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

Paleček, 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 Paleček surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Paleček in America

Paleček is the 37125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Paleček surname appeared 601 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 Paleček.

We can also compare 2010 data for Paleček 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 Paleček

The surname Palecek originates from the Czech Republic, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Czech word "palec," which means "thumb" or "inch." This suggests that the name might have been initially associated with a person's physical characteristic or occupation related to measuring or working with their hands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Palecek can be found in the Bohemian land records from the 14th century. These historical documents mention a Vaclav Palecek, a notable figure who held a position of authority in the town of Kutná Hora during the reign of King Charles IV.

During the Renaissance period, the Palecek surname gained prominence in the region of Moravia, which was then a part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. A notable bearer of the name was Jan Palecek (1508-1572), a respected scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the Hussite Reformation movement.

In the 17th century, the Palecek family established itself in the town of Brno, where they were involved in various trades and professions. One notable member was Matej Palecek (1639-1701), a skilled craftsman who gained recognition for his intricate woodcarving works adorning local churches and public buildings.

The 18th century saw the Palecek name spread beyond the borders of Bohemia and Moravia. In 1782, records show a Frantisek Palecek (1755-1822) settling in the city of Krakow, Poland, where he established a successful business as a merchant and trader.

As the centuries passed, the Palecek surname continued to be associated with notable individuals. In the 19th century, Jan Palecek (1823-1891) was a renowned Czech author and journalist who played a significant role in the Czech National Revival movement, advocating for the preservation of the Czech language and culture.

The 20th century brought forth Jaroslav Palecek (1912-1997), a renowned Czech painter and sculptor whose works were celebrated for their unique style and artistic expression. His sculptures and murals can be found adorning public spaces and galleries throughout the Czech Republic.

Throughout its history, the Palecek surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, craftsmen, and merchants. While the exact origin of the name remains uncertain, it has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of the Czech lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Paleček

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!