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

Ripka, 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 Ripka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ripka in America

Ripka is the 28215th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ripka surname appeared 848 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 Ripka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ripka 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 Ripka

The surname Ripka originates from the Czech Republic and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Czech word "rybář," which means "fisherman." The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Bohemian region, particularly in areas located along rivers and lakes where fishing was a common occupation.

In the 14th century, the name Ripka appears in various historical documents, including local parish records and land registries. One notable mention is found in the Chronica Bohemica, a medieval chronicle written in the late 13th century, which references a certain Petr Ripka, a fisherman from the town of Kutná Hora.

The Ripka surname has several variations in spelling, such as Rypka, Rzypka, and Rybka, which can be attributed to regional dialects and transcription differences over time. These variations are most commonly found in areas that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including parts of modern-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ripka was Jan Ripka, born around 1420 in the town of Litoměřice. He was a prominent fisherman and trader who supplied fresh fish to the local nobility and bourgeoisie.

Another notable figure was Václav Ripka (1592-1670), a renowned Czech poet and playwright who hailed from the town of Jičín. His works, including the play "Komedie o lidském životě" (Comedy of Human Life), were widely celebrated during the Czech Renaissance period.

In the 18th century, the Ripka surname gained prominence with the birth of Antonín Ripka (1746-1828), a highly respected Czech painter and engraver. His works, which often depicted religious themes and landscapes, can be found in several churches and galleries throughout the Czech Republic.

The 19th century saw the rise of František Ripka (1814-1886), a prominent Czech politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the Czech National Revival movement. He served as a member of the Austrian Imperial Council and was a staunch advocate for Czech autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Lastly, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Ripka was Hubert Ripka (1888-1958), a Czech diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Czechoslovakia from 1945 to 1948. He was a vocal supporter of democracy and played a crucial role in the early years of the Czechoslovak Republic.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ripka

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

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

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

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