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

Pospisil, 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 Pospisil surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pospisil in America

Pospisil is the 18296th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pospisil surname appeared 1,517 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 Pospisil.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pospisil 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 Pospisil

The surname Pospisil has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back to the late 15th century. It is derived from the Czech word "pospíšil," which translates to "one who hurries or rushes." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a descriptive nickname to someone known for their haste or diligence.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the region of Bohemia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia within the Holy Roman Empire. One of the earliest known individuals bearing this surname was Jan Pospisil, a wealthy merchant from Prague, who lived in the early 16th century and is mentioned in several trade records from that period.

During the Hussite Wars of the 15th century, a notable figure named Vaclav Pospisil is recorded as having fought alongside the Hussite forces against the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire. He was a skilled military commander and played a significant role in several key battles during this religious conflict.

In the 18th century, a renowned Czech scholar and linguist, Antonin Pospisil (1723-1790), gained recognition for his contributions to the study of the Czech language and its historical development. His works on grammar and etymology are still referenced by modern linguists and academics.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Karel Pospisil (1854-1917), a Czech politician and journalist. He served as a member of the Austrian Parliament and was a vocal advocate for Czech nationalism and independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Pospisil was Miroslav Pospisil (1919-1996), a celebrated Czech painter and graphic artist. His works, which often depicted scenes from everyday life and the Czech countryside, are housed in numerous museums and galleries across the country.

While the surname Pospisil is most commonly associated with the Czech Republic, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and beyond due to migration patterns over the centuries. However, its origins can be firmly traced back to the Czech lands and the historical events and cultural influences that shaped the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pospisil

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

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

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

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