Surname Vondrak - Meaning and Origin
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Vondrak: What does the surname Vondrak mean?
The last name Vondrak is a Czech surname originating from the word vondr, which means "gamekeeper". The word is derived from the Old Czech vonda, which means "forest, hedge, brushwood".
It is likely that the original owners of the Vondrak surname were gamekeepers, meaning they were responsible for the preservation of forests and other wildlife. This may have been either as part of the local government or as a private position. This would explain why the name is most common in the Czech Republic and Slovakia as these areas had a strong hunting culture.
In addition, the name Vondrak could also have come from the village of Vondrl in the Moravia region of the Czech Republic. This village was established in the 12th century, so it is possible that the Vondrak family originated from this particular village.
Outside of the Czech Republic, the surname is not as common. It can be found in Poland, Germany and the United States depending on migration routes.
The Vondrak surname symbolizes a strong bond of nature and the outdoors. This is true to its origins as gamekeepers needed a strong connection with the outdoors to do their work effectively. It could also reflect the values that the traditional Vondrak family held such as respect for wildlife and nature.
Order DNA origin analysisVondrak: Where does the name Vondrak come from?
The last name Vondrak (that is "Vondrak" without any other spelling variations) is not common today and does not appear among today's most popular American surnames. However, it is present in some parts of Europe. Specifically, the surname originates from areas of the Czech Republic as well as Slovakia. In 2020, it is estimated that there are around 1,250 people in the Czech Republic who bear the surname Vondrak. Indeed, it is most often found in and around the northern parts of the Moravian region located in the southwestern corner of the Czech Republic.
In Slovakia, the surname can be found in the western parts of the country, particularly in and around the Bratislava and Trnava districts. Here, it is estimated that there are approximately 830 people with the surname Vondrak. Generally speaking, these two countries have the highest concentration of people with the surname Vondrak today.
Elsewhere in the world, the surname is not as common. It is found in parts of Austria, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, although the numbers here are much lower than in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Outside of Europe, the surname is virtually nonexistent and is not found in any significant numbers in the United States or any other country.
Variations of the surname Vondrak
Vondrak is an Austrian, Croatian, Czech, Polish, and Slovak family name of uncertain origin. In some cases, it can be derived from a personal name, or from the root ‘Von’, indicating nobility.
Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include the following:
• Vondrák – a Czech spelling.
• Vondraček – a Czech variant spelling.
• Vondra • Vondrc • Vondrcek • Vondrack - Polish variants.
• Vondráček – a Czech variant of the surname.
• Vondraszak - a Hungarian variant.
• Wendrake - an Americanized spelling.
• Van der Aa - a Dutch surname of similar origin, from the precise name ‘Van der Aa’.
• Vandera - a Dutch surname of similar origin, from the precise name ‘Vandera’.
• Vandre - a Dutch surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vandre’.
• Vanderycht – a Dutch surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vanderycht’.
• Vandenbrink – a Dutch surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vandenbrink’.
• Vandenberg – a Dutch surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vandenberg’.
• Van desen - a Dutch surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Van desen’.
• Vandercook - an English surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vandercook’.
• VandeWall – an English surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘VandeWall’.
• Gardner - an English surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Gardner’.
• Gardiner - an English surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Gardiner’.
• Gartner - an English surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Gartner’.
• Vondrovsky – a Ukrainian variant of the surname.
• Vondrovič – a Slovak variant of the surname.
• Vondrović – an Croatian variant of the surname.
• Waldraff – a German surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Waldraff’.
• Valdriff – an English variant of the surname ‘Waldraff’.
• Valderoy - an English variant of the surname ‘Waldraff’.
• Vaudreuil - a French surname of similar origin from the precise name ‘Vaudreuil’.
Famous people with the name Vondrak
- Chuck Vondrak: Professional Internet Marketer
- David Vondrak: MLB third baseman
- Gary Vondrak: American horse trainer
- Jan Vondrak: Czechoslovakian-American actor
- Joe Vondrak: South African-American soccer player
- Jodi Lynn Vondrak: Professional dancer
- Joshua Vondrak: Driver/Owner of the PKV Racing IndyCar team
- Marek Vondrak: Offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Milos Vondrak: Professional bodybuilder
- Natalia Vondrak: actress in Slovak films