2000
#45,829
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 439
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.16
Very Rare Last name
Zahradnik
An occupational surname originating from Czech for a gardener or someone who works in a garden.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 513 Americans carry the last name Zahradnik. That puts it at #50,535 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 668,137 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zahradnik surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
513
1 in 668,137
Census rank
#50,535
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
447
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 447 bearers of the surname Zahradnik in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 50535th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zahradnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zahradnik
The surname Zahradnik originates from the Czech Republic, a country with a rich historical tapestry in Central Europe. The name dates back to the medieval period, specifically emerging during the 13th and 14th centuries. It is derived from the Czech word "zahradník," which translates to "gardener" in English. This indicates that the original bearers of this surname were likely involved in gardening or horticulture, a common occupation in rural and semi-rural communities of the time.
The word "zahrada" means "garden" in Czech, and the suffix "-ník" is a common agent noun marker, indicating a person associated with a particular activity. Therefore, Zahradnik essentially means "one who works in a garden" or "gardener." Similar surnames can be found in surrounding Slavic countries, although with slight variations in spelling.
One of the earliest historical references to the surname can be found in medieval manuscripts and records from local parish churches and municipal archives in areas such as Prague, Brno, and Česky Krumlov. These records often note the occupation of individuals, cementing the connection between their surname and their trade.
In the 14th century, a notable individual by the name of Jan Zahradnik served as a gardener in the royal palace of Prague. Born in 1325, Jan Zahradnik was recognized for his expertise in maintaining the royal gardens, a prestigious position at the time, illustrating the respect and importance of his role.
Another early example is Katerina Zahradnikova, who appeared in the town records of Brno in 1491. She was instrumental in managing a large communal garden that provided produce to the local market, showcasing how the role of gardener contributed significantly to local economies.
In the 16th century, Matej Zahradnik gained prominence for his written work on horticulture. Born in 1534 and deceased in 1602, Matej penned several treatises on the best practices for cultivating various plants, which were widely circulated among gardening enthusiasts and professionals.
The 18th-century records also highlight the life of Frantisek Zahradnik, born in 1765. He became a well-known figure in Olomouc for his innovative approach to landscape gardening, integrating techniques from across Europe into local designs, significantly influencing the aesthetic of public and private gardens in the region.
Moving into the 19th century, Josef Zahradnik, born in 1821 and deceased in 1898, is documented as having served as the head gardener for a prominent noble family near the town of Kutná Hora. His contributions to the development and maintenance of their extensive estate gardens were highly valued, leaving a lasting legacy.
Throughout history, the Zahradnik surname has been carried by people involved in gardening and horticulture, occupations essential for both subsistence and beautification. This lineage illustrates the vital role of gardeners in their communities and offers insight into the socio-economic fabric of Czech history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zahradnik
Among Census respondents with the surname Zahradnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zahradnik bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zahradnik surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.8% · 437
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 9
- Two or more races0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zahradnik
Zahradnik appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#46,037
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 463
+24 bearers (+5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.16
Rank movement Down 208 places
2020
#50,535
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 447
-16 bearers (-3.5%)
Per 100,000 0.15
Rank movement Down 4,498 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #45,829 | 439 | 0.16 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #46,037 | 463 | 0.16 | +24 bearers (+5.5%) | Down 208 places |
| 2020 | #50,535 | 447 | 0.15 | -16 bearers (-3.5%) | Down 4,498 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zahradnik surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #46,037 | #50,535 | -9.8% |
| Count | 463 | 447 | -3.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.15 | -6.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zahradnik bearers went from 463 to 447 (-3.5% change). The surname moved down 4,498 positions in the national ranking, going from #46,037 to #50,535.
FAQ
Zahradnik surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zahradnik?
Name Census estimates that about 513 living Americans carry the surname Zahradnik. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 668,137 residents.
How common is Zahradnik?
Zahradnik ranks #50,535 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 447 people with the surname Zahradnik. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (513), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.15 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.15 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zahradnik.
Has Zahradnik become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zahradnik went from 463 recorded bearers to 447. That is a decrease of 16 (-3.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #46,037 to #50,535.
What does the Census say about the background of Zahradnik?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zahradnik, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (0.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zahradnik in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.8% (437 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zahradnik appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (97.8%), Hispanic (2.0%), Two or More Races (0.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zahradnik (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zahradnik mean?
An occupational surname originating from Czech for a gardener or someone who works in a garden. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zahradnik (0.15 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Zahradnik?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.