2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zednik
Of Czech origin, denoting someone from the countryside or rural area.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 146 Americans carry the last name Zednik. That puts it at #136,807 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,347,632 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zednik 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
146
1 in 2,347,632
Census rank
#136,807
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
127
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 127 bearers of the surname Zednik in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 136807th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zednik, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Two or More Races (5.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zednik
Among Census respondents with the surname Zednik, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Two or More Races (5.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Zednik 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 Zednik surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.0% · 108
- Hispanic or Latino5.5% · 7
- Two or more races5.5% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.6% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.6% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zednik
Zednik 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
#128,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
+28 bearers (+26.7%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 16,659 places
2020
#136,807
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
-6 bearers (-4.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,558 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #128,249 | 133 | 0.05 | +28 bearers (+26.7%) | Up 16,659 places |
| 2020 | #136,807 | 127 | 0.04 | -6 bearers (-4.5%) | Down 8,558 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 Zednik 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 | #128,249 | #136,807 | -6.7% |
| Count | 133 | 127 | -4.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -15.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zednik bearers went from 133 to 127 (-4.5% change). The surname moved down 8,558 positions in the national ranking, going from #128,249 to #136,807.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Zednik
FAQ
Zednik surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zednik?
Name Census estimates that about 146 living Americans carry the surname Zednik. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,347,632 residents.
How common is Zednik?
Zednik ranks #136,807 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 127 people with the surname Zednik. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (146), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Zednik.
Has Zednik become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zednik went from 133 recorded bearers to 127. That is a decrease of 6 (-4.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #128,249 to #136,807.
What does the Census say about the background of Zednik?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zednik, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.5%) and Two or More Races (5.5%). 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 Zednik in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.0% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zednik appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.0%), Hispanic (5.5%), Two or More Races (5.5%). 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 Zednik (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 Zednik mean?
Of Czech origin, denoting someone from the countryside or rural area. 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 Zednik (0.04 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 are called Zednik?
Find out how common the surname Zednik is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.