Hrbek
A surname of Czech origin possibly derived from the words "hrb" meaning hunchback or hump.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Hrbek. That puts it at #59,901 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hrbek 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#59,901
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
337
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 337 bearers of the surname Hrbek in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 59901st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hrbek, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hrbek
The surname HRBEK is of Czech origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period in the region of Bohemia, which is now part of the modern-day Czech Republic. The name is derived from the Czech word "hrbek," which translates to "little hump" or "small hill," suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for someone living near a small hill or elevated terrain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HRBEK surname can be found in the Liber Viridis, a 14th-century manuscript compiled by the Cistercian monastery in Sedlec, near the city of Kutná Hora. This document lists several individuals with variations of the HRBEK name, such as Hrbek, Hrbek, and Hrbek.
The name HRBEK has also been associated with various place names throughout the Czech lands. For instance, there is a village called Hrbkov in the Plzeň Region, which may have been named after an early bearer of the HRBEK surname or vice versa.
One notable figure in history bearing the HRBEK name was Jan Hrbek (1590-1658), a Czech scholar and educator who served as the rector of the University of Prague during the turbulent period of the Thirty Years' War. Another significant individual was Václav Hrbek (1785-1853), a Czech composer and organist who contributed to the development of sacred music in Bohemia.
In the 19th century, the HRBEK surname gained prominence with the birth of Josef Hrbek (1844-1919), a Czech politician and journalist who played a crucial role in the Czech National Revival movement. His son, Jaroslav Hrbek (1881-1964), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned Czech historian and professor at Charles University in Prague.
Another notable bearer of the HRBEK name was Zdenek Hrbek (1915-1995), a Czech diplomat and ambassador who served as the Permanent Representative of Czechoslovakia to the United Nations from 1971 to 1983.
While the surname HRBEK is predominantly found in the Czech Republic, it has also spread to other parts of the world through immigration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be firmly traced back to the medieval lands of Bohemia, where it emerged as a descriptive name reflecting the region's topography.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hrbek
Among Census respondents with the surname Hrbek, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Hrbek 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 Hrbek surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.3%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hrbek 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 | #58,553 | #59,901 | -2.3% |
| Count | 324 | 337 | 4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.11 | -8.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hrbek bearers went from 324 to 337 (+4.0% change). The surname moved down 1,348 positions in the national ranking, going from #58,553 to #59,901.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hrbek
FAQ
Hrbek surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hrbek?
The surname Hrbek holds position #59,901 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hrbek surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hrbek, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%). 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.