2000
#116,835
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 138
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Klopotek
A Serbian surname meaning "troublemaker" or "mischief-maker."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Klopotek. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Klopotek 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
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Klopotek in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Klopotek, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Klopotek
The surname KLOPOTEK is of Polish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "kłopot," meaning "trouble" or "difficulty." This could suggest that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who frequently found themselves in challenging situations or faced numerous hardships.
The earliest known record of the KLOPOTEK surname dates back to 1587, when it appeared in the parish records of the village of Kruszwica, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region of Poland. This region was known for its agricultural communities, and it is possible that the name originated among farming families.
In the 17th century, variations of the spelling emerged, such as KŁOPOTEK and KŁOPOTECKI, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations common in that era. These variations were often used interchangeably, making it challenging to trace specific family lines.
One notable individual with the KLOPOTEK surname was Jan KLOPOTEK, a prominent Polish military officer who served during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the late 17th century. He fought in several battles against Swedish and Russian forces, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.
Another historical figure was Zofia KLOPOTEK, a Polish noblewomen who lived in the 18th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of various cultural and educational initiatives in her region.
In the 19th century, the KLOPOTEK surname appeared in the records of several Polish cities, including Warsaw, Krakow, and Poznań. This suggests that members of the family had migrated to urban areas, possibly seeking new opportunities or fleeing conflicts in rural regions.
Stanisław KLOPOTEK, born in 1821, was a prominent lawyer and legal scholar who made significant contributions to the development of Polish civil law. His works on property rights and contract law were widely studied and influenced generations of legal professionals.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the KLOPOTEK name began to appear in emigration records, indicating that some individuals with this surname had left Poland in search of better opportunities or to escape political unrest. Their descendants can now be found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and other countries with significant Polish diaspora communities.
While the KLOPOTEK surname may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions to various fields, showcasing the diverse paths taken by those bearing this distinctive Polish name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Klopotek
Among Census respondents with the surname Klopotek, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Klopotek 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 Klopotek surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6% · 109
- Two or more races1.8% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Klopotek
Klopotek 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
#148,347
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-27 bearers (-19.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 31,512 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
+3 bearers (+2.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,852 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #116,835 | 138 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #148,347 | 111 | 0.04 | -27 bearers (-19.6%) | Down 31,512 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.7%) | Up 1,852 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 Klopotek 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 | #146,495 | 1.2% |
| Count | 111 | 114 | 2.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Klopotek bearers went from 111 to 114 (+2.7% change). The surname moved up 1,852 positions in the national ranking, going from #148,347 to #146,495.
FAQ
Klopotek surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Klopotek?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Klopotek. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Klopotek?
Klopotek ranks #146,495 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 114 people with the surname Klopotek. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), 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 Klopotek.
Has Klopotek become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Klopotek went from 111 recorded bearers to 114. That is an increase of 3 (+2.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #148,347 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Klopotek?
Among Census respondents with the surname Klopotek, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (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 Klopotek in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.6% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Klopotek appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.6%), Two or More Races (1.8%), Hispanic (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 Klopotek (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 Klopotek mean?
A Serbian surname meaning "troublemaker" or "mischief-maker." 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 Klopotek (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 Klopotek?
You can see how many people are called Klopotek on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.