Surname Netopil - Meaning and Origin
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Netopil: What does the surname Netopil mean?
Netopil is a Czech surname derived from the word “netopýr” which means “bat.” The surname originated from families living in the historical region of Bohemia, located in the modern-day Czech Republic. This region was considered part of the Austrian Empire during the 19th century, when many of the surnames originating from the region were established.
Netopil is a patronymic surname, meaning it was established by adding the suffix –il (meaning ‘son of’) to the personal name Netopýr. This suffix is oftentimes used in Czech and other Slavic language surnames, and it is thought that the specific name was given to an ancestor either due to his physical activities or appearance, possible resembling a bat.
The Netopil surname first began to appear in written records in the 16th century, as an undifferentiated form of the original Czech name. An example of its earliest known record is in the 1649 Strahov monks of Prague registry, in which a Alexius Netopaeus is listed.
In modern-day, the Netopil surname is still present in the Czech Republic, although it is thought that the number of people carrying it is not significant. However, since the Czech Republic became a member of the European Union, many of its citizens have moved abroad and nowadays can be found in certain countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisNetopil: Where does the name Netopil come from?
The Netopil surname is mainly found among Czechs and Slovaquians living in Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as their descendants in the Czech Republic. It is a rather uncommon name and not particularly widespread throughout the world.
The Netopil family was established in the 15th century when it was assumed by a family member in what is now the Czech Republic. It is believed to be of Bohemian origin and derived from an Old Bohemian word meaning 'new land'. Over the centuries, descendants of the Netopil's spread around Central and Eastern Europe, and some migrated to other parts of the world from there.
Today, the Netopil surname is mostly associated with Czech surnames and is still relatively rare outside of the region. It can be found in parts of Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Netopil surname has remained relatively common in rural and small towns, as well as in the cities.
Although the Netopil surname is not particularly widespread in other parts of the world, it is still an interesting and unique surname that has a long and rich history.
Variations of the surname Netopil
The surname Netopil is of Czech origin. It is derived from the Czech word netopýr, meaning “bat”. This surname was first held by someone who was thought to have characteristics of a bat, such as agility or speed.
The variants of Netopil include Netopilova, Netopilik, Netopilík, and Netopilíček. These are all Czech spellings of the name.
In some cases, the surname has been anglicized to become Nettop, with a few variations such as Nettopil, Nettopilik, Nettopilova, and Nettopilík.
In Scotland, the surname has been Anglicized to Netppel or Netpil. The Irish versions include Netipill, Nettispill, Neatpill, and Netiple.
In Slovakia, the surname is spelled as Netopilová or Netopilová.
In Germany, the surname is spelled Neudopil or Neudopyl.
The surname may also appear with a Polish spelling, Netopyl, Nettypill, or Netopila.
Netopil is an ancient surname with many variants and spellings. With its origins coming from the Czech language, there is a large geographic area in which it is found. With dozens of variations, it is relatively easy to find this surname across the world.
Famous people with the name Netopil
- Jakub Netopil: a Czech sculptor known for his works in bronze and wood featuring animals and nature.
- Christoph Netopil: an Austrian / German violinist and orchestra leader.
- Julius Netopil: a Czech historian known for his research on the Hussite Wars and the Hussite Movement.
- Radomír Netopil: a Czech conductor, composer, and arranger, as well as a Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the Janáček Academy of Music and Drama.
- Jacket Netopil: a Czech sculptor, carver and woodcarver.
- Karel Netopil: a Czech painter known for his artworks depicting scenes from Czech folklore.
- Václav Netopil: a musician, composer and conductor of the Czech National Symphony and Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Jiří Netopil: a Czech film director, screenwriter, and producer best known for films such as "Dívka ve vlaku" and "Krev zmizelého".
- Jiří Netopil: a Czech actor, appearing in the films "Křižáček" and "Šťastné dny".
- Josef Netopil: a Czechoslovakian scientist and professor of zoology at Charles University in Prague.