Surname Knapek - Meaning and Origin

Knapek: What does the surname Knapek mean?

The last name Knapek is of Slavic origin, derived from a variety of words which include "knecht" (a word for a farmer or servant), "knopf" (a German word for a button), and "knapp" or "knapen" (an Old German word for a boy or young man of low social rank). It is believed to have first emerged in the medieval kingdom of Bohemia (what is now the Czech Republic).

The word “knapek” or “knapik” likely derived from the Czech and Polish word “knepek”—a type of button, or a hole cut in the back of a garment and fastened with a string. The use of such a small object as a surname likely signified the family’s poverty and low social standing during the 17th and 18th century, when surnames first came into use.

When surnames first began to be adopted, they often reflected aspects of a particular family’s lifestyle. In the case of Knapek, the name could have signified the familial trade in button-making. It could have also been bestowed by local authorities or communities to refer to a family's disadvantaged or low social status.

Over time, the Knapek family probably spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in the 19th century. Today, the name is mostly associated with countries in Central and Eastern Europe like the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Germany. It is also common in the United States, where people of Central/Eastern European descent settled in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Knapek: Where does the name Knapek come from?

The last name Knapek is most commonly found in Central Europe today, particularly in Poland, where it is among the top 1,000 most common names. It is also seen in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic, though it is less common there than elsewhere.

In Poland, Knapek is most prevalent around the city of Wroclaw, a major metropolitan area in the western part of the country. Here it is among the most frequent last names, with more than ten listings for the name in the local phone book. Additionally, the town of Wroclaw was once known as Breslau and was part of Silesia, an area which many from Polish descent with the last name Knapek trace their roots.

Knapek is also commonly found in the United States, particularly in cities with Eastern European immigrants. This includes Scranton, Pennsylvania in particular, where Polish immigrants settled at the start of the 20th century. First and second generation Polish Americans can still be commonly found there with the last name of Knapek.

In addition, the last name Knapek is present in areas of Canada such as Alberta and Ontario, as well as in Australia and the United Kingdom. As it is more often found in Central and Eastern Europe, it is a reminder of the presence of many Polish and Eastern European immigrants who have left their home countries to settle in new lands.

Variations of the surname Knapek

The surname Knapek has a variety of spellings and variants. These include Knappek, Knaepke, Knapke, and Knapeck. Variants of the surname include Knapecka, Knapcko, Knapik and Knapicka.

In Germany the surnames Knapke and Knapeck are often found in some regions of Germany, while the spelling Knappek may be more commonly found in regions around the former Silesia.

The surname Knapek is found in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Within the Czech Republic, some of the variants are Knapecka, Knapickova and Knapikova. In the Czech Republic, the surname’s origin is likely from the Polish spelling Knapek or German spelling Knappek.

Knapke and Knappek are also found in the United States, primarily in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In the United States, the surname is likely derived from the German and Polish roots.

The surname may also be found as Knapkova in Slovakia and as Nápka in Hungary.

Other related names include Knopek, Knap, Napek, and Kneppe. All of these spellings and surnames are from the same historical root.

Famous people with the name Knapek

• Tomasz Knapek: A Polish actor, best known for appearing in the 2006 film, Teeth of the Desert Wolves.
• Jozef Knapek: A Slovak ice hockey player who has played for HC Košice and the Slovak national team.
• Fedor Knapek: A Czech Republic football manager who has managed clubs such as FK Uherský Brod, FK Chmel Blšany and FK Břeclav.
• Milan Knapek: A Czech football player who has played for various teams in the Czech Republic, including AC Sparta Prag, FK Dukla Prag and SK Kladno.
• Karel Knapek: An Austrian ice hockey player who has played professionally for clubs such as HC Ajoie, HC Bolzano and EBEL Vienna Capitals.
• Radovan Knapek: A Slovak footballer who has played for teams such as FC Zbrojovka Brno, SK Slavia Praha and FC Petržalka.
• Zdenek Knapek: A Czech football player who has played professionally for clubs such as AC Sparta Prag, FC Zbrojovka Brno and FC Tescoma Zlín.
• Stanislav Knapek: A Slovak footballer who has played for clubs such as FK Vojvodina, SK Senec and FK Senica.
• Blanca Knapek: A Spanish singer best known for releasing various albums with Warner Music Group.
• Pavel Knapek: A Czech Republic handball player who has represented the Czech Republic national team at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.

Other surnames

Knape