Plahinek families are Croats and they are mostly from Ivanec area. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Ivanec area and in Orahovica area. In Klenovnik in Ivanec area every thirtieth inhabitant had the family name Plahinek.
Prevalence
About 70 people with faimily name Plahinek live in Croatia today, in 30 households. There were 30 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number more than doubled. They are located in 6 Croatian counties and 6 other places, mostly in Klenovnik in Ivanec area (25), Koprivnica (15), Omisalj on the Island of Krk (10), Pausinci in Orahovica area (<10), and in Djurdjenovac in Nasice area (<5).
Outside Croatia
Family name Plahinek is present in this form only in Croatia.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.