Surname Komarek - Meaning and Origin
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Komarek: What does the surname Komarek mean?
The last name Komarek is associated with a number of Central European countries and cultures, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is generally believed by experts to be of Prussian, German, or Bohemian origins, derived from the Middle High German word ‘kumarke’ or ‘komorke’ meaning ‘from the woods’.
The German variant of the name is Komarak; in Czech it is Komárek, and in Slovak it is Komárk. In some cases, symbols such as an umlaut (diaeresis) or a caron (hacek) may be used to differentiate between them. The spelling can also vary extensively, with alternative spellings including Komareck, Komarecz, Komaretz, Komarik, and Kommarik.
The surname was likely derived as a toponymic name, used to describe someone who lived near a dense wooded area, or a clan whose original ancestor originally came from such an area. It’s believed that those with the surname Komarek are descended from individual families that first took root around the 11th and 12th centuries.
Komarek is a relatively uncommon name and generally associated with Central and Eastern Europe. It’s widely believed this is because of the lack of significant metal deposits and hamlets plus the fact that much of the population was nomadic. Today, those with the last name Komarek can be found living both in the countries of its origin, as well as more recently, in the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisKomarek: Where does the name Komarek come from?
The last name Komarek is most common in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany. In the Czech Republic, it is the 94th most common name, while it ranks 57th in Slovakia and 773rd in Germany.
The origins of the name Komarek, which translates to meaning "little wild pigeon", have been traced back to at least the 16th century in Bohemia (the western part of the Czech Republic and present-day Slovakia). The name is believed to originate from the combination of two common words, “komar” ‘Mosquito’ and “ek”, a diminutive ending.
In addition to its presence in Central Europe, Komarek is a common name in parts of the United States. This is mainly a result of Czech migrants who came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries seeking better lives. Today, Komarek is one of the 8,000 most common last names in the United States, with around 500 citizens sharing the name in 2020. Most of these citizens live in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and California.
Finally, the Komarek surname is also present in countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. All in all, there are an estimated 12,000 people with the last name Komarek throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Komarek
Komarek is a common Czech and Polish surname. In Czech, the name is spelled Komárek, while in Polish, it is spelled Komarek. The surname is derived from a Slavic word “komaře” which essentially means “mercury”.
Other variants of the surname Komarek includes Komar, Komara, Komař, Komaře, Komara, Komarowski, Komorowski, Komaraś, Komars, Komorosky, Komařík, Komařik, and Komarovic.
In Czech, other spellings include Komařský, Komaříková, Komarova, Komarovec, Komarovský, Komorovský, Komářovská, Komarovská, Komářová, Komaříček, Komaříčky, Komařik.
In Polish, other spellings include Komarowicz, Komarow, Komorow, Komarowski, Komarowiak, Komarowiak, Komorowicz, Komorowski, Komorowska, Komorowska, Komoroski, Komarowicz, Komarowitz, Komorek, Komorek, Komerski, Komerska and Komorska.
There are also variants found in other countries such as Hungary Komoróczki, Slovakia (Komár and Komárik), Russia (Komarova) and Ukraine (Komarov).
In conclusion, the surname Komarek is a family name of Czech and Polish origin with a variety of variants and spellings in multiple languages.
Famous people with the name Komarek
- David Komarek, Czech ice hockey player
- Kálmán Komárek, Hungarian footballer
- Slovakia Zuzana Komárková, Slovak politician
- Emil Komárek, Czech president of the Football Association of the Czech Republic
- Pavel Komárek, Czech photographer
- Ladislav Komárek, Czech philosopher
- Hanna Komárek in Czech television
- Marc Komarek, French classical organist
- Petra Komárková, Czech figure skater
- Ján Komárek, Slovak footballer