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

Zeleznik, 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 Zeleznik surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeleznik in America

Zeleznik is the 51176th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeleznik surname appeared 407 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 Zeleznik.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeleznik 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 Zeleznik

The surname Zeleznik originates from Central Europe, particularly from Slavic regions. The name is derived from the Slovak and Czech words "železo" meaning "iron” and the suffix “-ník” which indicates a person associated with a particular thing or place. This suggests that the name Zeleznik historically referred to someone who worked with iron, such as a blacksmith, or lived near iron resources.

The earliest known references to the surname Zeleznik can be traced back to medieval times, with records emerging from the Czech and Slovak regions during the 14th century. One of the first documentation appears in the tax registry of the Kingdom of Bohemia from 1376, where the name Zeleznik is listed among other common occupational surnames of that period.

A significant mention of the name in historical documents includes that of Jan Zeleznik, a blacksmith in Prague during the late 1500s. Born in 1563, he is recorded in municipal records for his involvement in the manufacturing of tools and armaments for the city’s guards. His contributions were notably archived in Prague city records around the year 1592.

In the 17th century, the name appears again with a noted individual, Mikuláš Zeleznik, around 1625. A respected figure in his community in what is now Slovakia, Mikuláš was known for his craftsmanship in ironworks and his position in a guild of metalworkers. His prominence is mentioned in a guild ledger from 1647, indicating his significant role in local trade and industry.

The surname spread beyond its origins and can be found in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with historical links to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 18th century, Maria Zeleznik, born in 1734, gained recognition for her involvement in the mining industry in Upper Hungary, modern-day Slovakia. Her family owned several small iron mines, which were vital to the regional economy, as chronicled in mining records from 1771.

Moving into the 19th century, an academic named Karl Zeleznik, born in 1822, emerged in the records as an influential scholar in metallurgy and engineering. Karl's work on the properties of iron and steel was groundbreaking, and several of his papers on the subject were published between 1856 and 1878. His contributions to the field are still acknowledged in historical literature on early metallurgical engineering.

A notable figure in the 20th century with the surname Zeleznik was Ivan Zeleznik, born in 1889. He was a prominent political figure in Czechoslovakia before World War II, serving in various administrative roles. His influence and contributions to the state apparatus during the interwar period are detailed in governmental records and historical works detailing Czechoslovakian history from the 1920s and 30s.

Despite not being highlighted in recent data, the historical significance and spread of the surname Zeleznik demonstrate its deep-rooted connection to the metallurgical and industrial heritage of Central Europe. The name endures, a testament to the storied profession and legacy of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeleznik

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

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

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

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