Surname Kovac - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kovac: What does the surname Kovac mean?
Kovac is a Slavic surname with its roots in various Central and Eastern European countries including Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Hungary. The name "Kovac" directly translates to "blacksmith" in English. It originates from the occupation-based naming convention, which was common in the region, where individuals were often identified based on their profession. The blacksmiths were highly respected and essential members of society in historical times, as they were responsible for forging and repairing tools, weapons, and other iron goods, which were vital for survival and progress. Therefore, someone with the surname Kovac would have had ancestors who were blacksmiths. The different derivations and spelling variations for Kovac include Kovač, Kovačević, Kovačić, and Kowalski, depending on regions and countries.
Order DNA origin analysisKovac: Where does the name Kovac come from?
Kovac is a South Slavic surname that originates from the occupation-based terms for a blacksmith. Derived from the word "kovač," it translates to "blacksmith" in English. In the medieval period, when surnames were being developed, trades frequently served as identifiers, leading to surnames based on professions.
The Kovac surname is common today in several Slavic countries. This includes countries like Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's also widespread among Slavic communities in Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia. Even within the American and Canadian diaspora, Kovac has a notable presence, largely due to immigration from these regions. Therefore, while the surname Kovac has its roots in South Slavic territories, it can today be found in various parts of the world where Slavic-speaking communities exist.
Variations of the surname Kovac
The surname Kovac is of Slavic origin, specifically common in areas such as Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The name directly translates to "blacksmith" or "smith", which was a common practice of deriving surnames from professions.
Variations of the name Kovac include Kovács, Kovach, Kovats, Kovacevic, Kovačić, Kovačević, Kowacz, Kowalski, Kovačič, Kovatsch, and Kovatch. The additional endings 'ević' or 'ić' are patronymic denoting 'son of'; hence, Kovačević, for example, means 'son of a blacksmith'.
As with many surnames, the spelling often changed based on geographical location and regional dialects, accounting for the many variations. For example, in Hungary, the name is spelled Kovács, while in Poland it has been changed to Kowalski.
In English-speaking countries, the surname Kovac often loses the accent, becoming Kovac or Kovacs. There are also anglicised versions like Smith (since Kovac means blacksmith), but they arguably represent a different family line due to the widespread use of Smith as a surname in English-speaking countries.
Other phonetically similar surnames are Kovar, Kovach, Kofax, and Kovacsik, which are also derived from the same profession but may indicate regional variations.
Famous people with the name Kovac
- Niko Kovač: Former Croatian professional soccer player, former manager of the Croatian national team, and longtime manager of German soccer team Bayern Munich.
- Zvonko Kovač: Yugoslavian football player and manager for several clubs and the Yugoslavian national team.
- John Kovač: Professional defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in the NFL, previously for the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.
- Paul Kovač: Professional hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks.
- Marko Kovač: Croatian musician, singer-songwriter, and music producer.
- Marija Kovač: Croatian actress known for numerous roles in film and television, including the Croatian film Reka života.
- Tihomir Kovač: Croatian sculptor known for his figurative works.
- Petar Kovač: Serbian professional basketball player and current head coach for Crvena zvezda.
- Bojan Kovač: Slovenian football player who plays for Domžale and competed for Slovenia's U21 team.
- Luka Kovač: Serbian actor and former basketball player, known for his role in the Serbian movie Tito and Me.