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

Pokorný, 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 Pokorný surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pokorný in America

Pokorný is the 10954th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pokorný surname appeared 2,905 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pokorný.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pokorný 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 Pokorný

The surname Pokorny originates from the Czech Republic, where it first appeared in the 14th century. It is derived from the Czech word "pokorna," which means "humble" or "meek." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who exhibited these qualities or perhaps came from a town or region associated with humility.

One of the earliest known references to the Pokorny surname can be found in a medieval Czech manuscript dating back to 1387. This document lists a certain "Jan Pokorny" as a landowner in the village of Litovice.

In the 15th century, the name Pokorny began to spread beyond the Czech lands and into neighboring regions. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as "Pokorni" and "Pokornyi," likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of written language at the time.

A notable bearer of the Pokorny name was Jakub Pokorny (1472-1538), a Czech theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Hussite movement. He was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and advocated for the use of the Czech language in religious services.

Another historical figure with this surname was Jan Pokorny (1589-1647), a Czech mathematician and astronomer. He is credited with improving the accuracy of astronomical calculations and contributing to the development of early telescopes.

In the 18th century, the Pokorny name found its way to other parts of Europe, including Germany and Austria. One prominent individual from this era was Josef Pokorny (1734-1804), an Austrian composer and violinist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Prince Esterházy.

As the 19th century dawned, the Pokorny surname continued to spread, with several notable bearers emerging. Among them was Julius Pokorny (1828-1902), a Czech linguist and author who specialized in the study of Indo-European languages.

Another significant figure was Alois Pokorny (1866-1940), a Czech architect and urban planner. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Prague, including the Municipal House and the Trade Fair Palace.

Over time, the Pokorny surname has been carried by numerous individuals across various fields, including academics, artists, and public figures. While its origins can be traced back to the Czech Republic, it has become a name recognized throughout Europe and beyond, reflecting the diverse and rich history of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pokorný

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

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

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

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