2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Povolny
A surname derived from the Slavic word "povolit," meaning "to relax" or "to allow."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 149 Americans carry the last name Povolny. That puts it at #134,631 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,300,365 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Povolny surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
149
1 in 2,300,365
Census rank
#134,631
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
130
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 130 bearers of the surname Povolny in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 134631st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Povolny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Povolny
The surname Povolny is of Czech origin, with roots that can be traced back to the 14th century. Its earliest recorded appearance was in the village of Povolny, located in the Bohemia region of what is now the Czech Republic. The name is derived from the Old Czech word "povolny," which means "free" or "at liberty."
This suggests that the surname may have originally been given to individuals who were free from serfdom or other forms of servitude. It's possible that the name was first used to distinguish those who had been granted their freedom or had achieved a level of independence and self-governance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Povolny can be found in a land registry document dated 1387, which mentions a certain Jakub Povolny as a landowner in the village of Povolny. This document provides valuable insight into the historical context and geographical origins of the name.
In the 15th century, the Povolny name appeared in various records and manuscripts related to the Hussite Wars, a series of religious conflicts that took place in Bohemia between 1419 and 1434. Several individuals bearing the Povolny surname were mentioned as supporters of the Hussite movement, which sought to reform the Catholic Church.
One notable figure from this period was Jan Povolny (c. 1400-1456), a prominent Hussite preacher and theologian who played a significant role in shaping the movement's ideology and beliefs. His writings and sermons have been preserved in various historical archives, providing valuable insights into the religious and political climate of the time.
Another individual of note was Vaclav Povolny (1521-1592), a renowned Czech Renaissance scholar and humanist. He was a professor at the University of Prague and made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy, rhetoric, and classical literature.
In the 17th century, the Povolny surname appeared in records related to the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a devastating conflict that involved much of Europe. Several members of the Povolny family were mentioned as participants in various battles and campaigns during this period.
One such individual was Jiri Povolny (1602-1671), a military officer who served in the army of the Holy Roman Empire. He fought in numerous battles throughout the war and was known for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield.
During the 19th century, the Povolny name gained prominence in the fields of science and academia. Notable figures from this period include Karel Povolny (1824-1899), a renowned Czech naturalist and entomologist who made significant contributions to the study of insects and their taxonomy.
Another prominent individual was Frantisek Povolny (1856-1924), a respected Czech mathematician and educator. He worked as a professor at the Czech Technical University in Prague and made valuable contributions to the fields of calculus and geometry.
Throughout its long history, the surname Povolny has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, scientists, military leaders, and religious figures. While its origins can be traced back to a small village in Bohemia, the name has since spread across the Czech Republic and beyond, carried by generations of Povolny families and individuals who have left their mark on history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Povolny
Among Census respondents with the surname Povolny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Povolny bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Povolny surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.2% · 125
- Hispanic or Latino1.5% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Povolny
Povolny appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#134,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
+17 bearers (+15.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,076 places
2020
#134,631
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
+5 bearers (+4.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 81 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #134,712 | 125 | 0.04 | +17 bearers (+15.7%) | Up 7,076 places |
| 2020 | #134,631 | 130 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.0%) | Up 81 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Povolny surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #134,712 | #134,631 | 0.1% |
| Count | 125 | 130 | 4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 8.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Povolny bearers went from 125 to 130 (+4.0% change). The surname moved up 81 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,712 to #134,631.
FAQ
Povolny surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Povolny?
Name Census estimates that about 149 living Americans carry the surname Povolny. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,300,365 residents.
How common is Povolny?
Povolny ranks #134,631 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 130 people with the surname Povolny. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (149), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Povolny.
Has Povolny become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Povolny went from 125 recorded bearers to 130. That is an increase of 5 (+4.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #134,712 to #134,631.
What does the Census say about the background of Povolny?
Among Census respondents with the surname Povolny, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Povolny in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.2% (125 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Povolny appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.2%), Hispanic (1.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Povolny (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Povolny mean?
A surname derived from the Slavic word "povolit," meaning "to relax" or "to allow." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Povolny (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Povolny?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Povolny on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.