Surname Navratil - Meaning and Origin
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Navratil: What does the surname Navratil mean?
The last name Navratil is derived from the Czech word navratit, meaning "return" or "come home". It is a relatively uncommon surname, with Czech-speaking populations having the highest incidence of its use in Europe.
The exact origin of the Navratil surname is debated, though most scholars agree that the name likely originated in the Czech region of Bohemia sometime during the late Middle Ages. A 12th century document records a man from the mountain village of Usiče, Poland bearing the name Abbas Navratil, suggesting it could have originated in the region when it was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia.
The name Navratil is prevalent throughout a wide range of backgrounds. From that of farmers to merchants to nobles, people bearing the Navratil surname have made a lasting impression in places of all sizes in Europe, and today it can be found in many countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, and the United States.
The Navratil name carries with it strong moral connotations of honor, duty, and loyalty. It has been used in several proverbs and expressions, including “Loyalty like Navratil,” which implies a character trait for unwavering devotion.
Overall, the surname Navratil is believed to originate in Czech-speaking regions of Europe and has a history of being connected to honorable moral values. It is likely derived from the word navratit, meaning "return" or "come home", and is still used today in various parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisNavratil: Where does the name Navratil come from?
The last name Navratil is most commonly found today in the Czech Republic, where it is the 498th most popular surname. The origins of the name date back to the 10th century, when it was mainly used in western Bohemia. It is believed to be derived from the word "Navratit" which means "resurrection."
The surname was also adopted by many people who left the Czech Republic after World War II. The Navratil family moved to the United States, Canada, Austria, and Germany, among other places. Today, Navratil can be found in many countries around the world. In Canada, it is the 2,758th most common last name, while in the United States it is the 11,382nd most common, with the greatest concentration of Navratils being in Texas.
In Europe, Navratil is especially common in Slovakia, where it is the 164th most popular surname. It is also popular in Hungary, where it is the 447th most popular last name. In Austria, Navratil is the 821st most common surname.
Navratil is also common in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and India. In Australia, it is the 2,659th most common last name, in South Africa it is the 1,134th most common name, in New Zealand it is the 1,738th most common name, and in India it is the 11,766th most common name. It is also found in many other countries, such as Brazil and France.
Variations of the surname Navratil
The surname Navratil has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Naveratil, Naverattil, Navrattil, Novratil, Nevrattil, Nebrattil, Navratal, Novrattil, Nebrattil, Nehratil, and Navertil.
The surname Navratil has its roots in the Czech language, and its literal translation means “from the pearl” or “born with a pearl”. The meaning of the name is derived from the Czech word navratka, which refers to a perlers bead, suggesting that Navratil's family was once wealthy with pearls. It may have also been derived from navratiti, the Czech word for “to restore”, which suggests that the family was restored to wealth.
In some cases, the surname Navratil has been changed to similarly sounding names such as Navarrot, Navarato, Navarrati, Nebrato, Navaratt and Navarro. These changes were likely due to mispronunciations caused by language and cultural differences.
In Slovakia, the surname Navratil has become Nevrátil, and in Ukraine, it is pronounced as Navrátilo. In Germany, variants include Naveratyl, Navarian, Navarret, Novaritio and Navratte. Other spellings of the name include Navrátil, Nebrátil, and Navertil.
Ultimately, the surname Navratil is the same in every language, but sometimes it is spelled differently and pronounced differently due to cultural and linguistic differences. Despite this, the origin and meaning of the name remain consistent.
Famous people with the name Navratil
- Miloslava Navratilova: One of the most acclaimed female tennis players of all time, Miloslava Navratilova has won nine Wimbledon singles titles and 18 Grand Slam singles titles in total.
- Peter Navratil: Peter Navratil was the son of Kalman and Maria “Mitzi” Navratil, a married couple from Trencin, Slovakia. In 1939, seized by Nazi Germany, the two young children, Peter and his younger brother Michel, were placed on the SS St Louis and deported from their Homeland, heading to Cuba.
- Franco Navratil: Franco Navratil is an Italian entrepreneur born in Tsushima, Japan, growing up in Switzerland, and operating in Europe and the Middle East. He and his firm help companies regain the focus on their customer experience and customer-centric strategies.
- Martin Navratil: Martin Navratil is a humic soil scientist and head of the Humic Substances Division within the Department of Chemistry at the Czech Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on the fate and effects of organic pollutants in soils.
- Wilhelm Navratil: Wilhelm Navratil was a shoemaker and technologist from Vienna, Austria who invented a patented, cherry shell quick-release buckle for shoes. The buckle, which replaced traditional shoelace ties, was invented in 1944 and is still used today.
- Jakub Navratil: Jakub Navratil is a software engineer and entrepreneur from the Czech Republic. He is the CTO and co-founder of Bezeal, a healthcare technology company that develops digitized diagnostic systems for medical professionals and patients.
- Nedret Navratil: Nedret Navratil is a Turkish Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Istanbul-based club Denizlispor. He has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina nation team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.