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

Žáček, 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 Žáček surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Žáček in America

Žáček is the 50362nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Žáček surname appeared 415 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 Žáček.

We can also compare 2010 data for Žáček 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 Žáček

The surname Zacek is of Slavic origin, specifically from the Czech Republic. The name is rooted in the old Slavic word "zajac," which translates to "hare" in English. Traditionally, the hare was associated with speed and agility, qualities that were often admired. The suffix "ek" in Czech is a diminutive, implying "little hare" or "young hare." This diminutive form often conveys familiarity or endearment.

Historical references to the name Zacek date back to the medieval period in Bohemia, a historical region that now forms part of the Czech Republic. Early records from the 14th and 15th centuries mention individuals with the surname Zacek. One of the earliest known references is found in the archives of the town of Plzen in the late 1400s. Manuscripts from this era document the existence of families bearing this surname, often in connection with local land ownership and trade.

The name appears in various spellings over the years as regional dialects and spelling conventions evolved. Variants like Záček or Zaczek can be found in old records, particularly in Moravian and Silesian regions. The surname was often associated with communities engaged in agriculture and craftsmanship, reflecting the rural and artisanal lifestyle of the time.

One notable individual bearing the surname Zacek was Jan Zacek, a prominent figure in the town of Brno during the early 16th century. Records from 1520 indicate that Jan was a respected merchant who played a significant role in local trade affairs. Another prominent historical figure was Vaclav Zacek, born in 1605, who served as a scribe for the town council of Kutná Hora, an important mining town in Bohemia. His meticulous records and contributions to local governance were well-documented in town archives.

The surname continued to appear in various historical documents throughout the centuries. For example, Josef Zacek, born in 1750, gained recognition as an accomplished blacksmith in Prague. Josef’s craftsmanship was highly regarded, and he was commissioned to create intricate ironworks for significant structures, including churches and municipal buildings.

Moving into the 19th century, another influential individual was Karel Zacek, born in 1823. Karel was a renowned educator and author who contributed significantly to the field of linguistics in the Czech lands. His works on the Czech language and its etymology were widely respected and laid the groundwork for future linguistic studies in the region.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zacek surname appeared in records of Czech emigration to the United States. Antonin Zacek, born in 1865, emigrated to New York in the 1890s, where he became a prominent member of the Czech immigrant community, continuing his trade as a skilled carpenter and contributing to the construction of several notable buildings in his adopted city.

Through these historical records and notable individuals, the surname Zacek carries a rich legacy, reflecting the socio-economic and cultural transformations of the regions it originates from. From medieval merchants and craftsmen to scholars and immigrants, the Zaceks have left an indelible mark on history, particularly within the context of Czech heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Žáček

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

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

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

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