Surname Cervenka - Meaning and Origin
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Cervenka: What does the surname Cervenka mean?
The last name Cervenka is a Czech and Slovak surname believed to have originated in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Czech and Slovak word for “red,” which is “cerveny” or “cervenka.” A variant spelling of the name is Cerveny. In the early 16th century, it was believed that the Cervenka surname represented those with reddish-blond hair. The Cervenka family name was first found in Bohemia, a region in the Czech Republic.
The last name was likely created by a professional known as an arms-bearer or nosac, which is the Czech and Slovak equivalent of a heraldic expert. This type of specialist would have created coats of arms and names for families and produced visual illustrations of the newly created emblems. It is believed that the Cervenka family was given this name by a nosac.
The Cervenka family served their monarch and country proudly, living in various provinces throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia at different points in history. The family name found roots near Valasske Mezirici where they served as landlords. From 1444-1456, the Cervenka family were taxed for having 24 recipes of farmland in the region.
The Cervenka name was also seen among Czech immigrant populations in North America during the 19th century. In recent times, the purpose of a nosac has been replaced by media such as the Internet and television, which provide visual representation of family heritage. Even so, the Cervenka name returns as a proud hereditary emblem of the Czech and Slovak people.
Order DNA origin analysisCervenka: Where does the name Cervenka come from?
The last name Cervenka is commonly found in Central Europe, particularly in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is likely that the name originated in the Czech Republic.
The word “cervenka” is derived from the Czech word “cerven”, which means “red”. This suggests that the ancestors of those who adopted the surname were associated with reddish-colored hair or a blaze of red.
The name Cervenka in the Czech Republic is most used in the regions of Moravia and Bohemia, where it still ranks among the top 500 most common surnames.
In Slovakia, the name Cervenka is most frequently used in the west-central regions of Trnava and Zvolenský, where it ranks as the 664th and 619th most common surname, respectively.
In Austria, and Hungary, the name Cervenka is also relatively common. It is the 590th and 5,293rd most prevalent surname in these countries, respectively.
Historically, the name has been used in the areas consolidated into the Czechoslovakian Republic, which existed until 1992.
Today, those who share the last name Cervenka can be found all over the world, with a particularly heavy presence in the United States. It is at number 14,860 of the most common surnames in America, suggesting a rapidly growing number of people who possess the family name.
Variations of the surname Cervenka
The surname Cervenka is derived from the word “cervena”, which in Czech and Slovak means “red” or “scarlet”.
Variant spellings of the surname Cervenka include Cerneka, Czernka, Cerveny, Cervenyak, Cervenak, Tcervenk, Cservenka, Cervenko, and Czervenka. Some additional surnames with a similar origin to Cervenka include Zinzerling, Plavcin, and Pivonka.
The surname Cervenka is most associated with countries in Eastern Europe such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It was originally a descriptive name used to refer to someone with red hair or a reddish complexion. Over time, the surname has transcended into a hereditary or family surname in the region, passed down from father to son.
The surname Cervenka remains quite common in some Eastern European countries today, such as the Czech Republic. Beyond this region, many people with this surname have migrated throughout Europe and to other parts of the world throughout the course of history. The Cervenka surname has been found in records in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere.
Overall, the surname Cervenka is an interesting variant of the surname Cervena, which has its origins in several countries in Eastern Europe. Despite its focus in this region, many people carrying the surname have now spread throughout the world, and continue to be found in many countries today.
Famous people with the name Cervenka
- Exene Cervenka: Singer-songwriter and poet, formerly of punk rock group X.
- John Cervenka: Former USMC aviator, former member of the California Aeronautics Commission and former airline executive.
- Marla Cervenka: Producer, director, actress, and screenwriter.
- AJ Cervenka: Singer-songwriter and keyboardist.
- Emily Cervenka: USA Today best-selling romance author.
- Eric Cervenka: MLB pitcher who spent most of his career with the Texas Rangers.
- Ondrej Cervenka: Veteran Czech wing-man who played in the international ice hockey leagues.
- Miroslav Cervenka: Czechoslovakian Olympic sportshooter.
- Cari Cervenka: Paralympic champion swimmer.
- Evžen Cervenka: Professional rugby union player and former silver medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics.