2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kucer
An occupational surname derived from the Czech word "kuchař" meaning cook or chef.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Kucer. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kucer 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
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Kucer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kucer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kucer
The surname Kucer has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Czech word "kuchař," which means "cook" or "chef." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname given to individuals who worked as cooks or chefs.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kucer can be found in the historical records of the town of Pilsen, located in the western part of the Czech Republic. These records mention a man named Jan Kucer, who lived in the late 16th century and worked as a cook for a wealthy family in the town.
As the name spread throughout the Czech lands, it underwent various spelling variations, including Kuchar, Kucharz, and Kucharzyk. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the influence of other languages spoken in the area, such as German and Polish.
In the 17th century, the name Kucer appeared in the records of the town of Brno, located in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. One notable individual from this time was Jakub Kucer, a renowned chef who worked in the kitchens of the local nobility. His culinary skills were widely praised, and he is said to have introduced several innovative dishes to the region.
The 19th century saw the emergence of several prominent figures bearing the Kucer surname. One such individual was Jan Kucer (1820-1892), a Czech writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Czech National Revival movement. His works helped to promote and preserve the Czech language and culture.
Another notable individual from this period was Frantisek Kucer (1845-1917), a Czech architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Prague, including the renowned National Theatre. His contributions to the architectural landscape of the city are still celebrated today.
In the 20th century, the name Kucer continued to be associated with achievements in various fields. One example is Karel Kucer (1924-2010), a renowned Czech composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His compositions were performed by orchestras around the globe, and he received numerous accolades for his work.
While the Kucer surname has its roots in the Czech Republic, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. Today, individuals bearing this name can be found in various countries, each with their own unique stories and connections to the rich history of the Kucer lineage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kucer
Among Census respondents with the surname Kucer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Kucer 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 Kucer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9% · 91
- Hispanic or Latino6.1% · 6
- Two or more races2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kucer
Kucer 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
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-8 bearers (-7.2%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 18,493 places
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-4 bearers (-3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 1,229 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -8 bearers (-7.2%) | Down 18,493 places |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -4 bearers (-3.9%) | Up 1,229 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 Kucer 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 | #157,234 | #156,005 | 0.8% |
| Count | 103 | 99 | -3.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 10.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kucer bearers went from 103 to 99 (-3.9% change). The surname moved up 1,229 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #156,005.
FAQ
Kucer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kucer?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Kucer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Kucer?
Kucer ranks #156,005 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 99 people with the surname Kucer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), 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 Kucer.
Has Kucer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kucer went from 103 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 4 (-3.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Kucer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kucer, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.1%) and Two or More Races (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 Kucer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (91 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kucer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.9%), Hispanic (6.1%), Two or More Races (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 Kucer (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 Kucer mean?
An occupational surname derived from the Czech word "kuchař" meaning cook or chef. 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 Kucer (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 people share the surname Kucer?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.