2010
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kavalec
A surname derived from the word "caballus" meaning horse, possibly referring to a horse breeder or someone who worked with horses.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Kavalec. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kavalec 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
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Kavalec in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kavalec, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kavalec
The surname Kavalec is of Czech origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in the region of Bohemia. It is believed to have derived from the Czech word "kavalec," which means "log" or "timber." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or trade related to woodworking or forestry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kavalec can be found in the Bohemian land registers dating back to the 14th century. These records were often used to document land ownership and transactions, indicating that some individuals bearing this surname may have been landowners or involved in agricultural activities during that time.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Jan Kavalec was mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Prague. He was a prominent merchant and guild member who played a role in shaping the economic and cultural landscape of the city during the Renaissance period.
As time progressed, the Kavalec name spread beyond the borders of Bohemia. In the 18th century, a family bearing this surname was documented in the town of Brno, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. One of the members, Josef Kavalec (1725-1799), was a respected artisan and craftsman known for his intricate woodcarvings.
During the 19th century, the name Kavalec gained recognition in the field of literature. Antonín Kavalec (1842-1901) was a Czech writer and poet who contributed to the development of the Czech literary canon. His works often explored themes of nature and rural life, reflecting his appreciation for the natural world and his connection to the land.
Another notable figure from this era was Karel Kavalec (1869-1944), a renowned architect who played a significant role in the design and construction of several iconic buildings in Prague and other cities across the Czech lands. His architectural style blended traditional Czech elements with modern influences, leaving a lasting impact on the urban landscape.
As the 20th century unfolded, the Kavalec name continued to be represented in various fields. Jaroslav Kavalec (1920-1988) was a celebrated Czech filmmaker who directed several acclaimed movies that explored social and political themes relevant to the time. His works were widely recognized both domestically and internationally, contributing to the rich cultural heritage of Czech cinema.
While the surname Kavalec may have originated from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on the history and culture of the Czech lands and beyond. From artisans and writers to architects and filmmakers, individuals bearing this name have made significant contributions across various domains, reflecting the resilience and diversity of their heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kavalec
Among Census respondents with the surname Kavalec, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Kavalec 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 Kavalec surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino2.7% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kavalec
Kavalec appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-1 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,099 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 1,099 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 Kavalec 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 | #148,347 | #149,446 | -0.7% |
| Count | 111 | 110 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kavalec bearers went from 111 to 110 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 1,099 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #149,446.
FAQ
Kavalec surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kavalec?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Kavalec. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Kavalec?
Kavalec ranks #149,446 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 110 people with the surname Kavalec. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), 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 Kavalec.
Has Kavalec become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kavalec went from 111 recorded bearers to 110. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #148,347 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Kavalec?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kavalec, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.7%) and Black (0.9%). 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 Kavalec in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.5% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kavalec appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.5%), Hispanic (2.7%), Black (0.9%). 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 Kavalec (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 Kavalec mean?
A surname derived from the word "caballus" meaning horse, possibly referring to a horse breeder or someone who worked with horses. 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 Kavalec (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 are called Kavalec?
See how many people are called Kavalec on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.