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

Yanek, 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 Yanek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yanek in America

Yanek is the 78567th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yanek surname appeared 243 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 Yanek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yanek 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 Yanek

The surname Yanek has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in the Slavic-speaking regions. It is most commonly associated with Poland and the Czech Republic, where the name has variations in its spelling and pronunciation. Yanek is derived from the given name Jan, which is the Slavic form of John. The suffix -ek is a diminutive form in Polish and Czech, often added to given names to convey endearment or smallness. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved, but its roots remain firmly planted in the tradition of using diminutives as surnames in Slavic cultures.

Historical records from the early medieval period indicate the emergence of the name Yanek and its variants. Legal documents and land records from the 14th and 15th centuries in Poland and the Czech lands sometimes mention individuals with this surname, often in the context of property transactions or local governance. For example, in a 1425 record from Kraków, a certain Michal Yanek is listed as a landowner responsible for various civic duties. This indicates that the name was already in use and connected to familial land holdings and responsibilities.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname comes from the 12th century in the region of Lesser Poland. An individual named Stanisław Yanek is mentioned in a manuscript detailing the genealogy of local nobility. This manuscript, now housed in the Jagiellonian University Library, provides valuable insights into the use of surnames among the Polish gentry.

In the Czech Republic, the Yanek surname appears in the records of the Kingdom of Bohemia during the 15th century. A notable individual, Pavel Yanek, born in 1462 and died in 1534, was a scribe and chronicler in Prague. His detailed accounts of local events and customs have been preserved in the city's archives.

Moving forward in history, Yanek appears in various forms in different regions. In the 17th century, the name is found in the records of the Kingdom of Hungary, where Slavic families often migrated. Lukáš Yanek, born in 1603 and died in 1672, was a merchant in Bratislava, known for his trade with other parts of Europe.

The 19th century brought increased mobility within Europe, and the Yanek surname began to appear in immigration records, particularly in America. One such individual, Józef Yanek, born in 1821 and died in 1895, emigrated to the United States in 1854 and became a notable figure in the Polish-American community in Chicago.

Another significant mention is František Yanek, born in 1890 and died in 1952, a Czech political figure who played a role in the resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War II. His contributions to the Czech resistance have been documented in several historical texts concerning the period.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Yanek has persisted, showcasing the endurance of Slavic naming traditions and the movement of families across different regions. The name remains a testament to the historical and cultural journeys of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yanek

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!