2000
#44,192
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 459
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.17
Very Rare Last name
Zavadil
A Czech surname derived from the word "zavádět" meaning "to disturb" or "to lead astray".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 530 Americans carry the last name Zavadil. That puts it at #49,237 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 646,706 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zavadil 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
530
1 in 646,706
Census rank
#49,237
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
462
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 462 bearers of the surname Zavadil in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 49237th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zavadil, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Black (0.9%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zavadil
The surname Zavadil has its roots in the Slavic regions of Central Europe, particularly in what is now the Czech Republic. This name dates back several centuries and is linked to the rural and agricultural lifestyles that were predominant in the area. The etymology of Zavadil can be traced to the Czech word "zavádět," which means to lead or to bring, often in the context of leading cattle or managing a farm.
Historical references to the surname Zavadil are found in various land and parish records from the early to mid-14th century in Bohemia. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in a 1373 Bohemian census, where a certain Jan Zavadil is listed as a landowner in the village of Mělník. This early reference indicates the occupational nature of the name, possibly referring to someone who managed a plot of land or led livestock.
The surname evolved over time, and variations like Zavadyl or Zawadil have been documented in historical texts. An old manuscript dating back to 1542, housed in the archives of Prague, mentions a Martin Zavadil working as a blacksmith in the region, highlighting the occupational diversity of individuals bearing this surname. These early records suggest that bearers of this name were often involved in various skilled trades.
In the 17th century, significant migration patterns were observed due to the political and religious turmoil in Europe, such as the Thirty Years' War. Some individuals with the surname Zavadil migrated to neighboring countries like Germany and Austria. One such individual, Viktor Zavadil (born 1603 - died 1675), became known for his service in the military under the Habsburg Monarchy and was later knighted for his contributions.
The name Zavadil is also associated with notable contributions to arts and sciences in more recent centuries. Alois Zavadil (1838-1910), a renowned Czech composer and musician, made significant contributions to the development of classical music in the region. His works are still celebrated in Czech cultural history. Furthermore, Ludmila Zavadilová (1865-1943) gained recognition as a prominent painter and artist, with her works displayed in several European art galleries.
The surname persisted through the centuries and spread to different parts of the world due to emigration, particularly during periods of economic hardship or political unrest. Notably, during the mid-19th century, Janos Zavadil (1816-1882), a political activist and writer, became a central figure in advocating for Czech independence and cultural preservation during the Austro-Hungarian Empire's dominance.
The Zavadil family name showcases a rich tapestry of historical narratives, reflecting the broader socio-economic and cultural changes in Central Europe. While originating from the Czech lands, its bearers have contributed to various fields including military service, the arts, and national movements.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zavadil
Among Census respondents with the surname Zavadil, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Black (0.9%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zavadil 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 Zavadil surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.8% · 447
- Black or African American0.9% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 4
- Two or more races0.9% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zavadil
Zavadil 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
#47,966
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 441
-18 bearers (-3.9%)
Per 100,000 0.15
Rank movement Down 3,774 places
2020
#49,237
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 462
+21 bearers (+4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.15
Rank movement Down 1,271 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #44,192 | 459 | 0.17 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #47,966 | 441 | 0.15 | -18 bearers (-3.9%) | Down 3,774 places |
| 2020 | #49,237 | 462 | 0.15 | +21 bearers (+4.8%) | Down 1,271 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 Zavadil 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 | #47,966 | #49,237 | -2.6% |
| Count | 441 | 462 | 4.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.15 | 0.15 | 3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zavadil bearers went from 441 to 462 (+4.8% change). The surname moved down 1,271 positions in the national ranking, going from #47,966 to #49,237.
FAQ
Zavadil surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zavadil?
Name Census estimates that about 530 living Americans carry the surname Zavadil. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 646,706 residents.
How common is Zavadil?
Zavadil ranks #49,237 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 462 people with the surname Zavadil. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (530), 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 Zavadil.
Has Zavadil become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zavadil went from 441 recorded bearers to 462. That is an increase of 21 (+4.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #47,966 to #49,237.
What does the Census say about the background of Zavadil?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zavadil, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.8%. The next largest groups are Black (0.9%) and Hispanic (0.9%). 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 Zavadil in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.8% (447 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zavadil appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.8%), Black (0.9%), Hispanic (0.9%). 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 Zavadil (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 Zavadil mean?
A Czech surname derived from the word "zavádět" meaning "to disturb" or "to lead astray". 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 Zavadil (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 last name Zavadil?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans have the surname Zavadil at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.