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

Vavra, 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 Vavra surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vavra in America

Vavra is the 16012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vavra surname appeared 1,813 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 Vavra.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vavra 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 Vavra

The surname Vavra has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Czech word "vavřín," which means "laurel wreath." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were recognized for their accomplishments or victories.

The earliest known record of the name Vavra can be traced back to a document from the year 1369, where it was spelled as "Vavrzina." This document was a land registry in the region of Bohemia, which was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia at that time.

In the 15th century, the name Vavra appeared in several historical records, including the Liber Vetustissimus Antiquae Civitatis Pragensis, a medieval manuscript that documented the names of citizens in the city of Prague. One notable individual from this period was Jan Vavra, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Prague between 1420 and 1488.

As the centuries passed, the name Vavra spread across various regions of what is now the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. In the 16th century, a variant spelling, "Vavřinec," was recorded in the town of Český Krumlov, which was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia at the time.

During the 17th century, the name Vavra gained recognition through the work of Václav Vavra, a renowned Czech poet and writer who lived from 1621 to 1684. His literary contributions helped to establish the name's association with artistic and intellectual pursuits.

In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Vavra was Jakub Vavra, a Czech botanist and naturalist who lived from 1792 to 1867. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the region and was recognized for his extensive collection of plant specimens.

Another prominent individual with the surname Vavra was Otakar Vavra, a Czech film director and screenwriter who lived from 1911 to 2011. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Czech cinema and directed numerous acclaimed films throughout his career.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Vavra who have left their mark on various fields throughout history. The name's deep roots in the Czech Republic and its association with accomplishments and laurels continue to shape its cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vavra

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

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

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

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