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

Vesely, 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 Vesely surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vesely in America

Vesely is the 13536th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vesely surname appeared 2,241 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 Vesely.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vesely 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 Vesely

The surname Vesely has its origins in the Czech Republic, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Czech word "veselý," which means "cheerful" or "merry." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a joyful or lighthearted demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Vesely can be found in a document from the city of Brno, dated 1285. The document refers to a man named Vesely, who was a landowner in the region. This suggests that the name had already become established as a hereditary surname by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the Vesely name appeared in various records and manuscripts across Bohemia and Moravia, the historical regions that make up the modern-day Czech Republic. Several place names in these regions, such as Veselí nad Lužnicí and Veselí nad Moravou, are believed to be related to the surname, further reinforcing its Czech origins.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Vesely surname was Jan Vesely (1525-1592), a Czech Protestant reformer and writer. He played a significant role in the development of the Czech literary language and the translation of the Bible into Czech.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Jindřich Vesely (1836-1920), a Czech architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design of several iconic buildings in Prague, including the National Theatre and the Rudolfinum concert hall.

In the 20th century, Václav Vesely (1890-1954) was a Czech painter and illustrator known for his portrayal of rural life and landscapes. His works are celebrated for their vibrant colors and expressive brushwork.

Jaroslav Vesely (1934-2020) was a renowned Czech basketball player and coach. He led the Czechoslovakian national team to multiple Olympic and World Championship medals and was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2009.

The surname Vesely has also been carried by notable individuals outside of the Czech Republic, such as the American actress Eva Vesela (1963-), who is of Czech descent and has appeared in numerous films and television shows.

While the Vesely surname has its roots in the Czech Republic, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply tied to the Czech lands and their rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vesely

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

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

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

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