In Croatia, Vanek families are almost entirely Croats (from Donji Miholjac area ), very rarely Serbs. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Osijek and in Donji Miholjac area. In Gezinci in Donji Miholjac area every fourth inhabitant had the family name Vanek.
Prevalence
About 80 people with faimily name Vanek live in Croatia today, in 40 households. There were 50 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number increased by 70 percent. They are located in 6 Croatian counties, in 12 cities and 8 other places, mostly in Zagreb (15), Valpovo (10), Orahovica (<10), Djurdjenovac in Nasice area (<10), and in Moslavina Podravska in Donji Miholjac area (<10).
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned few times, the first time 1917 in source List of Dignitaries, Officials and Public Servants of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.