Surname Holub - Meaning and Origin

Holub: What does the surname Holub mean?

The last name Holub is derived from the Czech word holub, which translates to “pigeon” or “dove”. It is thought to have been derived from an occupational name, as people with the surname Holub were most likely pigeon keepers or pigeon breeders. It may have also been a nickname for someone who behaved in a gentle manner, like a dove.

The surname Holub is found predominantly in the Czech Republic and has spread to countries such as Slovakia, Germany, and the United States. In the United States it is most commonly found in states such as California, Minnesota, and Nebraska, due to immigrants from the Central European countries.

There are many notable people with the surname Holub, including American biologist Edward Holub, renowned Czech historian Vojtěch Holub, and Nobel laureate Jaroslav Heyrovský, whose given surname was Holub but was changed to Heyrovský upon receiving Austrian citizenship.

Beyond notable people with the name, the surname Holub stands for strength, gentleness, and good nature. It is a source of pride for many people and serves to hold the generations of the family tree together.

Holub: Where does the name Holub come from?

The last name Holub is most common in Central and Eastern Europe. It is most prevalent in the Czech Republic, where it was a fairly common name for many centuries. The surname is derived from the Czech word 'holub', which means 'pigeon'. It was likely used to distinguish those who kept or raised pigeons.

The name is also quite common in Slovakia, where about 5% of the population carries it. It is also found in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, the United Kingdom, France, and elsewhere.

In the United States, it is considerably less common. According to the 2010 US Census, only 0.001% of the population has the Holub surname. This translates to about 96 people living in the states. Interestingly, the state with the most people surnamed Holub is California, with 27 people having the name.

Overall, the last name Holub has a long history and is currently most common in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and throughout Eastern Europe. It is much less common in the United States, much to the surprise of many second-generation Americans of European descent.

Variations of the surname Holub

The surname Holub has several variants, spellings, and related names. The most common variant of Holub is Hulb (also spelled Hulub), which is found in Poland and Ukraine. In Slovakia, Holub is the predominant spelling of the surname, but other forms include Holoubek and Holoubeks. In the Czech Republic, the surname is spelled either Holub, Holoubek, or Holoubeks. There are also some surnames of the same origin derived from Holub, such as Holubar and Holubec.

Holubar or Holubar is found mainly in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The Holubec surname is found primarily in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Poland.

In terms of spelling variants, Holub is often spelt with a double “l” (Hollub), or with a “y” (Hoylb). Some surnames derived from Holub end with a “c” (e.g. Holubec). In some cases, the “h” is dropped in favor of a ‘g’, creating the surname “Golub”.

The surname Holub also has a number of related surnames that include Hallub, Challub, Halloub, Cashelub, and Cholub. All of these surnames are derived from the original Holub surname.

Given its origins in Western and Central Europe, the surname Holub (and its variants) can be found in a variety of countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Germany, Hungary, and Austria.

Famous people with the name Holub

• Emil Holub: 19th-century Austrian explorer and physician.
• Jan Holub: Czech ice hockey player.
• Jaroslav Holub: Czech Olympic weightlifter.
• Karel Holub: Czech doctor and entomologist.
• Miroslav Holub: Czech poet, immunologist and essayist.
• Oldřich Holub: Czech actor and movie director.
• Tomáš Holub: Czech ice hockey player.
• Wilhelmina Holub: Czech historian and author of several works on Czech women's history.
• Zora Holubová: Czech actress and singer.
• Laura Holub: Americaningersongwriter from North Carolina.
• Sharon Holub: American Professor of English Literature.
• Libor Holub: Czech actor, director and screenplay writer.
• Paulina Holub-Grassmann: Austrian pianist, composer and teacher of music.
• Klara Holub: Bohemian writer, appearing under her maiden name Mrs.Klara Oliva-Hrubanová.
• Otto Holub: Austrian sculptor who worked in the court of Emperor FranzJosef I of Austria.
• Andreas Holub: Czech painter and designer.
• Anton Holub: Czech botanist and professor of natural history.
• Karel Aleš Holub (K.A.H.): Czech art critic, art historian and collector.
• Václav Holub: Czech textile artist, sculptor and accessories workshop leader.
• Richard Holub: Czech composer, music theorist and pedagogue.

Other surnames

HolubarHolubarsHolubarschHolubarzHolubecHolubeckHolubekHolubetzHolubickaHolubitschkaHolup