8.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #66,164 to #66,015.
What does the Census say about the background of Herek?
Among Census respondents with the surname Herek, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.3%) and Two or More Races (3.4%). 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 Herek in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.0% (282 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Herek appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.0%), Hispanic (8.3%), Two or More Races (3.4%). 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 Herek (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 Herek mean?
An occupational surname possibly derived from the word "Herec" meaning "actor" or "performer" in several Slavic languages. 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 Herek (0.11 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 Herek?
If you just want to know how many people have the last name Herek, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.