2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Wokurka
A surname of Polish origin meaning "little suitcase".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Wokurka. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Wokurka 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Wokurka in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Wokurka, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Wokurka
The surname Wokurka is of Czech origin, with its roots tracing back to the regions of Bohemia and Moravia in the historical Czech lands. The name is believed to have originated in the late medieval period, around the 14th to 15th centuries. Czech surnames often derive from occupations, personal characteristics, or locations, and Wokurka is no exception.
The etymology of Wokurka is not entirely clear, but it is thought to be derived from the word "vokurka," which means "cucumber" in Czech. This could imply a possible origin related to a grower or seller of cucumbers, which was not uncommon in agrarian societies of medieval Europe. The name may also have related roots in the old Czech dialects, where similar spellings or phonetic variations could be found.
Early records of the surname appear in various historical documents and registers. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 16th-century Bohemian registry, where a Jan Wokurka is mentioned in land ownership records dated 1525. This indicates the surname's establishment in society by the early modern period.
Throughout history, the surname Wokurka has seen different spellings, including Wocurka and Wokurca, as regional dialects and spelling conventions evolved. Despite these variations, the name has consistently been associated with the same geographic regions.
One notable individual bearing the surname was František Wokurka, a well-known figure in the Czech National Revival movement of the 19th century. Born in 1821 and passing in 1887, František contributed significantly to the cultural and linguistic renaissance that sought to preserve Czech identity under Austro-Hungarian rule.
In literature, another Wokurka made a mark—Josef Wokurka, born in 1872, became known for his works on Czech folklore and traditions, preserving many tales and customs that might otherwise have been lost. His writings, published in the early 20th century, remain a valuable resource for understanding the cultural heritage of the Czech people.
The 20th century also saw figures like Antonín Wokurka, born in 1883, who became an influential politician in Czechoslovakia. Serving various governmental roles during the interwar period, Antonín's efforts were instrumental in shaping modern Czech political landscapes until his death in 1945.
Additionally, Hana Wokurka, an artist born in 1940, gained recognition for her contributions to modern Czech art. Throughout her career, Hana's work has been exhibited internationally, reflecting the rich artistic traditions of her homeland.
One of the contemporary Wokurkas, Jan Wokurka Jr., who was born in 1965, continues the legacy in academia as a respected historian specializing in Central European history. His research and publications provide critical insights into the complex history of the region, underlining the enduring influence of the Wokurka name in various fields.
The surname Wokurka encapsulates a rich history that spans centuries, touching upon various aspects of Czech culture and identity. Its bearers have contributed to the arts, politics, literature, and academia, ensuring the name's lasting legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Wokurka
Among Census respondents with the surname Wokurka, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Wokurka 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 Wokurka surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.6% · 113
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Wokurka
Wokurka appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+11 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,499 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 9,499 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 Wokurka 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 | #153,769 | #144,270 | 6.2% |
| Count | 106 | 117 | 10.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Wokurka bearers went from 106 to 117 (+10.4% change). The surname moved up 9,499 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #144,270.
FAQ
Wokurka surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Wokurka?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Wokurka. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Wokurka?
Wokurka ranks #144,270 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 117 people with the surname Wokurka. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), 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 Wokurka.
Has Wokurka become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Wokurka went from 106 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 11 (+10.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Wokurka?
Among Census respondents with the surname Wokurka, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (0.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Wokurka in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.6% (113 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Wokurka appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.6%), Hispanic (0.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Wokurka (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 Wokurka mean?
A surname of Polish origin meaning "little suitcase". 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 Wokurka (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 people share the surname Wokurka?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.