Surname Petrek - Meaning and Origin
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Petrek: What does the surname Petrek mean?
The last name Petrek is of Slovak origin and it first appeared in documents in the early 17th century. It is derived from the personal name "Peter," meaning "stone," so it was likely given to someone who was noted for being strong and steadfast.
The name is associated with the noble families of Petrekow, Petrek and Petrekovic who lived in Slovakia. In the United States, members of family Petrek have been found in both Pennsylvania and New York.
There is some evidence that the name Petrek is derived from a dialect spoken in the region and can be found in names such as Pozderka, Petrak and Petrekin. It is particularly common in the eastern parts of Slovakia.
Petrek is a name of strong character. It stands for strength of mind and determination, and an ability to weather any storm that life throws at you. This fortitude was clearly seen in Slovakians who endured centuries of political unrest and changing borders. Today, Petrek's are still admired for their inner strength and tenacity.
Order DNA origin analysisPetrek: Where does the name Petrek come from?
The last name Petrek is most commonly found in Slovenia, a country in Central and Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the west, the Austrian state of Carinthia to the north, the Austrian state of Styria to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Hungary to the northeast.
The name Petrek is a very common Slovene last name, which is derived from the common given name Peter, and means Little Petar, or small rock. It is pronounced with the same emphasis on the first syllable, 'Pet'. This name can also be found in some parts of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
In Slovenia, people with the last name Petrek are mostly found in the regions of Lower Carniola and Gorenjska, with a significant presence in Pisani and Prlekija. In the rest of Slovenia, the frequency of this surname is considered to be low.
Outside of Slovenia, Petrek is also present in some parts of the United States due to emigration from the Slovenian regions during the twentieth century. Among those with the Petrek name in the United States are notable figures such as the ex-head of the National Security Agency, José Petrek.
Overall, the last name Petrek is most commonly associated with Slovenia, but it can be found elsewhere due to migrations throughout history.
Variations of the surname Petrek
The surname Petrek is derived from the personal name Peter, derived from the Latin Petrus, which means “rock” or “stone”. The surname Petrek appears in various spellings throughout Europe and is also known as Petrok, Peterk, Petrak, Petrok, Pietrek, Pietrek, Petrack, Petarack, Pieterse, Petarce, Peterse, Petrace, Peterka, Przetak, Piotrek, Petrovič, Petrović, Pečrik, Petrosyan, and Petrescu among others.
In some cultures, it is not uncommon for the first letter of the given name to be dropped or changed in the surnames like Peterk for Petrek and Piotrek for Petrek. In other cases, surnames that originate from the same given name may appear differently due to changes in spelling over time. Surnames such as Pieterse, Petarce, Peterse, Petrace, Petrovič, Petrović, and Petrack are examples of this. All of these surnames ultimately derive from the given name Peter and share the same original spelling of Petrek.
The Petrek surname is most commonly found in Central and Eastern European countries due to the name's popularity throughout the region. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Petrek surname is pronounced as "Petraik". In some countries, such as Russia, the surname Petrosyan can be found. This is due to the influence of local languages, such as Russian, on the name Petrek.
In the United States, the Petrek surname can be found in various spellings, primarily due to a wave of immigration from Eastern Europe that began in the late 19th century and continued into the 20th. The spelling variations of Petrek in America include the Americanized versions of Petreka, Petrick, Petrak, Pietrek, Petro, Peters, and Pieterse.
Famous people with the name Petrek
- Miki Petrek: Slovenian former long-distance runner who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Prestin Petrek: Canadian singer and songwriter
- Don Petrek: former American football player
- Andrej Petrek: Slovenian footballer
- Tina Petrek: Slovenian tennis player
- Ervin Petrek: Slovenian actor
- David Petrek: Slovenian middleweight boxer
- Evelin Petrek: Slovak singer and songwriter
- Luka Petrek: Slovenian partisan and revolutionary
- Gorazd Petrek: Slovenian footballer