2000
#124,872
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zivney
A surname likely derived from a place name in eastern Europe.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Zivney. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zivney 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Zivney in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivney, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zivney
The surname Zivney finds its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically in the regions that are now part of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The earliest traceable period for this name appears to be the 14th century. The name likely derives from the Czech word "život," which means "life," possibly indicating a person who was vibrant or full of life. The suffix "ney" may have been added as a diminutive or for phonetic reasons, aligning with local dialects and linguistic transitions of the time.
One of the earliest references to a name similar to Zivney can be found in old Czech records from the 15th century, where a variation like Ziwney appeared. These records, often tied to property and regional tax documents, suggest that the surname had some level of importance or recognition within local communities. It was not unusual for surnames to vary in spelling over time due to differing dialects and the evolution of language.
The earliest recorded individual with a variant of this surname is Jan Ziwney, a landowner documented in a 1542 registry from what is now the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. His involvement in local governance and property disputes provides insight into the social standing of the name during that era. Another notable early reference is Marek Zivney, who in 1623 was mentioned in a manuscript chronicling local nobles and significant landholders in Slovakia.
Moving forward to the 18th century, a prominent figure was Josef Zivney, born in 1735 in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. Josef was known for his contributions to agricultural reforms and local community development. Another significant personality from the same period is Katerina Zivney, who was born in 1780 and noted in historical texts for her philanthropic efforts, particularly her work in establishing local schools and sponsoring educational initiatives.
In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with the emergence of Frantisek Zivney, born in 1822, who was a renowned composer and a significant figure in the cultural scene of the Czech Republic. His works contributed to a richer cultural tapestry and are still celebrated today. Additionally, the 19th century also saw the rise of Jan Zivney, born in 1864, a noted academic and writer whose scholarly works on Slavic languages were widely respected.
The surname Zivney, throughout its history, has been associated with vibrant community figures and individuals who contributed significantly to their local spheres, whether through landholding, educational, agricultural, or cultural achievements. Its roots in the meaning "life" are reflected in the dynamic lives and the impacts of those who bore the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zivney
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivney, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Zivney 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 Zivney surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.7% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 6
- Two or more races3.3% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zivney
Zivney 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
#134,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
-2 bearers (-1.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,840 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-5 bearers (-4.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,337 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #124,872 | 127 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #134,712 | 125 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.6%) | Down 9,840 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.0%) | Down 7,337 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 Zivney 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 | #134,712 | #142,049 | -5.4% |
| Count | 125 | 120 | -4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zivney bearers went from 125 to 120 (-4.0% change). The surname moved down 7,337 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,712 to #142,049.
FAQ
Zivney surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zivney?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Zivney. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Zivney?
Zivney ranks #142,049 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 120 people with the surname Zivney. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), 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 Zivney.
Has Zivney become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zivney went from 125 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #134,712 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Zivney?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivney, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). 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 Zivney in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.7% (110 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zivney appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.7%), Hispanic (5.0%), Two or More Races (3.3%). 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 Zivney (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 Zivney mean?
A surname likely derived from a place name in eastern Europe. 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 Zivney (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 have the last name Zivney?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Zivney at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.