Zednik last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zednik

Of Czech origin, denoting someone from the countryside or rural area.

Zednik, 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 Zednik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zednik in America

Zednik is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zednik surname appeared 133 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 Zednik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zednik 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 128249 144908 -12.20%
Count 133 105 23.53%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.04 22.22%

The history of the last name Zednik

The surname Zednik has its origins in the Czech Republic, dating back several centuries. Traditionally, it is derived from the Czech word "zedník," which translates to "mason" or "bricklayer." The word itself comes from "zed," the Czech word for "wall," indicating that the name was likely occupational in nature, given to individuals who worked with stone or bricks to build structures.

Zednik is historically associated with regions of Bohemia, a central part of the modern Czech Republic. During medieval times, this area was known for its robust building activities, especially in castle and church construction, which might explain the prevalence of names related to masonry.

One of the earliest recorded references to a Zednik might be found in local church records or tax documents that have been preserved over the centuries. A notable early instance of the name appears in a 14th-century manuscript detailing the builders of a church in Prague, though the exact names are often difficult to read due to the antiquity of the records.

The surname may also have appeared with slight variations in spelling, such as Zedník or Zednikh, depending on regional dialects and the scribe's interpretation. Over time, the name became standardized and recognizable in its current form.

Among the individuals bearing this surname, Victor Zednik (1730-1802) stands out as an influential figure. He was an architect in Bohemia renowned for his designs which blended traditional and emerging architectural styles of his time. Documents from the Bohemian estates indicate he was a prominent figure in many significant constructions during the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, Anna Zednik (1821-1895), a noted writer and poet, gained prominence. Her works, largely based on folk tales and local history, provided insight into the life and culture of the Bohemian people. Her writings remain a valuable asset in Czech literature.

Moving into the 20th century, the name Zednik was carried into the world of sports by Richard Zednik (born 1976), a Slovak-born professional ice hockey player who made significant contributions to the sport, most notably with his participation in the National Hockey League (NHL). His career highlights include playing for teams such as the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers.

A significant historical figure named Jan Zednik (1884-1955) was a Czech sculptor whose works can still be seen adorning various public buildings and squares in Prague. His sculptures often depicted historical and mythological themes, and his contributions to Czech art are still recognized and celebrated today.

Lastly, Karel Zednik (1921-1989) played a pivotal role in Czech politics during the mid-20th century. Active primarily during the post-World War II era, he was involved in various local and national political movements and held several key governmental positions. His influence was felt in shaping modern Czech policies and governance during a turbulent period in European history.

These examples highlight the widespread influence of individuals bearing the Zednik surname, spread across various fields from architecture and literature to sports and politics, marking a substantial contribution to their respective domains throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zednik

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

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 Zednik was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.98% 125
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 (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 4.51% 6

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.98% 93.33% 0.69%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 4.51% (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 Zednik was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zednik, please contact us.

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"Zednik last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zednik-surname-popularity/.

"Zednik last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zednik-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

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

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