2000
#14,444
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,896
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.70
Rare Last name
Sykora
A surname derived from the Greek word "sykos" meaning fig tree or fig.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,235 Americans carry the last name Sykora. That puts it at #14,663 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.65 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 153,358 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sykora 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
2.2K
1 in 153,358
Census rank
#14,663
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,949 bearers of the surname Sykora in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.65 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14663rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sykora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sykora
The surname Sykora has its origins in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Czech word "sykora," which means "titmouse," a small bird species found in Europe. This connection suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a place frequented by these birds or had a particular association with them.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sykora can be found in historical documents from the 15th century in the regions of Bohemia and Moravia, which were part of the Kingdom of Bohemia at the time. Some variations of the spelling include Sykora, Sykora, and Sykora, reflecting the changes in orthography over time.
In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the Bohemian town of Litomerice, where a certain Jan Sykora is mentioned as a landowner and prominent citizen. This indicates that the Sykora family had established itself as a respected lineage in the region.
During the 17th century, the name Sykora can be found in the records of the town of Cesky Krumlov, where a family of that surname owned a brewery and played a significant role in the local economy. This suggests that the Sykora family had achieved a degree of prosperity and influence in their community.
One notable individual bearing the surname Sykora was Vaclav Sykora (1619-1677), a renowned Czech composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Olomouc. His compositions, including masses and motets, were highly regarded and performed throughout the region.
In the 19th century, the name Sykora appeared in the records of the town of Brno, where a family of that surname operated a successful textile business. This indicates that the Sykora family had adapted to the changing economic landscape and maintained their prominence in the region.
Another notable figure with the surname Sykora was Jan Sykora (1833-1912), a Czech painter and illustrator known for his depictions of historical events and landscapes. His works were widely exhibited and received critical acclaim, contributing to the cultural heritage of the Czech lands.
Throughout history, the Sykora surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and landowners. While its origins may be humble, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and economic fabric of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sykora
Among Census respondents with the surname Sykora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Sykora 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 Sykora surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1% · 1,795
- Two or more races3.5% · 69
- Hispanic or Latino3.0% · 59
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 11
- Black or African American0.5% · 9
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sykora
Sykora 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
#15,464
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,894
-2 bearers (-0.1%)
Per 100,000 0.64
Rank movement Down 1,020 places
2020
#14,663
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,949
+55 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.65
Rank movement Up 801 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #14,444 | 1,896 | 0.70 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,464 | 1,894 | 0.64 | -2 bearers (-0.1%) | Down 1,020 places |
| 2020 | #14,663 | 1,949 | 0.65 | +55 bearers (+2.9%) | Up 801 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 Sykora 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 | #15,464 | #14,663 | 5.2% |
| Count | 1,894 | 1,949 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.64 | 0.65 | 1.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sykora bearers went from 1,894 to 1,949 (+2.9% change). The surname moved up 801 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,464 to #14,663.
FAQ
Sykora surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sykora?
Name Census estimates that about 2,235 living Americans carry the surname Sykora. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 153,358 residents.
How common is Sykora?
Sykora ranks #14,663 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.65 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 1,949 people with the surname Sykora. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,235), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.65 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.65 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 Sykora.
Has Sykora become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sykora went from 1,894 recorded bearers to 1,949. That is an increase of 55 (+2.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,464 to #14,663.
What does the Census say about the background of Sykora?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sykora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (3.0%). 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 Sykora in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.1% (1,795 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sykora appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.1%), Two or More Races (3.5%), Hispanic (3.0%). 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 Sykora (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 Sykora mean?
A surname derived from the Greek word "sykos" meaning fig tree or fig. 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 Sykora (0.65 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 common is the surname Sykora?
You can see how many people have the last name Sykora on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.