Surname Antonovics - Meaning and Origin
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Antonovics: What does the surname Antonovics mean?
The last name Antonovics is a patronymic derived from the personal name Antonov, which is derived from the Latin name Antonius or Anthony. Antonius or Anthony was originally derived from the Etruscan word Antenn meaning “invaluable” or “inestimable”. It could also be traced to the origin of “abi” which means “to go beyond” or “gone beyond”.
This name has been found in Eastern Europe since the Middle Ages, most commonly in Slovakia and Hungary. It may also have been found in the Czech Republic and Austria.
The last name Antonovics is most commonly found among those who are of Eastern European descent. It can be an occupational name, typically being used to describe someone who worked as an overseer or manager of estates or firms. It can also be used to indicate a place of origin, as in the case of someone living or originating from a place called Anton.
The last name Antonovics carries a sense of nobility and respect, as it is an ancient family name passed down through many generations. It is a reminder of a distant past, a history to be proud of and is also symbolic of a good and noble character.
Order DNA origin analysisAntonovics: Where does the name Antonovics come from?
The last name Antonovics is most commonly found in Hungary today. Within Hungary it is one of the magyarized versions of the Slavic/Czech surname Antonovič and is found predominantly in the northern regions of the country, including Budapest and the towns of Csorna, Kisbér, Komárom, and Székesfehérvár. The name is also present scattered throughout Slovakia and Croatia, and small populations exist in Austria, Germany, and Ukraine. It has also spread further afield to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil.
The Antonovics surname may have originated from the Czech settlements of Bohemia in the mid-14th century. During these times, Czech surnames were created as a way of controlling and creating order within society. Taking the common male names Anton and Tom zovuch, and combining them in a new form, Antonovics was created.
Given the prevalence of the name throughout the region, its exact origins are unknown. It is possible the original form of Antonovics was derived from the first name Anton, which itself is the German, Dutch, or Slavic form of the ancient Roman name Antonius, a family name from a Latin Roman clan name which meant “priceless”, or “invaluable”. The suffix ‘ovics’ is a Hungarian-Slavic form of the Latin or Hebrew -witz, indicating a relation.
By present day, the Antonovics name is found in many countries and its exact origin is still uncertain. However, through the centuries it has become a symbol of order and stability, a representation of the past which is carried forward to today.
Variations of the surname Antonovics
The Antonovics surname has a few different spelling variants, as well as some variants derived from other languages.
The most common variants of Antonovics are Antunovic, Antonovic and Antoniewicz. These are all derived from the Slavic root Anton- (‘anthony’) and the suffix -ov, -ic or -iewicz (‘son of’). In some cases, the surname may also be spelled Antanowicz or Antonowicz.
In Russia, an alternate spelling of the surname is Antonovits, while in Bulgaria it can be spelled Antonovitsa, Antonovich or Antonovch. In Croatia, a common spelling is Antunovic, while in Serbia it is usually spelled as Antonovich.
In some cases, Antonovics can be a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor’s first name. As such, the surname can also be spelled as Antanasovics in Latvia, Antanovic in Croatia, and Antanovitch in Belarus.
The surname can also have variants derived from other languages. For instance, in Germany, the surname Antunovic has been Latinised to Antonovich. In Ukraine, a common spelling is Antonovych, and in Austria the surname is usually spelled as Antonowitsch.
In Hungary, the surname can be spelled as Antonovics or Antunovics, and the Polish equivalent is Antonowicz. Furthermore, in Scandinavia, the surname is usually spelled as Antonovits or Antonoffs.
Overall, it is clear that the Antonovics surname is highly versatile and has several different variants and spellings which have evolved in different countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Antonovics
- Maris Antonovics: Latvian chess grandmaster
- Arvids Antonovics: Latvian tennis player
- Kamērs Antonovics: Latvian Olympic weightlifter
- Gunars Antonovics: Latvian ice hockey player
- Andrejs Antonovics: Latvian pianist and composer
- Stanislav Antonovics: Lithuanian basketball player
- Konstantins Antonovics: Latvian volleyball player
- Mayya Antonovics: Bulgarian tennis player
- Aleksandrs Antonovics: Latvian footballer
- Andris Antonovics: Latvian basketball player