Surname Poljak - Meaning and Origin
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Poljak: What does the surname Poljak mean?
The last name Poljak is primarily associated with people of Croatian and Slovenian origin. It is believed that it first appeared in Croatia in the 14th century. The Poljak surname may have derived from the name Poljak which is derived from the word “polje” which translates to field in a number of Slavic languages. The name likely originated as an occupational name, referring to a farmer who owned a specific field. Other potential origin theories include the implication of a person who is from a “pole” or “field" and the implication of someone who used to encamp temporarily in such places.
The Poljak surname is a fairly common one, especially in Croatia and Slovenia. Croatia has always been a nation of hardworking farmers and that tradition has been carried on through many generations of people with the Poljak surname. The surname is also common amongst Slavic communities in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The surname Poljak also has a rich history that goes beyond its agricultural beginnings. It has also been associated with Croatian heroes who defended their country against foreign domination and oppression. The surname is also associated with some famous and influential figures in the arts and sciences too.
In addition to these associations, the Poljak surname can also be associated with a certain amount of pride and strength within the Croatian and Slovenian communities that identify with it. It is a name that carries with it many centuries of hardworking heritage and a strong sense of identity and belonging.
Order DNA origin analysisPoljak: Where does the name Poljak come from?
The last name Poljak is most commonly found in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, especially Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Croatia, the name is mostly concentrated in the Istria region, with more than 1,500 people bearing the name. Slovene people tend to spell the name as Poljak, while the Bosnians use the variant Poljak.
In the other countries of Europe, Poljak is not as common as in these three countries. In Poland, the name is not used at all, since the original Slavic suffix -ak, used in the last name, is not used in Polish names. In Serbia and Montenegro, the name is relatively rare, and is rarely used by the Orthodox population.
Outside of Europe, Poljak is even rarer. In the Americas, most of the people bearing the name can trace their family roots back to the aforementioned Central and Eastern European nations. In Australia and New Zealand, the name is similarly rare, and is mainly found in areas inhabited by people who had emigrated from the aforementioned countries.
Poljak is an old name, believed to have originated between 700 and 1200 CE. Its earliest use was as a toponymic surname, meaning the person either originated from the now extinct settlement of Poljak, or was associated with the settlement in some way.
Variations of the surname Poljak
The surname Poljak is believed to be of Slavic origin and is primarily found throughout Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries in the region. Various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin exist for the surname Poljak.
Common variants of the surname Poljak include Poliak, Poliakov, Poliakovich, and Poljakov. These variants share the same root as the surname Poljak and often denote the same family lines.
Sometimes, surnames with different roots, but similar spellings, are used by families as an adaptation and slight variation of the original name. Examples of these related surnames include the Croatian name ‘Polik’, which is derived from the Polish word ‘polityk’ meaning ‘politician’ and the Ukrainian surname ‘Poliakov’ which is derived from the word ‘poliak’ meaning ‘Ukrainian’.
The surname Poljak also has variations in the spelling of the last name. Common spelled variants include ‘Polejak’, ‘Polajak’, and ‘Pojak’. These variations are often used interchangeably with the original surname.
The name Poljak is also sometimes shortened to ‘Pol’ or ‘Polo’, which can be an alternative to using the full surname. The name is also sometimes compounded with other surnames to create a hybrid surname. These hybrid surnames can include ‘Poliakusic’ which combines ‘Poliak’ and ‘Kusic’ and ‘Poljakovic’ which combines ‘Poljak’ and ‘Vukovic’.
In summary, the surname Poljak has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variations in the spelling of the surname, hybrid surnames and surnames with similar roots are all connected to the original name and form part of the same family histories.
Famous people with the name Poljak
- Mario Poljak: professional Croatian footballer
- Bojan Poljak: a professional Italian footballer
- Tvrtko Poljak: a Croatian cultural historian and professor emeritus at the University of Zagreb
- Ivana Poljak: vigorous advocate for rights of persons with disabilities
- Slaven Poljak: Croatian film and television actor
- Mateo Poljak: professional soccer player
- Drago Poljak: a Slovenian philologist, translator, theatre director, actor and writer
- Nikola Poljak: a Bosnian actor
- Nikša Poljak: a retired Croatian football referee
- Luka Poljak: a Croatian soccer player and current assistant coach of the NK Dinamo Zagreb U19 team
- Slobodan Poljak: a Croatian-Canadian cultural historian and professor emeritus at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario
- Andrija Poljak: a retired Croatian football goalkeeper
- Marko Poljak: a Croatian jazz fusion musician
- Marko Poljak: Croatian sports journalist and entrepreneur
- Zoran Poljak: Serbian-born Australian architect
- Zdravko Poljak: Montenegrin football player
- Zvonko Poljak: Croatian football player
- Ante Poljak: Croatian former football player
- Hrvoje Poljak: a Croatian attorney
- Nenad Poljak: Croatian football manager
- Silvano Poljak: Croatian Lieutenant General