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

Yanacek, 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 Yanacek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanacek in America

Yanacek is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanacek surname appeared 125 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 Yanacek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanacek 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 Yanacek

The surname Yanacek has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in the Czech Republic. The name appears to be a diminutive form derived from the given name Jan, which is the Czech equivalent of John. This etymology is rooted in the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means "God is gracious." The suffix -acek is a diminutive form, indicating "little Jan" or "son of Jan."

The earliest references to the surname Yanacek can be traced back to medieval Bohemia, a historical region that now forms part of the modern Czech Republic. Historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries record the presence of families bearing this surname, often in rural communities. Variants of the name, such as Janacek and Janáček, can be found in old records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a 1420 land registry in the region of Moravia, where a certain Martin Yanacek is listed as a small landowner. This indicates the surname was already established by the early 15th century.

In the 19th century, the name became more prominent due to the renowned Czech composer Leoš Janáček (1854-1928). Although his surname is not spelled exactly as Yanacek, the variations are phonetically and etymologically related. Janáček played a significant role in making the name known internationally through his contributions to classical music.

Another notable figure is Josef Yanacek, a writer and historian born in 1823 who authored several books on Czech history. His works provided valuable insights into the sociopolitical landscape of 19th-century Bohemia and Moravia.

In the 17th century, Pavel Yanacek served as a clergyman in the town of Brno. He was known for his involvement in local educational reforms and his advocacy for the use of the Czech language in liturgy and education during a period dominated by German influences.

Elena Yanacek, a 16th-century noblewoman, was known for her philanthropy and support of the arts. She contributed significantly to the construction and endowment of several churches and schools in Bohemia.

The surname Yanacek also appears in military records. In 1825, Captain Tomas Yanacek of the Austrian Imperial Army was noted for his bravery during the Napoleonic Wars. He was awarded several medals for his service and is mentioned in military annals of the period.

By the early 20th century, the Yanacek surname had spread beyond the borders of the Czech Republic, with families emigrating to North America, Austria, and other parts of Europe, further disseminating the name and its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanacek

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

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

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

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