2000
#12,911
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,183
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.81
Rare Last name
Stec
A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone who lived near a path or trail.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,415 Americans carry the last name Stec. That puts it at #13,756 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.70 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 141,927 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stec 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Stec with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.4K
1 in 141,927
Census rank
#13,756
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,106 bearers of the surname Stec in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.70 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13756th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stec, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stec
The surname STEC is of Polish origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Polish word "stec," which means "to stand firm" or "to persist." This name was likely given to individuals who displayed unwavering determination and resilience in their pursuits.
The earliest known records of the surname STEC can be traced back to the 15th century in the regions of Silesia and Lesser Poland. During this time, surnames were becoming more prevalent, and families adopted names that reflected their occupation, physical characteristics, or personal traits.
One of the earliest documented references to the name STEC can be found in the Akta Grodzkie, a collection of court records from the Kraków region, dating back to the late 15th century. These records mention individuals with the surname STEC engaging in various legal proceedings and transactions.
In the 16th century, the name STEC gained further prominence in the Podhale region of southern Poland. This area, known for its rich cultural heritage and traditional way of life, was home to several notable individuals bearing the surname STEC.
One such individual was Jan STEC, a skilled woodcarver who lived in the village of Zakopane in the late 16th century. His intricate wooden carvings adorned many local churches and buildings, and his legacy continues to inspire woodcarvers in the region to this day.
Another noteworthy figure was Maciej STEC, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Nowy Sącz in the late 17th century. He was known for his successful trade ventures and his contributions to the local community.
In the 19th century, the name STEC became more widespread across Poland, with various branches of the family settling in different regions. One notable individual from this period was Józef STEC, a renowned painter and artist who was born in Kraków in 1805. His works, which often depicted scenes from rural Polish life, are now considered part of the country's cultural heritage.
As the STEC surname continued to spread, it also found its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. One prominent figure with this name was Stanisław STEC, a Polish-American engineer and inventor who lived from 1876 to 1962. He held numerous patents and was recognized for his contributions to the field of mechanical engineering.
Throughout its history, the surname STEC has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from the arts and crafts to business and engineering. While its origins may be rooted in medieval Poland, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be a part of diverse cultural identities around the world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stec
Among Census respondents with the surname Stec, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Stec 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 Stec surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2% · 1,984
- Hispanic or Latino3.2% · 67
- Two or more races2.0% · 42
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 8
- Black or African American0.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Stec
Stec 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
#13,670
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,215
+32 bearers (+1.5%)
Per 100,000 0.75
Rank movement Down 759 places
2020
#13,756
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,106
-109 bearers (-4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.70
Rank movement Down 86 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,911 | 2,183 | 0.81 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,670 | 2,215 | 0.75 | +32 bearers (+1.5%) | Down 759 places |
| 2020 | #13,756 | 2,106 | 0.70 | -109 bearers (-4.9%) | Down 86 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 Stec 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 | #13,670 | #13,756 | -0.6% |
| Count | 2,215 | 2,106 | -4.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.75 | 0.70 | -6.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Stec bearers went from 2,215 to 2,106 (-4.9% change). The surname moved down 86 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,670 to #13,756.
FAQ
Stec surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Stec?
Name Census estimates that about 2,415 living Americans carry the surname Stec. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 141,927 residents.
How common is Stec?
Stec ranks #13,756 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.70 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,106 people with the surname Stec. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,415), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.7 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.70 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Stec.
Has Stec become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Stec went from 2,215 recorded bearers to 2,106. That is a decrease of 109 (-4.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #13,670 to #13,756.
What does the Census say about the background of Stec?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stec, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%). 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 Stec in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.2% (1,984 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Stec appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.2%), Hispanic (3.2%), Two or More Races (2.0%). 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 Stec (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 Stec mean?
A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone who lived near a path or trail. 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 Stec (0.70 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 Stec?
Find out how many people have the last name Stec on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.