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

Yelinek, 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 Yelinek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yelinek in America

Yelinek is the 76275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yelinek surname appeared 252 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 Yelinek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yelinek 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 Yelinek

The surname Yelinek has its origins in the Czech lands, which are now part of the modern-day Czech Republic. The name is believed to have arisen around the early medieval period, approximately between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is likely derived from the Old Czech word "jelen," meaning "deer." The addition of the diminutive suffix "ek" transforms the meaning to "little deer" or "fawn," indicating not only a possible physical description or characteristic but perhaps an endearing or familial term.

Historical references to the surname Yelinek can be found in various forms throughout the centuries. The name appears in a multitude of early records associated with land ownership, craftsmanship, and other trades. For example, a Johannes Jelinek is documented in Prague in the late 14th century. Prague, being a significant cultural and commercial center during this time, was a common location for such records. Variations of the name, such as Jelinek or Jelinecz, are noted in medieval manuscripts, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling in historical documents.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Yelinek surname appears in a 15th-century Bohemian tax register, where a Petrus Yelinek is listed as a landholder in the region of Moravia, circa 1450. This suggests that Yelinek families were established and possessed some economic standing within their communities during this period. The surname was noticed throughout the German-speaking parts of the Holy Roman Empire, where Czech people often migrated or traded.

Among notable individuals bearing the Yelinek surname, Alois Jelinek, born in 1825 and died in 1890, was a well-regarded Czech historian and ethnographer. He specialized in the folklore and traditions of the Bohemian and Moravian regions, contributing significantly to the cultural preservation of these areas. Another prominent figure is Ferdinand Jelinek, who lived from 1897 to 1962. He made substantial contributions to the field of education and was a well-known professor at Charles University in Prague.

The Yelinek surname also appeared in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to immigration. Vojtech Jelinek, born in 1861 and emigrating in 1885, became an influential businessman and community leader among Czech-American populations in Chicago. The contributions of individuals like him illustrated the name's spread and assimilation into different cultural contexts while retaining its ties to its Czech origins.

Furthermore, Hanna Jelinek, born in 1938, is a noted contemporary historian focusing on Central European Jewish history. Her scholarly work has brought to light significant aspects of Jewish life and culture in the Czech lands during the interwar period and the Holocaust. The surname thus highlights individuals who have significantly impacted historical and cultural studies through their work.

Finally, another notable Yelinek is Ivan Jelinek, a 20th-century Czech composer born in 1904 and died in 1986, recognized for his contributions to Czech classical music. His compositions and arrangements have remained part of the concert repertoire, reflecting the cultural and artistic legacy associated with the Yelinek name.

The surname Yelinek, with its rich Czech heritage, continues to be found among descendants of these regions, reminding us of its historical roots and evolution influenced by cultural, social, and geographical changes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yelinek

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

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

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

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