Surname Chmelar - Meaning and Origin
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Chmelar: What does the surname Chmelar mean?
The last name Chmelar is derived from the Czech language and means “hop grower”. This type of surname originates from a nickname or occupational title that was passed down from generation to generation.
Hops are an essential ingredient used to make beer and grow best in moist, temperate climates where the days are long and the nights are cool. They were a common crop among Central European farmers in the late Middle Ages, so the surname Chmelar was likely given to someone who cultivated hops as part of their livelihood.
The Chmelar surname can be found today mainly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but is also quite widespread throughout Europe. People with the Chmelar name can trace their ancestry back to the earliest inhabitants of Central Europe. As with many other surnames, the spelling has changed over time and can be found spelled with various variations, such as Chmelař, Chmeleř, Chimelar, Chomelar and Chomlar.
The Chmelar surname has been part of the European landscape for centuries, and despite changing borders, wars, and waves of emigration, it remains a testament to the hard work of the hop-growing ancestors who established the family line.
Order DNA origin analysisChmelar: Where does the name Chmelar come from?
The last name Chmelar is common in several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Poland. These countries were all part of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire at one point in time, which may explain their shared presence of the Chmelar surname.
Surnames from Central and Eastern Europe tend to reflect the region's mix of ethnicities and religions. For instance, the surname Chmelar is thought to have Slavic origins, deriving from the word “čmelar,” meaning beekeeper. Moreover, many Chmelars also come from a Roman Catholic tradition, making them part of a long Polish and Slovak history.
In the United States, the last name Chmelar is found primarily among immigrants from Europe or the descendants of those immigrants. The largest population of Chmelars are found in Pennsylvania, followed by Texas and Wisconsin. Although they represent a small portion of the American population, it has held steady in the Census figures throughout the years.
Given its origins in Central and Eastern Europe, it's not surprising that the surname Chmelar continues to be most popular in those regions today. It will be interesting to see if it continues to stay strong as time goes on, or if its influence will start to wane due to decreases in immigration from those countries.
Variations of the surname Chmelar
The surname Chmelar is of Bohemian/Czech origin, and variations of the spelling include Cmelar, Cmelyar, Chmelar, and Chmelyar. Chmelar is an occupational name deriving from the word "čmelák," which translates to "beekeeper."
Variants ofthe spelling include Cehmelar, Cerelar, Chmelear, Cmeier, Cmelyar, Cmelar, Cmelear, Cmelaer, Cmeyar, Cmier, Chmelear, Chmelar, Chmelyar, Chmelaer, Chmeyar, and Chmier.
Surnames that are derived from the same origin as Chmelar include Kuchler, Mrozek, Pilc, Petrik, Rataj, Kral, and Motl.
The Chmelar surname is found mainly in Bohemia, the northwestern region of the Czech Republic. It could also have originated in Austria or Germany, however, as many Bohemians immigrated to these countries.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, there are numerous records of Chmelar familiesin Vladislav, Kniníce, Hradisko, Hroznatín, Boží, Boží Dar, Kalná, Králíky, Varvažov, and Palaš.
In Austria, Chmelar familiesarefound in Vienna, Salzburg, and Upper Austria. In Germany, the surname is found in Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria. In the US, Chmelar familiesare also found in states such as Ohio, California, and Texas.
Famous people with the name Chmelar
- Brad Chmelar: American basketball player
- Brett Chmelar: American fashion photographer
- Amber Chmelar: American former beauty queen and model
- Ernie Chmelar: Former MLB pitcher
- Chris Chmelar: American retired professional ice hockey player
- Pete Chmelar: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Robert Chmelar: Austrian musician
- Robert Chmelar Jr.: American entrepreneur
- Thomas Chmelar: German speed skater
- Danny Chmelar: American baseball executive
- Blaž Chmelar: Slovenian Nordic combined skier
- Michal Chmelar: Czech ice hockey player
- Kevin Chmelar: Czech professional football player
- Štěpán Chmelar: Czech rower
- Luciana Chmelar: Argentine volleyball player
- Csaba Chmelar: Hungarian handball player
- Tibor Chmelar: Slovak football player
- Karolína Chmelárová: Slovak tennis player
- Gustáv Chmelar: Slovak ice hocke player
- Fabio Chmelar: American photographer
- Martin Chmelar: Czech Olympic table tennis player
- Erik Chmelar: German ice hockey player
- Hana Chmelářová: Czech model
- Vladimír Chmelár: Slovak volleyball player
- Kristína Chmelarova: Slovak swimmer