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

Zajíček, 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 Zajíček surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zajíček in America

Zajíček is the 24982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zajíček surname appeared 995 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 Zajíček.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zajíček 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 Zajíček

The surname Zajicek originates from the Czech Republic, a region historically known as Bohemia, which was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia during the Holy Roman Empire. Zajicek is derived from the Czech word "zajíc," which means "hare," with "ček" being a diminutive suffix, rendering the surname to mean "little hare" or "young hare."

The earliest instances of this surname can be traced back to medieval times, appearing in records from the 14th century. Its etymology indicates a nickname given to someone who exhibited characteristics reminiscent of a hare, such as agility or swiftness, possibly even in terms of cunning or timidity. Regional documentation from areas like Prague and other Bohemian towns frequently lists variants of the surname.

One of the historical references to the surname Zajicek can be found in the archives of the city of Plzeň (Pilsen) from around the mid-14th century. The name was noted in tax records and guild registrations, reflecting its presence in both urban and rural settings. The name's variant spellings over time include Zajíček, Záhíček, and Zayiczek, demonstrating phonetic adaptations in different records.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with this surname is Jan Zajicek, a 15th-century merchant who operated in the bustling trade hub of Prague. Another historical figure is Matěj Zajicek, born in 1587, who served as a local magistrate in the town of Kutná Hora, a significant mining center in Bohemia. His contributions to local governance were well-documented in civic records.

In the 17th century, Jaroslav Zajicek, born in 1642, gained recognition as a notable scholar and scribe, contributing to the compilation of religious manuscripts in the city of Brno. These manuscripts have since been preserved in regional archives, shedding light on the spread of the Zajicek family name across various intellectual fields.

In the 19th century, the surname found prominence with Václav Zajicek, a military officer born in 1810 who served in the Austrian Empire's army, which then controlled the region. His military career and detailed service records have been preserved in military archives, illustrating the family's continued social significance.

Another significant person from recent history is Jarmila Zajicek, born in 1878, a pioneering educator and writer who contributed to the development of the Czech national identity through her literary works and educational reforms. Her efforts were instrumental during the national revival movement that aimed to preserve Czech culture and language.

Throughout history, the surname Zajicek has thus been associated with a variety of professions and social standings, reflecting the versatile nature of those who bore the name. Its origins in Bohemia and evolution over centuries highlight the cultural and linguistic threads that define this notable surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zajíček

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

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

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