Zahorsky last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zahorsky

A surname of Czech origins, possibly derived from the word "zahora" meaning elevated land or hill.

Zahorsky, 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 Zahorsky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahorsky in America

Zahorsky is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahorsky surname appeared 201 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 Zahorsky.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahorsky 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 91625 76700 17.73%
Count 201 233 -14.75%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.09 -25.00%

The history of the last name Zahorsky

The surname Zahorsky traces its origins to the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, particularly within present-day Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The name itself is derived from the Slavic word "zagor," which means "beyond the mountains" or "from beyond the hills." This etymological root suggests that the initial bearers of the name may have lived in or originated from areas situated beyond mountainous regions, highlighting the geographical features significant to their identity.

In historical records, variations of the surname began appearing in the late Middle Ages. Notable early references include mentions in Polish and Slovakian land registries and municipal documents. For instance, a man named Jan Zahorsky is documented in a 15th-century Polish municipal ledger, indicating that the name had established a presence in Polish territories by that time.

The spelling and pronunciation of Zahorsky evolved over centuries, influenced by regional dialects and linguistic shifts. In Slovakia, the name often appeared as Zahorský, with the diacritic highlighting its phonetic characteristics. Historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries frequently reference individuals with this surname in connection to land ownership and local governance. For example, a Jakub Zahorsky served as a town official in Bratislava in the late 1500s, marking his family's significance in the region.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname is Milan Zahorsky, a noted 19th-century Slovak poet and writer. Born in 1825 and passing away in 1888, Milan's literary contributions highlighted the cultural heritage of the Slovak people, and his works are still celebrated today. His use of the Zahorsky name cemented its place in the annals of Slovak literary history.

In the realm of science, Josef Zahorsky, born in 1870, made significant contributions to the field of botany. His research and publications on Central European flora were groundbreaking, and his name is frequently cited in botanical literature. Josef's work brought recognition to the Zahorsky surname within the scientific community.

Alexander Zahorsky, another notable figure, was a prominent industrialist in the early 20th century Czechoslovakia. Born in 1887, Alexander played a crucial role in the development of the textile industry in the region. His business acumen and leadership were instrumental in advancing industrialization, and his legacy includes several foundational enterprises that bore his name.

The surname also appears in military history. General František Zahorsky, born in 1903, served as a high-ranking officer in the Czechoslovak Army during the mid-20th century. His strategic expertise and leadership were particularly influential during World War II, where he played a significant role in various military campaigns.

Throughout its history, the surname Zahorsky has been associated with individuals who have made notable contributions to their respective fields. These historical figures underscore the cultural, scientific, industrial, and military significance of the Zahorsky name, demonstrating its enduring legacy through the centuries. The surname’s origins beyond the mountains and its presence in early records illustrate a rich heritage tied to the landscapes and histories of the Slavic lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahorsky

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

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 Zahorsky was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 98.51% 198
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Zahorsky has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 98.51% 98.28% 0.23%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zahorsky, 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!

"Zahorsky last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zahorsky-surname-popularity/.

"Zahorsky last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zahorsky-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zahorsky last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zahorsky-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.