2000
#53,047
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 366
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.14
Very Rare Last name
Potucek
A Czech surname meaning "little brook" or "small stream".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 425 Americans carry the last name Potucek. That puts it at #58,949 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 806,481 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Potucek 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
425
1 in 806,481
Census rank
#58,949
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
371
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 371 bearers of the surname Potucek in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 58949th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Potucek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Potucek
The surname Potucek originates from the Czech Republic, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Czech word "potucny," which means "wandering" or "roaming." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who led a nomadic lifestyle or traveled frequently.
During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or places of origin. In the case of Potucek, it is likely that the name was initially used to describe someone who was known for their wandering nature or frequent travels.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Potucek can be found in the Beroun register from the year 1379, where a certain Jan Potucek is listed. This document provides valuable insight into the historical presence of the name in the region.
In the 16th century, the name Potucek appeared in various municipal records and chronicles, particularly in the areas around Prague and Central Bohemia. This indicates that the name had become well-established and was associated with families residing in these regions.
Notable individuals bearing the surname Potucek include Jan Potucek (1541-1611), a prominent Czech writer and theologian from the Renaissance period. His works contributed significantly to the development of Czech literature and religious discourse.
Another notable figure was Karel Potucek (1870-1932), a Czech painter and art educator who played a crucial role in the development of modern Czech art. His paintings, often depicting landscapes and rural scenes, are celebrated for their vibrant colors and unique style.
In the 20th century, Miloslav Potucek (1928-2012) gained recognition as a renowned Czech economist and academician. He made significant contributions to the field of public finance and served as the rector of the University of Economics in Prague.
The name Potucek has also been associated with various places and geographical locations within the Czech Republic. For instance, the village of Potucek, located in the Plzeň Region, likely derived its name from the surname itself, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in the area.
While the surname Potucek is most commonly found in the Czech Republic, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, particularly in countries with significant Czech communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Potucek
Among Census respondents with the surname Potucek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Potucek 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 Potucek surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1% · 349
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 7
- Two or more races1.9% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Potucek
Potucek 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
#56,836
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 359
-7 bearers (-1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Down 3,789 places
2020
#58,949
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 371
+12 bearers (+3.3%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Down 2,113 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #53,047 | 366 | 0.14 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #56,836 | 359 | 0.12 | -7 bearers (-1.9%) | Down 3,789 places |
| 2020 | #58,949 | 371 | 0.12 | +12 bearers (+3.3%) | Down 2,113 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 Potucek 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 | #56,836 | #58,949 | -3.7% |
| Count | 359 | 371 | 3.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 3.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Potucek bearers went from 359 to 371 (+3.3% change). The surname moved down 2,113 positions in the national ranking, going from #56,836 to #58,949.
FAQ
Potucek surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Potucek?
Name Census estimates that about 425 living Americans carry the surname Potucek. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 806,481 residents.
How common is Potucek?
Potucek ranks #58,949 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 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 371 people with the surname Potucek. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (425), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 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 Potucek.
Has Potucek become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Potucek went from 359 recorded bearers to 371. That is an increase of 12 (+3.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #56,836 to #58,949.
What does the Census say about the background of Potucek?
Among Census respondents with the surname Potucek, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). 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 Potucek in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.1% (349 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Potucek appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.1%), Hispanic (1.9%), Two or More Races (1.9%). 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 Potucek (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 Potucek mean?
A Czech surname meaning "little brook" or "small stream". 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 Potucek (0.12 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 common is the surname Potucek?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Potucek is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.