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

Volek, 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 Volek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Volek in America

Volek is the 50771st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Volek surname appeared 411 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Volek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Volek 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 Volek

The surname Volek originates from the Czech Republic, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old Czech word "volu," meaning "ox" or "cattle," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers were likely involved in cattle breeding or farming.

In its earliest recorded form, the name was spelled "Volek," which is believed to be a diminutive form of the word "vol," meaning "ox." This spelling variation can be found in ancient Czech manuscripts and records from the medieval period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Volek can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus et Epistolaris Regni Bohemiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Bohemia, dated around 1250. This document mentions a nobleman named Vojtech Volek, who owned lands in the region of Moravia.

During the 14th century, the name Volek appeared in the records of several villages in the Bohemian countryside, indicating that it was a relatively common surname among the Czech peasantry. Some of these villages, such as Volkov and Volekova Lhota, may have derived their names from the presence of families bearing the Volek surname.

One notable figure in Czech history with the surname Volek was Jan Volek (1485-1551), a Catholic priest and humanist scholar who served as the rector of the University of Prague. He was known for his writings on theology and philosophy, and his contributions to the intellectual life of Renaissance-era Bohemia.

Another distinguished Volek was Vaclav Volek (1638-1718), a Baroque architect and sculptor who designed several churches and monasteries in Prague and other parts of the Czech lands. His most famous work is the Church of St. Nicholas in the Little Quarter of Prague, which is considered a masterpiece of Czech Baroque architecture.

In the 19th century, the name Volek was particularly prevalent in the regions of Moravia and Silesia, which were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Alois Volek (1857-1923), a Czech writer and journalist who was active in the nationalist movement for Czech independence.

Other notable individuals with the surname Volek include Jaroslav Volek (1923-2012), a Czech painter and graphic artist known for his avant-garde works, and Tomas Volek (born 1978), a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for teams such as the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Volek

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

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

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

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