2000
#130,443
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Jahelka
A Czech topographic surname meaning "small thicket" or "little grove."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 115 Americans carry the last name Jahelka. 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 Jahelka 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 Jahelka 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 Jahelka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Jahelka
The surname Jahelka is of Czech origin, tracing its roots back to the late medieval period in what is now the modern-day Czech Republic. It is believed to have originated as a locative name, derived from a particular place or settlement where the earliest bearers of the name resided.
One possible explanation for the name's origin lies in its connection to the Czech word "jáhel," which translates to "buckwheat." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who cultivated or traded in buckwheat, or perhaps lived in an area known for its buckwheat production.
Historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries mention individuals bearing the Jahelka surname in various regions of Bohemia and Moravia, which were part of the Kingdom of Bohemia at that time. These early references provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during that period.
Interestingly, there are a few notable figures throughout history who bore the Jahelka surname. One such individual was Jan Jahelka (1543-1615), a Czech Protestant theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the religious upheavals of the time. His writings and sermons had a lasting impact on the intellectual and spiritual life of the region.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Karel Jahelka (1871-1942), a Czech politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Reichsrat (Imperial Council) in Vienna, representing Bohemia. His political career spanned the tumultuous years leading up to and during World War I.
In the artistic realm, the name Jahelka is associated with Jindřich Jahelka (1892-1964), a renowned Czech sculptor and medalist. His works, which often depicted scenes from Czech history and folklore, can be found in various public spaces and museums throughout the country.
The Jahelka surname also had a presence in the academic world, with Jan Jahelka (1909-1986), a respected Czech mathematician and educator. He made significant contributions to the field of algebra and taught at several prestigious universities in Czechoslovakia.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Tomáš Jahelka (1932-2018), a Czech football player and coach who had a successful career playing for various clubs in the former Czechoslovakia. He later transitioned to coaching and guided several teams to notable achievements.
These individuals, spanning different eras and professions, exemplify the rich history and diversity associated with the Jahelka surname, which continues to be carried by many families of Czech descent to this day.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Jahelka
Among Census respondents with the surname Jahelka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Jahelka 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 Jahelka surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 2
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Jahelka
Jahelka 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
-3 bearers (-2.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,665 places
2020
#155,682
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-17 bearers (-14.5%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,574 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #130,443 | 120 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #142,108 | 117 | 0.04 | -3 bearers (-2.5%) | Down 11,665 places |
| 2020 | #155,682 | 100 | 0.03 | -17 bearers (-14.5%) | Down 13,574 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 Jahelka 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 | #155,682 | -9.6% |
| Count | 117 | 100 | -14.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -16.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Jahelka bearers went from 117 to 100 (-14.5% change). The surname moved down 13,574 positions in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #155,682.
FAQ
Jahelka surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Jahelka?
Name Census estimates that about 115 living Americans carry the surname Jahelka. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,980,473 residents.
How common is Jahelka?
Jahelka 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 Jahelka. 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 Jahelka.
Has Jahelka become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Jahelka went from 117 recorded bearers to 100. That is a decrease of 17 (-14.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #142,108 to #155,682.
What does the Census say about the background of Jahelka?
Among Census respondents with the surname Jahelka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Jahelka in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Jahelka appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Hispanic (2.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Jahelka (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 Jahelka mean?
A Czech topographic surname meaning "small thicket" or "little grove." 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 Jahelka (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 Americans have the surname Jahelka?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.