Surname Kopecek - Meaning and Origin
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Kopecek: What does the surname Kopecek mean?
The last name Kopecek is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname originating from Central and Eastern Europe. The exact history and meaning of the surname is difficult to trace, however it is assumed to be derived from the Czech word “kopec”, which means hill or mound. Although the last name itself has no Hebrew origin, it is often associated with various Jewish meanings such as “hill of refuge” or “sanctuary”.
The earliest documented use of the surname was by David Kopecek of Laun, who was recorded in the Circle of Moravia in 1819. Later records have found the surname scattered throughout the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is believed that the surname first spread from Bohemia (the eastern portion of the modern Czech Republic) to neighboring countries during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, during a period of large-scale migration.
The surname may have been taken by Jewish emigrants, some of whom chose to take their surnames from the homes or businesses that they had left. This may explain why the surname is found in multiple countries, as Jewish people moved around the area in search of new opportunities.
Today, the surname continues to be used in Central and Eastern Europe, and is also found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It is also used as a given name in some parts of the world, as well as in Japan, where it is pronounced as “Kopešeku”. The surname is also very popular amongst Czech and Slovak communities and is a popular choice for naming children.
Order DNA origin analysisKopecek: Where does the name Kopecek come from?
The last name Kopeček is most commonly found in the Czech Republic and other parts of Central Europe, including Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The Kopeček surname is derived from the Czech word ‘kopec’ meaning hill or mountain, and originally referred to families who lived in elevated areas. During the early twentieth century, a significant number of families bearing the Kopeček surname migrated to the United States and other countries like Canada, Australia, and Argentina.
Today, most Kopeček families in the US can be found in areas with concentrations of Czech-American immigration, such as Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Texas. This is largely due to the large wave of Czech-American immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s who settled in these areas.
The Kopeček surname is also prominent in the West African country of Senegal, where it is believed to have been derived from Czech immigrants. A few other countries with a significant number of Kopeček families include South Africa, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
No matter where you live, the Kopeček surname is a reminder of our shared heritage and a connection to the rich history of Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Kopecek
The surname Kopeček is a widespread Czech surname and is most common in Eastern and Central Europe. Its variants are mainly Kopecek, Kopeček (Czech), Kopček (Slovak), Kopečák (Czech), Kopečky (Czech), Kopecki (Polish), and Kopečny (Slovak).
The surname Kopecek is derived from the Czech word “kopec” which means "hill". It is thought that this surname originally denoted someone who came from a village near a hill.
In some cases, the surname Kopecek has been anglicized to Kopeck. A variation of this name is Kopac, which is the Slovak form of the surname.
Kopeček is also a popular surname in Slovakia, where it is spelt with a caron above the letter ‘c’. The other common spelling for the surname in Slovakia is Kopečny.
The surname Kopecek may also have other spellings depending on language and regional pronunciation. The spelling “Kopecz” is one such variation, which is used in some regions of Czech Republic.
There are also a number of Romanian variants of the surname Kopecek including Kopetski, Kopečchi, and Kophetsky.
In some cases, the surname Kopecek has been Germanized to Koppeck. Although this is not a common spelling, it is sometimes found in regions with significant German populations.
The surname Kopecek may also have derivations such as Kopecekova and Kopecekova. These are usually patronymic surnames, meaning “son of Kopecek” or “daughter of Kopecek”, respectively.
It is clear that the surname Kopecek has a wide variety of spellings and related surnames, all stemming from its origin in Eastern and Central Europe.
Famous people with the name Kopecek
- Mark Kopecek, professional cyclist
- Roman Kopecek, classical pianist and composer
- Jerome Kopecek, Major League Baseball player
- Pascal Kopecek, actor
- Vaclav Kopecek, Czech philosopher and theologian
- Jiri Kopecek, scientific researcher in the field of polymer and material science
- Jan Kopecek, actor
- Caitlin Kopecek, model and YouTube star
- Martin Kopecek, former world boxing champion
- Oldrich Kopecek, Czech chemist