2000
#127,186
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 124
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Hronec
A Slovak or Czech surname likely derived from the word "hron" meaning anthill or hillock.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Hronec. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hronec 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
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Hronec in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hronec, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hronec
The surname HRONEC is of Slavic origin, originating from the Czech Republic and Slovakia regions in Central Europe during the medieval period. It likely derived from the Old Slavic word "hron," meaning "horn" or "peak," referring to someone who lived near a prominent mountain or hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HRONEC can be found in the Bohemian land records from the 14th century, where it appeared as "Hronecz." This spelling variation hints at the name's evolution over time and its adaptation to different linguistic influences.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname HRONEC was Jan Hronec (1520-1591), a Czech Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the Bohemian Reformation movement. His writings and teachings helped shape the religious landscape of the region during that tumultuous period.
Fast forward to the 18th century, and we find Matej Hronec (1732-1809), a Slovak poet and writer celebrated for his contributions to the development of Slovak literature. His works, which often drew inspiration from folk tales and traditions, helped preserve the cultural heritage of his homeland.
In the 19th century, the name HRONEC gained prominence through the exploits of Juraj Hronec (1841-1912), a Slovak painter and illustrator renowned for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. His vibrant canvases captured the essence of Slovak village life and are now considered treasures of national art.
Another notable figure from this era was Andrej Hronec (1863-1940), a Slovak politician and lawyer who played a crucial role in the fight for Slovak autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His advocacy for Slovak rights and self-determination left a lasting impact on the country's political landscape.
In the early 20th century, the name HRONEC was further elevated by the achievements of Michal Hronec (1901-1976), a Slovak writer and journalist who chronicled the struggles and aspirations of the Slovak people during the turbulent years of World War II and the subsequent communist era.
These are just a few examples of the illustrious individuals who have carried the surname HRONEC throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural, political, and artistic tapestry of the Slavic nations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hronec
Among Census respondents with the surname Hronec, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Hronec 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 Hronec surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.1% · 102
- Hispanic or Latino3.6% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.6% · 4
- Two or more races1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hronec
Hronec 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
#142,108
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
-7 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,922 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-5 bearers (-4.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,846 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,186 | 124 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #142,108 | 117 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 14,922 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.3%) | Down 5,846 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 Hronec 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 | #142,108 | #147,954 | -4.1% |
| Count | 117 | 112 | -4.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hronec bearers went from 117 to 112 (-4.3% change). The surname moved down 5,846 positions in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #147,954.
FAQ
Hronec surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hronec?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Hronec. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Hronec?
Hronec ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 112 people with the surname Hronec. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Hronec.
Has Hronec become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hronec went from 117 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #142,108 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Hronec?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hronec, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (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 Hronec in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.1% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hronec appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.1%), Hispanic (3.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (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 Hronec (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 Hronec mean?
A Slovak or Czech surname likely derived from the word "hron" meaning anthill or hillock. 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 Hronec (0.04 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 Hronec?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Hronec on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.