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

Soukup, 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 Soukup surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soukup in America

Soukup is the 9314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soukup surname appeared 3,495 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 Soukup.

We can also compare 2010 data for Soukup 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 Soukup

The surname Soukup is of Czech origin, originating in the regions of Bohemia and Moravia, which are now part of the Czech Republic. The name can be traced back to the 15th century and is derived from the Czech word "soukup," meaning "buyer" or "merchant."

Soukup was a common occupational surname given to individuals involved in trade or commerce during the medieval period. The earliest known record of the name appears in a 1437 document from the town of Kutná Hora, which mentions a person named Jan Soukup.

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the name Soukup appeared in various administrative and legal records across Bohemia and Moravia, often associated with wealthy merchants and tradesmen who played a significant role in the region's economic development.

One notable bearer of the name was Václav Soukup (1580-1655), a successful merchant and landowner from Prague who gained prominence for his philanthropic efforts, particularly his support for the construction of churches and educational institutions.

Another historical figure with the surname Soukup was Jan Soukup (1632-1698), a Baroque-era painter and engraver from Kutná Hora, whose works adorned several churches and monasteries throughout Bohemia.

In the 19th century, the name Soukup became more widespread as individuals with this surname migrated from the Czech lands to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such individual was František Soukup (1825-1892), a Czech composer and conductor who settled in Vienna and contributed significantly to the city's musical culture.

Jaroslav Soukup (1886-1972) was a prominent Czech anthropologist and ethnographer who conducted extensive research on the indigenous cultures of South America, particularly in Peru and Brazil.

Over time, the name Soukup has undergone various spelling variations, including Soukop, Soukup, and Soukoup, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remain rooted in the Czech tradition of occupational surnames from the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soukup

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

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

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

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