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

Polacek, 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 Polacek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Polacek in America

Polacek is the 22646th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Polacek surname appeared 1,133 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 Polacek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Polacek 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 Polacek

The surname Polacek is of Czech origin and dates back to the 16th century. It originated in the region of Bohemia, which was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia and is now located in the Czech Republic. The name is derived from the Czech word "Polák," meaning "a Pole" or "a person from Poland." The suffix "-ek" was added to create a diminutive form, indicating a person of Polish descent or someone with a connection to Poland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Polacek can be found in the records of the town of Pilsen, which is located in the western part of Bohemia. In the year 1568, a man named Jakub Polacek is mentioned in a local registry, suggesting that the name was already in use during that period.

The Polacek surname is also documented in the historical records of the city of Prague, the capital of Bohemia. In the 17th century, a family by the name of Polacek is mentioned in the city's archives, indicating their presence and influence in the region during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Polacek. One such person was Václav Polacek (1530-1598), a renowned Czech humanist and scholar who made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy and literature during the Renaissance period.

Another prominent figure was Jan Polacek (1780-1848), a Czech writer and poet who was an important figure in the Czech National Revival movement of the 19th century. His works played a crucial role in the preservation and promotion of the Czech language and culture.

In the 20th century, the name Polacek was carried by Edith Polacek (1902-1989), an American author and screenwriter best known for her novel "The Tin Flute," which was later adapted into a successful film.

Variations of the name Polacek can be found in other Slavic languages, such as Polish and Slovak, where it is spelled as "Polaczek" or "Polacek," respectively. These variations suggest that the name has its roots in the broader Slavic cultural sphere and has been adopted by different communities within the region.

While the surname Polacek has its origins in the Czech lands, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Today, it can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others, reflecting the global reach of this historic Central European surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Polacek

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

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

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

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