Surname Hrabal - Meaning and Origin

Hrabal: What does the surname Hrabal mean?

The last name Hrabal is derived from the Czech word "hrabat" which means "one who plows". It is an occupational surname referring to an ancestor who worked as a farmer. It is a relatively common surname found in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and may have been historically used by individuals who held the title of forester as well.

The name could have also been derived from the Slavic word “hrab” which means “brave” or “bold” and could be used to describe a person’s characteristics, suggesting an ancestor of courage and strong spirit.

The name Hrabal could be associated with the common Czech expression "Hrabalost" which has a positive connotation and means a certain kind of cheerful eagerness or enthusiasm. This expression was derived from the works of famous Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal (1914–1997). As such, the name Hrabal brings to mind the positive and joyous attitude that Bohumil Hrabal portrayed in his works.

Overall, the name Hrabal can be seen as a proud and noble surname commemorating an individual's hardworking past and commitment to courage and enthusiasm.

Hrabal: Where does the name Hrabal come from?

The last name Hrabal is most commonly found today in Czech Republic. According to records, the surname Hrabal is the 11th most common surname in the Czech Republic. It is also found in small numbers in Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Austria, the United States and Canada.

The meaning of the name Hrabal is uncertain; some believe it to be derived from the Czech word "hrabal," meaning "plough." Others suggest that the family name is linked to a noble family, with "hra" meaning "commissioned officer" and "bal" meaning "family head" or "lord of the manor."

The Hrabal family are known to have lived and worked in Bohemia and Moravia for centuries. The family is thought to have gained nobility after serving as officers in the armies of the Austrian and Czech Empires.

Today, the surname is most common in its original homeland of Czech Republic. There, the name is borne by around 10,000 people, commonly referred to as the "Hrabal clan." In the United States, the last name is found mostly in the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, Illinois, the Dakotas, and Michigan.

Variations of the surname Hrabal

Hrabal is a Czech and Slovak surname, derived from the Proto-Slavic word "hrabrŭ", which means brave.

Variants of the surname Hrabal include Hrabala, Hrabaly, Hrabalek, Hrabalik, Hrabamen, Hrabar, Hrabec, Hrabel, Hrabenchik, Hrablik, Hrabl, Hrabec, Habala and Hrabowsky. Spellings of the surname Hrabal include Hrabel, Hrabel, Habal, Hrabl, Habl and Hrablik.

Surnames of similar origins that share the same root as Hrabal include Hrabovsky, Hrabovský, Hrabovská, Hrabovska, Hrabovszky, Hrabovsky, Hrabovska, Hrabovska, Hraboff, Hrabalek, Hrabovsky, and Hrabalzieva.

Furthermore, some surnames related to Hrabal but of different origins are Grabowski, Grabouski, Rabovsky, Hrabovska and Grabovits.

In some cases, the Hrabal surname may also be linked with families from the countries of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, who added the suffixes "-ova" and "-ova". This resulted in surnames such as Hrabalova, Hrabalkova and Hrabalíkova.

Famous people with the name Hrabal

• Bohumil Hrabal: One of the most famous people with the last name Hrabal is the Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal. He is best known for his novels Charvátová postel (The Charvát Bed, 1962) and Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále (I Served the King of England, 1971). He was a major influence in the Czech literary world, and is held in high esteem by Czech readers.
• Jiří Hrabal: Jiří Hrabal was a Czech chess master and mathematician. He was an International Master, and represented Czechoslovakia in four Chess Olympiads, winning gold twice.
• Václav Hrabal: Václav Hrabal was a Czechoslovakian long-distance runner. He competed extensively throughout the 1960s, winning numerous titles in both the 5000m and 10,000m races. He represented Czechoslovakia in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
• Pavel Hrabal: Pavel Hrabal was a Czech speed skater who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics. He also represented Czechoslovakia in the 1966 World Allround Speed Skating Championships, where he took silver in the 500m event.
• Lukáš Hrabal: Lukáš Hrabal is a former Czechoslovakian footballer who played as a midfielder. He appeared in several European competitions, most notably the 1975 European Cup Winners' Cup Final with club side Slavia Prague.

Other surnames

Hrabak