Surname Formanek - Meaning and Origin

Formanek: What does the surname Formanek mean?

Formanek is a surname that comes from the Czech language, and it has two possible meanings. The first is derived from the Czech word for "master," and it indicates that the original bearer of the name was likely a master of a trade or profession. The second meaning might come from the Slavic word "forman," meaning "foreigner," and it could suggest that the original bearer of the name was a foreigner to the area.

Various spellings of the name can be found throughout the Czech lands, though the original and most common form is "Formanek." In general, the name is likely most commonly associated with the Czech and Slovak cultures.

Many people with the Formanek surname have settled in the United States and other countries throughout the world. In the U.S., for example, there are considerable numbers of people with the Formanek surname living in states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

People with the Formanek name can be found in all kinds of professions, from engineering and medical fields to the arts and business. Formanek is also a common name among musicians, and it has been known to appear in musical compositions in both the classical and jazz genres. Regardless, it is a name with centuries of history and traceable roots back to the Czech lands.

Formanek: Where does the name Formanek come from?

The last name Formanek is most commonly found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is a Czech-Slovak surname derived from the word "forman" or "framer".

In the Czech Republic, the highest concentration of people with the last name Formanek can be found in the Central Bohemian Region and Moravian-Silesian Region. The Moravian-Silesian Region has the highest concentration of Formaneks in terms of population. It is estimated that more than 1,000 people in the Czech Republic have the surname.

In Slovakia, the surname is also quite common. It is found in many regions across the country, including the capital of Bratislava. There, the population with the surname Formanek is estimated to be more than 500 people.

The last name Formanek is also present in other countries, mostly in those with a sizeable Czech/Slovak population. It can be found in the United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Australia, and other countries. It is possible to find Formaneks in many other countries too, although there is no reliable data on this.

As a whole, the last name Formanek is quite common, with thousands of people carrying it. It is especially common in the countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Variations of the surname Formanek

Formanek is a Dutch-originating surname. It is a variant of the Dutch/German name Formann, which means "foreman" in English. Variant spellings of this surname include Foreman, Foremann, Formann, Forman, Formanns, and Formen. The surname has also been Anglicized to Foreman, Foremen, Foremun, Forman, Formans, Formen, and Formens. In some cases, the foreman was originally referred to as the Hetman, which means "headman," "chieftain," or "captain." This surname has also been found in altered forms, such as Formanek, Formaneker, and Formenecker.

Formanek is mostly found in Central and Eastern European countries, particularly Czechia, Romania, Poland, Austria, Serbia, and Germany. It is also common in the United States and Canada, where it has been found among both English and Dutch/German communities. In some cases, the anglicization of this surname has been done differently: for example, Foreman became Forman in the US, Foreman became Formain in Canada, and Formen was anglicised to Formanek in India.

In addition to Formanek, there are several other surnames that have a similar origin and meaning, such as Foreman, Foremann, Formaneck, Formanecker, and Formanko. Variants of this surname may also be found in other languages, such as the Czech Foremanek and MacForeman in Scottish Gaelic.

Famous people with the name Formanek

• Miroslav Formanek: Czech film director and screenwriter; winner of an Academy Award for Best Director for his film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
• Cheryl Formanek: American figure skater, 6-time US National medallist and medalist at the 1968 Winter Olympics.
• Peter Formanek: Czech football player, winner of the Czech Footballer of the Year award in 1985.
• Lothar Formanek: Austrian alpine ski racer and two-time Austrian champion.
• David Formanek: British physicist and information theorist, known for his research on quantum computing.
• Heinz Formanek: Austrian politician, former Speaker of the National Council of Austria.
• Eva Formanek: German sculptor and wife of Heinz Formanek.
• Mike Formanek: American jazz bassist known for his performances with Tony Williams' Lifetime, Elvind’s Dream and The Konami Lionstars.
• Pavel Formanek: Czech ice hockey player, competing for HC Slavia Praha.
• Richard Formanek: American water polo player; Gold medallist at the 1963 World Championships.

Other surnames

Forman