Surname Lukacs - Meaning and Origin
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Lukacs: What does the surname Lukacs mean?
The last name Lukacs is of Hungarian origin, and has two possible meanings. Traditionally, the name is derived from the Hungarian term for blacksmith, "lakatos". This suggests the family may have been smiths or blacksmiths by trade. Alternatively, it may have evolved from the occupational name of "lock-maker," derived from the Hungarian word "lukac," which means "locksmith."
In the late nineteenth century, the Lukacs name was one of the most common Hungarian surnames. By 1913, there were over 35,000 people carrying the name in Hungary, prominent examples of which included professional athlete Györgyi Lukacs and the esteemed doctor, Dénes Lukács.
Lukacs is also popular in the United States, where it has been adopted as the Americanized version of the name. The 1990 United States Census conducted showed that there were over 1,000 people with the Lukacs surname in that country.
The Lukacs family is part of a rich cultural history, and a unique part of both Hungarian and American heritage. It is a heritage worth celebrating, as it conveys the strength and skill that come with two professions that have shaped history and culture: the blacksmith and the locksmith.
Order DNA origin analysisLukacs: Where does the name Lukacs come from?
The last name Lukacs is most commonly associated today with people of Hungarian descent. It is among the most common surnames in Hungary; the meaning of the name is "son of the light".
The earliest records of the surname arise from the Kingdom of Hungary during the Middle Ages, suggesting most modern day bearers of this name can trace their ancestry back to that region. It is still quite prevalent in Hungary, which has one of the highest percentages of surname replication anywhere in the world.
The name is also particularly common in Croatia, where it is shared by approximately 8,000 people. People with this surname can also be found in Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia, and Canada.
In the United States, Lukacs has become an increasingly popular surname, with more than 10,600 people carrying it. About two-thirds of them trace their family history directly to Hungary. The largest concentrations of people bearing this surname can be found in Texas, California, Illinois, Colorado, and New Jersey.
However, Lukacs can also be found in other countries around the world, such as Australia, Belgium, France, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Romania, the United Kingdom, and even South Africa. It is clear that this popular surname has become widespread in our modern world.
Variations of the surname Lukacs
The surname Lukacs is derived from the Hungarian first name Luka, which has variants such as Lukač, Lukačević, Lukach, Lucaciu, Lucač, Lucak, Lucaki, Lučák, Lučáčik, Lukačo, Lukačič, and Lučak.
In Hungary, the spelling is most often encountered as Lukács or Lukácsházy, although in Croatia it is often spelled Lukačević. Variations in the spelling of this surname can also be found in Austria, Slovenia, and Slovakia. The Czech spelling Lukáč is also common.
The surname is often seen in its shortened form, Lukác or Lucák. This variation is quite popular in Slovakia and Serbia. Sometimes people also shorten the name to Luka, although this is not strictly a surname.
Variations in the original name also exist. For example, the Hungarian Lukács is sometimes written as Lucacs or Loukacs. The spelling Lukacz is also occasionally found. This variation is usually seen in Austria, Poland, and Slovakia. Additionally, some people of Hungarian ancestry have adopted variants of the name including Lucak, Lucacs, Lucaecs, and Lukec.
Accented variants of the name also exist, including Lúkács in Hungary; Lukačević in Croatia; and Lucáč in the Czech Republic. Some people have also adopted francophone variations of the name, such as Lucien or Lucie.
Finally, there are some additional surnames associated with the Lukacz name, most notably Lukack, which is a Belarusian variant, and a Jewish surname, Lukaszewski.
Famous people with the name Lukacs
- Gábor Lukács: Gábor Lukács is a mathematician and professor at the University of Manitoba. He is an expert in the field of mathematical analysis, game theory and the theory of partial differential equations. He is one of the world's leading experts on the theory of Fair Division and active distributive justice.
- Gáspár Lukács: Gáspár Lukács is a Hungarian playwright and director. He is a major figure in modern Hungarian theatre, and his works explore issues such as politics, economics and social change. Most recently he directed the Off Broadway show Rhinoceros Redux at La Mama.
- Anna Lukács: Anna Lukács is a Brazilian actress, producer and director. She began her career in the theater and then began to make her mark in independent Brazilian films, most notably the award-winning The End of Fear. She has also starred in such series as Bossa Nova and Paraíso Artificial.
- István Lukács: István Lukács is a Hungarian politician and former Prime Minister of Hungary. He was the first Prime Minister under the country's second republic. He was a leader of the Hungarian Democratic Forum and led the government from 1990 to 1994.
- Viktor Lukács: Viktor Lukács is a Hungarian poet, essayist and critic. He is particularly well known for his essays on Marxism and his exploration of the philosophical and psychological implications of the Cold War. He is also a playwright and translator, translating works from Spanish and Dutch.