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

Prokopec, 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 Prokopec surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Prokopec in America

Prokopec is the 109258th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Prokopec surname appeared 162 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 Prokopec.

We can also compare 2010 data for Prokopec 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 Prokopec

The surname Prokopec has its origins in the Czech Republic, originating in the late 15th century. It is derived from the Czech word "prokop," meaning "ditch digger" or "trench digger," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers were involved in digging or excavation work. The name is believed to have first emerged in the regions around Prague and Central Bohemia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Breviarium Monasterii Altovadensis, a manuscript from the 16th century, which mentions a certain Prokop Prokopec, a farmer from the village of Altovad. Another early reference is from the 1621 census records of the town of Litomerice, where a family by the name of Prokopec is listed as residents.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various church records and land registries across Bohemia and Moravia. Notable individuals from this period include Jan Prokopec (1612-1679), a respected blacksmith from the town of Olomouc, and Katerina Prokopcova (1638-1701), a prominent landowner in the village of Brno.

During the 18th century, the name gained recognition with the birth of Vaclav Prokopec (1725-1803), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Prague. His innovative timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.

In the 19th century, the Prokopec name gained further prominence with the birth of Karel Prokopec (1867-1942), a respected linguist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Slavic languages. His works on Czech grammar and etymology are still widely referenced today.

Another notable figure was Frantisek Prokopec (1892-1976), a celebrated painter and artist who was part of the Czech Avant-Garde movement. His expressionist works and bold use of color earned him recognition both nationally and internationally.

Throughout its history, the surname Prokopec has maintained a strong presence in the Czech Republic and parts of neighboring countries, with various individuals making their mark in various fields, from artisans and craftsmen to scholars and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Prokopec

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

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

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

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