Explore the Family Name Zelenka
The meaning of Zelenka
1. Czech, Slovak, and Croatian: derivative of zelený (Czech and Slovak), zelen (Croatian) ‘green’, possibly a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in green or who was ‘green’ in the sense of being immature or inexperienced, or for someone with a sickly ‘greenish’ complexion. 2. Jewish (from Belarus): habitational name from the village of Zelenka in eastern Belarus.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zelenka in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Zelenka saw a slight decrease in popularity in the United States between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 22,833rd most common surname, but by 2010, its rank had fallen to 24,388th, reflecting a change of -6.81%. The count of individuals with this surname also decreased slightly from 1,047 in 2000 to 1,027 in 2010, a decline of -1.91%. Furthermore, its proportion per 100,000 people declined by -10.26% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,833 | #24,388 | -6.81% |
| Count | 1,047 | 1,027 | -1.91% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.35 | -10.26% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zelenka
The Decennial U.S. Census data shows some changes in the ethnic identity of those bearing the surname Zelenka between 2000 and 2010. There was a significant increase in the percentage of individuals identifying as Hispanic, with a 78.95% rise over the decade. Additionally, there was a moderate increase in the percentage of Zelenkas identifying as two or more races (from 1.05% to 1.46%). Conversely, the proportion of white Zelenkas declined slightly by -1.54%, though this group still made up the majority at 96.11% in 2010. For the first time in 2010, a small proportion of Zelenkas identified as Asian/Pacific Islander (0.78%), while there were no changes in the proportions identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.61% | 96.11% | -1.54% |
| Two or More Races | 1.05% | 1.46% | 39.05% |
| Hispanic | 0.76% | 1.36% | 78.95% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.78% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |