2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Zishka
A surname originating from the Czech Republic, potentially relating to someone who lived near a wooded area.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 112 Americans carry the last name Zishka. That puts it at #156,269 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,060,307 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zishka 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
112
1 in 3,060,307
Census rank
#156,269
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
98
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 98 bearers of the surname Zishka in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156269th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zishka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zishka
The surname Zishka has its roots in central Europe, particularly within the regions that make up modern-day Germany and the Czech Republic. The name is believed to have originated from the Czech word "žižka," which translates to "eye" in English, though it could also denote someone with a specific physical trait related to the eye, such as a squint or a distinctive eye color. It's important to note that similar surnames like Žižka or Zischka exist and may share a common origin or meaning.
Historical records suggest that the name Zishka first appeared in the late medieval period. One prominent historical figure bearing this surname is Jan Žižka, a Czech general born in 1360 who became a national hero during the Hussite Wars. While the spelling with an accent over the initial Ž may differ slightly, his name underscores the surname's deep historical roots in Bohemian territory (now the Czech Republic).
Early records from the 14th and 15th centuries frequently reference Jan Žižka, particularly in documents related to the Hussite movement. These documents highlight Žižka's significant role in leading the Hussite forces against the Holy Roman Empire's crusades. As a military leader, he employed innovative tactics that are well-documented in historical texts related to the wars he fought in. Jan Žižka died in 1424, and his legacy has been preserved in numerous manuscripts, chronicles, and songs recounting his military prowess.
Another individual of note is Nicholas Žižka, an associate of Jan Žižka, who played a secondary but crucial role in the Hussite Wars. While less is known about Nicholas's precise birth and death dates, he is frequently mentioned in the same breath as Jan Žižka in historical accounts from the same period.
Moving forward to the 16th century, a figure named Martin Zischka emerges. While the spelling differs somewhat, it emphasizes the evolution and geographic spread of the surname. Martin was a Lutheran pastor operating in Saxony, an area where the name had migrated due to regional conflicts and shifting borders. Historical church records from 1573 to 1592 mention Martin Zischka frequently, emphasizing his contributions to religious thought during the Reformation.
The surname appears again in the late 17th century with Johann Zischka, an Austrian merchant known for his extensive trade networks across Central Europe. His activities are noted in business records and correspondences dating from 1690 to 1717, highlighting the surname's transition into more commercial endeavors as Europe entered the early modern period.
By the 18th century, the surname had further diversified. Viktor Zishka, a minor nobleman, and landowner in Bavaria, is recorded in tax documents from 1745. His holdings and the mention of his family in local histories reflect the social mobility and expansion of the surname beyond its original regional confines.
In summary, the surname Zishka, with its Czech origins and various historical spellings, highlights a rich and complex lineage. From its genesis in the medieval period with figures like Jan Žižka to its later adaptations and regional variations, the name encapsulates significant historical, cultural, and social developments across Central Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zishka
Among Census respondents with the surname Zishka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zishka 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 Zishka surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9% · 94
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 3
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zishka
Zishka appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#156,269
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 98
-3 bearers (-3.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 3,443 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #156,269 | 98 | 0.03 | -3 bearers (-3.0%) | Up 3,443 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 Zishka 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 | #159,712 | #156,269 | 2.2% |
| Count | 101 | 98 | -3.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 9.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zishka bearers went from 101 to 98 (-3.0% change). The surname moved up 3,443 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #156,269.
FAQ
Zishka surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zishka?
Name Census estimates that about 112 living Americans carry the surname Zishka. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,060,307 residents.
How common is Zishka?
Zishka ranks #156,269 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 98 people with the surname Zishka. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (112), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Zishka.
Has Zishka become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zishka went from 101 recorded bearers to 98. That is a decrease of 3 (-3.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #156,269.
What does the Census say about the background of Zishka?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zishka, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). 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 Zishka in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.9% (94 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zishka appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.9%), Hispanic (3.1%), Two or More Races (1.0%). 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 Zishka (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 Zishka mean?
A surname originating from the Czech Republic, potentially relating to someone who lived near a wooded 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 Zishka (0.03 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 Americans have the surname Zishka?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.