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

Zamecnik, 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 Zamecnik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zamecnik in America

Zamecnik is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zamecnik surname appeared 215 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 Zamecnik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zamecnik 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 Zamecnik

The surname Zamecnik originates from the Czech lands, specifically the areas of Bohemia and Moravia. It is derived from the Old Czech word "zámečník," which means "locksmith." This professional surname indicates that the original bearers were involved in the craft of making and repairing locks and other metal fixtures. Derived from the word "zámek," meaning "lock" or "castle," it reflects the medieval need for reliable security mechanisms.

The usage of occupational surnames became more common in the 14th and 15th centuries as populations grew and societies became more complex. This surname was likely adopted during this period as individuals became known by their trade. Variations in spelling can be observed in historical records, including Zamecznik and Zamecník, indicating the fluidity of language and orthography in earlier centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zamecnik appears in Bohemian records from the late 16th century. A historical figure, Jan Zamecnik, who was born around 1580 and whose trade as a locksmith is well-documented in manuscripts from that period, provides an early example of the name's usage. The profession was highly respected, given the critical role of locksmiths in ensuring the security of homes and communities.

Notable individuals bearing the Zamecnik surname include Bohuslav Zamecnik, a Moravian composer born in 1833 and recognized for his contributions to Czech folk music. Another historical figure is Karel Zamecnik, who served as a prominent locksmith in Prague during the early 18th century, born around 1701. His skills were so esteemed that he was commissioned to work on the locks of several significant municipal buildings.

In the 19th century, Josef Zamecnik, born in 1842, was known for his work in advancing lock-making techniques and introducing new security measures in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His innovations are documented in several industrial journals of the time, marking him as a pioneer in his field.

Into the 20th century, John J. Zamecnik, born in 1872 in Cleveland, Ohio, though of Czech descent, became a renowned composer and conductor, contributing significantly to early American film music. His works remain influential in the realm of silent film scores.

The persistence of the Zamecnik surname through centuries underscores the lasting impression of the craftsmanship and innovation associated with it. Each bearer of the name has contributed uniquely to their field, maintaining the legacy of the skilled locksmiths from which the name originates.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zamecnik

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

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

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