Surname Kulhanek - Meaning and Origin
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Kulhanek: What does the surname Kulhanek mean?
The last name Kulhanek is a Czech and Slovak surname, and is believed to have originated in the 16th century in what is now the Czech Republic. The name is thought to be derived from the Czech word kulha, which means ‘pot’. It’s likely that the surname was created to refer to someone who made or sold earthenware pots, and was used to distinguish them from other craftsmen and artisans. Through the centuries, the name has continued to be used by families in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, though its original meaning has been gradually lost over time.
Today, the name Kulhanek is most often used as a surname or given name. It remains popular in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of Europe and North America, where immigrants from those countries have settled. This name is usually pronounced with a Germanic ‘kh’ sound, which can be written as ‘Kulhaneck’ in some places.
The name has a certain rustic aura, and is reminiscent of an earlier age of craftsmanship. To those who bear the name, it represents a proud heritage of manual labour and traditional values. It also carries with it a strong sense of heritage and identity, and is likely to be treasured by the families that bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisKulhanek: Where does the name Kulhanek come from?
Kulhanek is a surname from Central and Eastern Europe. It is most commonly found in the Czech Republic, as well as in Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. The surname has Slavic roots and has been around for centuries.
Based on data from the United States Census in 2020, the Kulhanek name is most common in Wisconsin, with over 430 people with the last name located in that state. In the rest of the United States, there are smaller populations of people bearing the name Kulhanek, though the numbers are quite low, made of just a few dozen individuals.
The Kulhanek surname is also found in the Czech Republic, still carrying on its Slavic roots. The name can be seen in small, rural communities, as well as in Prague.
In Italy, there are also individuals bearing Kulhanek as a last name, likely originating from predecessors who migrated from other European countries in the past century.
While the name is definitely not as common as other, more widely used names, it has become more prominent in recent years due to migration of individuals to the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Variations of the surname Kulhanek
Kulhanek is a Czech and Slovak surname of Slavic origin. It is derived from the word "kulhánek" which means "little tavern or inn" in Czech and Slovak. The variant spellings include Koulhanek and Koulanek. The surnames Kulhajnek, Culhanek, Kulašník, Kulhánek, Kulhanek, Kolanek, Kolhanek, Kulhanek, Koulanek, Culohanek, Kulhanek, Koulhanek, Kulhaňák, Koulhajnek, and Koulhanek are all considered to be variants of the same origin surname.
The most common spelling is Kulhanek, and it is the form that appears most often in official records. However, it is not uncommon to see the name spelled with a "K" or with an "H" or a mix of both in different records. Additionally, Czech-language records may include the Slavic letter "ž", thus resulting in Kulhanek with a "ž" or Kulažník.
The more uncommon spellings, such as Culhanek, Kullašník, or Kulhaňák, all derive from the same root. They are simply spelling variations, and are all accepted as valid surnames of the same origin.
Many people bearing the last name of Kulhanek have changed the spelling of their name during immigration or in an effort to anglicize the name. This can result in multiple spelling variants including Kolhanek, Kolanek, Koulhanek, and so on.
Variants outside of those listed above may exist, but all of those listed and their variations are most likely due to modifications at the time of immigration, anglicizing of the spelling, or slight variations of the spelling that have taken hold over time.
Famous people with the name Kulhanek
- Karel Kulhánek:- Czech former footballer
- Jan Kulhánek:- Czech Air Force Officer
- Adam Kulhanek:- Czech professional ice hockey player
- Pavel Kulhanek:- Czech ice hockey player
- Karolína Kulhánková:- Czech actress
- Hynek Kulhánek:- Czech science fiction author
- Václav Kulhánek:- Czech actor
- Miloš Kulhánek:- Czech former football referee
- Milan Kulhánek:- Czech professional football player
- Jindřich Kulhánek:- Czech former ice hockey player
- Gašpar Kulhánek:- Czech lawyer
- Karel Kryl:- Czech singer-songwriter, dissident & political activist, birth name Karel Kulhánek
- Libor Kulhánek:- Czech former basketball player
- Bronislav Kulhanek:- Australian physicist
- Lukáš Kulhánek:- Czech professional ice hockey player
- Radek Kulhánek:- Czech ice hockey player
- Václav Kulhánková:- Czech biathlete
- Zdeněk Kulhánek:- Czech professor
- Radovan Kulhanek:-- Czech ice hockey player
- Jiří Kulhánek:- Czech ice hockey player