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

Pivonka, 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 Pivonka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pivonka in America

Pivonka is the 42937th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pivonka surname appeared 504 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 Pivonka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pivonka 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 Pivonka

The surname Pivonka is of Czech origin, with roots dating back to the late 15th century in the region of Bohemia, now part of the modern-day Czech Republic. The name is derived from the Czech word "pivonka," which means "peony," a type of flowering plant.

In early records, the surname was often spelled as "Piwonka" or "Piwonkowa," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in a 1496 tax register from the town of Litomerice, where a certain Jan Piwonka is listed as a resident.

The name's association with the peony flower suggests that the original bearers of the surname may have been involved in the cultivation or trade of these plants, or perhaps lived in an area where peonies were particularly abundant. Alternatively, the name could have been a descriptive nickname referring to an individual's physical appearance or personality traits likened to the flower.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the Pivonka name appears in various historical records across Bohemia, including church registers, property deeds, and legal documents. Notable individuals from this period bearing the surname include Vaclav Pivonka (1523-1598), a renowned herbalist and apothecary from Prague, and Jakub Pivonka (1671-1739), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Klatovy.

As the Pivonka family spread throughout the region, the name also underwent variations in spelling, with forms such as "Piwonka," "Pyvonka," and "Pivenka" appearing in different locales. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the village of Horni Briznice, where they became notable farmers and landowners, contributing to the local economy and community.

One of the most notable figures in the Pivonka lineage was Jan Pivonka (1811-1888), a renowned botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of plants in Bohemia. His pioneering work in plant hybridization and the development of new varieties earned him widespread recognition and several prestigious honors.

Other notable individuals with the Pivonka surname include Frantisek Pivonka (1857-1932), a celebrated Czech painter known for his landscapes and portraits, and Katerina Pivonkova (1881-1962), a prominent educator and women's rights advocate who played a key role in establishing educational opportunities for girls in Bohemia.

While the Pivonka name has its roots in the Czech lands, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with descendants settling in various countries and contributing to diverse fields and endeavors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pivonka

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

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

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

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