Surname Kovacic - Meaning and Origin
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Kovacic: What does the surname Kovacic mean?
The last name Kovacic is of Slavic origin, stemming from the word “kovac,” which means “blacksmith.” The surname first appeared in the regions of Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, where many Slavic peoples settled in the Middle Ages. The term “kovacic” itself likely derived from the adjective “kovacsky," used to describe a smith’s son. It is possible, too, that it was associated with the trade of blacksmiths, and thus was given to those who worked in the profession.
The surnames “Kovacic” and its variants are now seen in many different countries around the world. Records indicate that in the late 19th century, numerous individuals with the Kovacic name immigrated to the United States from Croatia. People of this name are also prevalent in Canada, Australia, Argentina, and the United Kingdom.
Today, the Kovacic surname is still closely linked to the profession of blacksmithing. Beyond that, it is often used to differentiate individuals within families of the same name or to denote nobility. As such, it can be seen as a sign of both cultural heritage and status.
Order DNA origin analysisKovacic: Where does the name Kovacic come from?
Today, the surname Kovacic is most common in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also found in smaller numbers in Serbia, Montenegro, and the Czech Republic. It is relatively uncommon outside of this region, and can even be considered rare.
The surname Kovacic may be derived from the Croatian word ‘kovat’, meaning “to forge”, and it could have originally been used to describe someone who was a blacksmith or metalworker. It is also possible that the surname could have evolved from the occupational surname Kovacek, which means “smith” or “metalworker” in old Slavic languages.
The surname Kovacic is the sixth most common surname in Croatia. It is most common in the Zagreb, Osijek and Sisak-Moslavina regions, and is relatively rare outside of these areas. The town of Vukovar in Croatia has particularly high concentrations of Kovacic, as does the town of Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Overall, the surname Kovacic is relatively uncommon outside of its homeland of Central and Eastern Europe, and is largely associated with those countries and their diaspora today.
Variations of the surname Kovacic
The surname Kovacic is of Slavic origin and is the Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, and Slovak variant of the originally Czech surname "Kovačič." Other variants of the surname include Kovačić, Kovaččić, Kovačič, Kovčič, and Kovčić. It is also sometimes spelled as “Kowaczic” or “Kowaczynsky” due to Polish influence.
In some cases, the surname is also divided into two-part familial surnames, such as "Kovačič-Končar" or "Škrćič-Kovačič". A further variation is "Kovačević," which is a patronymic surname derived from the father's first name plus the suffix -ević, thus meaning "son of Kovač."
Some of the more common surname spellings of Kovacic include Kovačic, Kovačič, Kowacic, Kowaczic, Kowaczynsky, and Kovčič. There are also surnames derived from the root surname, such as "Kovačec", "Kovačka", "Kovačeki", "Kovačer", "Kovačnjak", and "Kovačina."
The most common and prevalent surname associated with Kovacic is that of Grgur Kovačić, the most famous member of the Croatian branch of the Kovacic family.
Kovacic is one of the oldest surnames in Slavic culture, with evidence of its existence dating as far back as the 12th century. For centuries, the Kovacic family was fiercely proud and highly respected amongst their peers. As a result, the Kovacic surname has been passed down to many generations and remains a popular surname today.
Famous people with the name Kovacic
- Mateo Kovačić: Professional Croatian football player and 2019 UEFA Nations League champion who plays for Chelsea F.C. and the Croatian national team.
- Nenad Kovačić: Former professional basketball player who also played for the Croatian national team.
- Nikola Kovačić: Professional football player for Milan and the Croatian national team.
- Ivo Kovačić: Retired Croatian professional basketball player.
- Jurica Kovačić: Retired Croatian professional handball player.
- Darko Kovačić: Former professional basketball player who played for the Croatian national team.
- Siniša Kovačić: Former professional football player who played for the Croatian national team.
- Nikola Kovačić: Professional football player and 2019 UEFA Nations League champion who plays for Chelsea F.C. and the Croatian national team.
- Marko Kovačić: Retired professional footballer who played for several teams in Croatia.
- Ivan Kovačić: Former Croatian professional handball player.