Jirak last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Jirak is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Jirak.

Meaning of Jirak

A Bohemian surname possibly derived from the word for a falcon or hawk.

Jirak, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Jirak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jirak in America

Jirak is the 45347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jirak surname appeared 472 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jirak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jirak to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 45347 44273 2.40%
Count 472 458 3.01%
Proportion per 100k 0.16 0.17 -6.06%

The history of the last name Jirak

The surname JIRAK is of Czech origin, originating in the region of Bohemia during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old Czech word "jirák," which referred to a person who made or sold coats or other outer garments. This connection to the clothing trade suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been involved in the textile industry or worked as tailors or furriers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the JIRAK name can be found in a 14th-century chronicle from the town of Litomerice, where a certain "Jan Jirak" is mentioned as a respected burgher and merchant. This document provides valuable insights into the social status and economic activities of those bearing the name during that time period.

In the 15th century, a man named "Vaclav Jirak" is recorded as a prominent scholar and rector of the University of Prague, indicating that the JIRAK name had gained recognition among the educated elite. This entry also highlights the diversity of professions associated with the surname, as it evolved from its initial associations with the clothing trade.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the JIRAK name continued to spread throughout Bohemia and Moravia, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such figure was "Jan Amos Jirak" (1592-1647), a respected Protestant minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and intellectual life of the region.

Another prominent bearer of the JIRAK name was "Antonín Jirak" (1744-1811), a renowned architect and urban planner who designed numerous churches, palaces, and public buildings in Prague and other cities across Bohemia. His contributions to the architectural landscape of the region have left a lasting legacy.

In the 19th century, the JIRAK surname gained further recognition with the birth of "Karel Jirak" (1891-1972), a celebrated Czech writer and poet whose works explored themes of national identity and the struggles of the Czech people under foreign rule. His literary achievements earned him a place among the most influential figures of the Czech cultural renaissance.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the JIRAK surname, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, clergy, architects, and literary figures. While the name originated in the clothing trade, it has since transcended its humble beginnings and become a prominent part of Czech cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jirak

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Jirak.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Jirak was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.25% 459
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.06% 5
Hispanic Origin 1.69% 8

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Jirak has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.25% 97.16% 0.09%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 1.09% -200.00%
Two or More Races 1.06% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 1.69% 1.53% 9.94%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Jirak was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jirak, please contact us.

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"Jirak last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/jirak-surname-popularity/.

"Jirak last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/jirak-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Jirak last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/jirak-surname-popularity/.

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