2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Valcich
A surname originating from the Slovenian word "valciti" meaning to work wool or felt.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Valcich. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Valcich 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Valcich in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Valcich, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Valcich
The surname Valcich has its roots in Croatia, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Slavic word "valiti," which means "to wander" or "to roam." This suggests that the name may have been given to people who were travelers or migrants.
One of the earliest records of the Valcich surname can be found in the Croatian historical documents from the city of Dubrovnik, dating back to the late 1500s. These documents mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Valcic and Valcich, living in the area.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Valcich family appeared to have gained prominence in the region, with several members holding positions of importance within the local communities. Some notable individuals from this period include Ivan Valcich (1630-1705), a respected merchant and landowner, and Marko Valcich (1712-1789), a prominent lawyer and judge.
As the surname spread beyond Croatia, it underwent various spelling changes. In Italy, for instance, the name was often written as Valcic or Valcich, while in other parts of Europe, it might have been rendered as Valcich, Valchich, or Valchic.
One of the earliest known instances of the Valcich name in written records outside of Croatia can be found in the archives of the city of Venice, Italy, from the late 17th century. These records mention a merchant named Antonio Valcich (1656-1723), who was involved in trade between Venice and the Adriatic coast.
Another notable figure bearing the Valcich surname was Josip Valcich (1805-1878), a Croatian writer and poet who was influential in the Croatian National Revival movement of the 19th century. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Croatian language and culture.
In the 20th century, the name Valcich gained recognition through the achievements of individuals like Ante Valcich (1919-2001), a Croatian-American footballer who played for several professional teams in the United States, and Marija Valcich (1923-2010), a renowned Croatian operatic soprano who performed on prestigious stages worldwide.
While the Valcich surname is most prevalent in Croatia and among Croatian diaspora communities, it can also be found in other parts of Europe and the Americas, where Croatian immigrants have settled over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Valcich
Among Census respondents with the surname Valcich, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Valcich 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 Valcich surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 112
- Hispanic or Latino4.2% · 5
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Valcich
Valcich 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
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+11 bearers (+10.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,759 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+4 bearers (+3.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,100 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.5%) | Up 1,759 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.4%) | Up 1,100 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 Valcich 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 | #143,149 | #142,049 | 0.8% |
| Count | 116 | 120 | 3.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Valcich bearers went from 116 to 120 (+3.4% change). The surname moved up 1,100 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #142,049.
FAQ
Valcich surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Valcich?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Valcich. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Valcich?
Valcich ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Valcich. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Valcich.
Has Valcich become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Valcich went from 116 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 4 (+3.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #143,149 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Valcich?
Among Census respondents with the surname Valcich, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Valcich in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Valcich appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Hispanic (4.2%), Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Valcich (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 Valcich mean?
A surname originating from the Slovenian word "valciti" meaning to work wool or felt. 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 Valcich (0.04 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 Americans have the surname Valcich?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.