Surname Houdek - Meaning and Origin
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Houdek: What does the surname Houdek mean?
The last name Houdek is a Czech surname derived from the word "houd" meaning "hairy". It is most often found in areas of the Czech Republic and Slovakia where Czech is spoken, although it is also found in Austria, Germany, as well as in places where people of Czech descent migrated, such as the United States and Canada.
Houdek is a patronymic name, which means it's derived from the personal name of one's father or sometimes grandfather. In the Czech language, houd is also a term of endearment.
Houdek name holders were usually tradespeople and artisans. Some common professions for people with this last name include millers, tailors, farms, shoemakers, and craftsmen. Other variants of the name include Houdlik, Houdek, Hudek, and Houdkova.
The motto associated with the Houdek family name is, “Unity and Loyalty Endure.” It is meant to represent the success of the family after generations of hard work, struggles, and perseverance.
This is what the last name Houdek has come to represent in its many families over the centuries—toughness, a strong will, and a never-ending drive to face adversity head on.
Order DNA origin analysisHoudek: Where does the name Houdek come from?
The last name Houdek is most commonly found in Central and Eastern European countries, especially the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The name can also be found in places around the world where large numbers of Central and Eastern Europeans have emigrated, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In the Czech Republic, the name is ranked 73rd out of 3,734 common Czech surnames, making it one of the more popular surnames in the country. It is also especially popular among the Czech Americans in the United States, where the 2000 US Census reported the surname as the 4,435th most common. In Slovakia, the name is found even more often, currently ranking 225th out of the 4,057 most common surnames there.
The name is derived from the old Slavic pre-Christian personal name Houdek or Houdik. It is also likely derived from the Czech word “houd”, meaning “shield” or “protection”. It can also be found spelled as Hudek, Hudik, and Houdek.
The names popularity has remained fairly constant over the years and it is likely to remain popular in Central and Eastern Europe for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Houdek
The surname Houdek has various variants and spellings depending on the language and region it is used in. The spelling of this common surname in Czech is Houdek and in Polish it is Houdek. In Germany it is Hoffdeck, Hofdeck, towdeck and Hudek. In Latin America, the surname is used as Udeque, Udeke and Udeck, and in other parts of Europe as Uddeke and Uaddeek. In the US, most people with the surname have retained its original spelling as Houdek.
Other surnames with similar origins or derivations to Houdek include Houdekova, Hudková, Hudkova, Hudekova, Hudková, Hudík, Hudký, Hadík, Haštek, Hadalová, Hadac, Hadacka, Hadacek, Havlena, Havlin, Haufek, Hawlicek, Houdkova, and Havenar.
The surname Houdek likely originated from the name Houdek, which is a diminutive form of Houda, which itself is derived from the name Hugh. Similarly, variants of the surname may be derived from other forms of the name such as Hubert or Huot. Although the origin of the surname is uncertain, it is thought to be of Slavic origin.
Famous people with the name Houdek
- Dáša Houdek: Dáša Houdek is a Czech singer who has been active since 1999 when she released her debut album, Proti proudu. She is well-known for her performances at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 and 2006.
- Stanislav Houdek: Stanislav Houdek is a Czech actor known for his roles in movies such as Podnikatelův očekávání (2012) and Alois Nebel (2011).
- Jana Houdková: Jana Houdková is a Czech actress who has appeared in a wide range of television shows and movies such as Místo vINk (2005), Dětství jako život (2006), and Troška v predicted (2011).
- Lenka Houdek: Lenka Houdek is a Czech model and beauty pageant contestant who was crowned Miss Czech Republic in 2009. She also competed in Miss Earth 2009.
- Roman Houdek: Roman Houdek is a Czech cyclist who has won several medals at the European Championship in both road racings and among a mountain event.
- Miroslav Houdek: Miroslav Houdek is a Czech physicist and professor at the Institute of Physics at the Czech Academy of Sciences. He is known for his work on non-linear phenomena in physics and related fields.
- Jan Houdek: Jan Houdek is a Czech engineer, lawyer and politician who served as a Deputy Prime Minister of the country between 2013 and 2014.
- Pavel Houdek: Pavel Houdek is a Czech economic geographer and professor of human geography at Charles University in Prague. He is well-known for his research on sustainable development and sustainability-related issues.