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

Kerecz, 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 Kerecz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kerecz in America

Kerecz is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kerecz surname appeared 104 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 Kerecz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kerecz 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.

The history of the last name Kerecz

The surname Kerecz has its origins in Hungary, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Hungarian word "kerek," which means "round" or "circular." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a trade, such as a wheelwright or a potter, or with a particular geographical feature, like a circular settlement or a bend in a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kerecz can be found in a Hungarian census from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Kerech." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized orthography had not yet been established.

During the 15th century, the name Kerecz was prominently mentioned in several Hungarian chronicles and historical documents. One notable figure was János Kerecz, a military commander who fought alongside King Matthias Corvinus in the battles against the Ottoman Empire between 1458 and 1490.

In the 16th century, the name Kerecz was closely associated with the town of Kereckye, now known as Kerekegyháza, in Békés County, Hungary. It is believed that many individuals bearing this surname originated from this region or had ancestral ties to it.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the surname Kerecz. One such person was Péter Kerecz (1580-1642), a renowned Hungarian architect who designed several churches and castles in the Baroque style. Another was Zsigmond Kerecz (1698-1778), a Catholic priest and scholar who authored several theological treatises.

In the 19th century, the name Kerecz gained prominence with the birth of János Kerecz (1825-1912), a Hungarian politician and statesman who served as a member of the National Assembly and played a significant role in the formation of modern Hungarian politics.

Additionally, the Kerecz family was known for their contributions to the arts. Mihály Kerecz (1870-1945) was a celebrated painter and sculptor, renowned for his depictions of rural Hungarian life and landscapes. His works can be found in several prestigious museums throughout Hungary.

While the surname Kerecz has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, such as Kerech, Kerecz, and Kereczi, its Hungarian origins and association with trades, geographical features, and notable individuals have remained consistent over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kerecz

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

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 Kerecz was:

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 Kerecz has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Kerecz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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