Surname Horvatek - Meaning and Origin
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Horvatek: What does the surname Horvatek mean?
The last name Horvatek is of Slavic origin, mainly found in Slovenia and Croatia. It is thought to refer to someone from the city of Horvat, which is believed to have derived its name from the root word “horvati” meaning “to levy taxes in kind” and thus the Horvatek family is a reflection of this early financial prowess.
Traditionally, Horvatek families are thought to have resided in the Dalmatian Coast, descending from Croatian settlers who stole the land after the Avar and Slavic invasions. As the region was then under Venetian domination, the Horvatek family kept their name intact during this period despite the fact that rulers attempted to introduce Italian surnames.
Those bearing the Horvatek surname throughout history have played an important role in Slovenian and Croation politics, business and academia. Antun Horvatek, a 17th century poet, was instrumental in the growth of the baroque style in Slovenian poetry and brought Slovenian epic narrative to life. His works have been widely read and studied and his influence is still present in literature today.
The Horvatek surname indicates a sense of lineage and nobility and remains strongly connected to the culture and heritage of Slovenia and Croatia; to Rocky coastlines, picturesque farms and beautiful mountain ranges. There is a tangible sense of pride associated with this name so that for thousands of years across Europe and beyond, it has been a source of great pride for those who are fortunate enough to carry it.
Order DNA origin analysisHorvatek: Where does the name Horvatek come from?
The last name Horvatek (or Horvátek) is predominantly found in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia. It is most widespread in the Czech Republic, where it is the 76th most common surname, with approximately 8,713 bearers. It is also widespread in Slovakia, where it is the 88th most common surname, with 5,901 bearers, and Hungary, where it is the 486th most common surname, with 2,115 bearers. Additionally, the name is present in Serbia, where it is the 635th most common surname, with 745 bearers.
The origin of the last name Horvatek is thought to be either from the Czech or Slovak word 'horvát', which means 'Croatian', or from the South Slavic word 'horvati', meaning 'to swallow'. It is a patronymic surname, which is generated from the father's given name, and was widely used as an ethnic identifier amongst Slavic settlers.
Today, Horvatek is most commonly found amongst people of Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, and Serbian heritage. It is mostly located in South-Eastern Europe, and has been adopted by the North American communities of those heritages.
Variations of the surname Horvatek
The surname Horvatek is of Slavic origin, and it has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
One variant is Horvat, which is a Croatian and Slovenian version of the name. This form is often found in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Austria and other countries within the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Another variant spelling is Horvath, which is a Magyar, Hungarian and Slovak variant of the name. It is often found in Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania and other countries within the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The German spelling of Horvatek is Horwath, and is often found in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and other German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname include Horvatic, Horvatik, Horvatic, Horvatić, Horvarić, Horvatič, Horvatovac, Horvatekblog and Horvatovich.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Michigan, California and Florida.
In addition, surname variants in other languages include Horwatus, Oravec, Oreveč, Oravecz, Oravič, Hravček and Chorwat.
Overall, Horvatek is a surname with many variants and spellings, which reflects its widespread presence in many parts of Europe and North America.
Famous people with the name Horvatek
- Anamaria Horvatek, Croatian alpine skier
- Shane Horvatek, Canadian freestyle skier
- Mick Horvatek, Australian swimmer and water polo player
- Sam Horvatek, Canadian rugby union player
- Midge Horvatek, Canadian cross-country skier
- Luka Horvatek, Croatian basketball player
- Roko Horvatek, Croatian handball player
- Steven Horvatek, Canadian sled hockey player
- Ines Horvatek, Croatian beach volleyball player
- Renata Horvatek, Croatian runner
- Teodor Horvatek, Croatian tennis player
- Luka Horvatek, Slovenian wrestler
- Marcies Horvatek, Canadian curler
- Greg Horvatek, Canadian competitive shooter
- Stephanie Horvatek, American synchronized swimmer
- Vinko Horvatek, Croatian rower
- Marian Horvatek, Canadian curler
- Karli Horvatek, Australian basketball player
- Tony Horvatek, Canadian trap shooter
- Natalia Horvatek, Croatian volleyball player