Surname Stepanek - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Stepanek: What does the surname Stepanek mean?
The last name Stepanek is of Czech origin and roughly translates as "a man from the steppes". This name is commonly connected to the steppes or flatlands of southern Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia.
The first recorded spelling of Stepanek appears in a Czech Bible written in 1340, indicating that the name is of some antiquity. Additionally, the over six thousand Stepanek surnames listed in the Czech Republic telephone directory in 1988 is a testament to the popularity of this name.
The Stepanek surname includes several variations such as Stepanko, Stepenek, Stepanci, and Stepanczuk, although their shared root remains the same. Many of the Stepanek family tree branches are outside of the Czech Republic; with the name having spread to other parts of Europe, Australia, and Americas; due mainly to wave of Central and Eastern European migrations during the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Today, Stepanek still carries the image of an Eastern European heritage, although it is enjoyed by people living in many countries worldwide.
Order DNA origin analysisStepanek: Where does the name Stepanek come from?
The last name Stepanek is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe today. It is especially common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany where the surname has roots dating back to medieval times. Stepanek is also found in countries such as Austria, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, the United States, and Brazil.
In the Czech Republic, the surname Stepanek originates from the personal name of ‘Stepan’, meaning ‘crown’, and appears to have first established itself in the region during the 13th century. The surname gained popularity in part due to the arrival of many German settlers in the region for whom the name Stepan was commonly given.
In Hungary, the surname Stepanek was likely introduced during the era of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when many Germans migrated to the region between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The surname Stepanek is also found in the United States. Records show that the first Americans bearing the surname Stepanek arrived during the early 1800s, coming to the US from the regions of Bohemia, Bavaria, and Silesia.
Today, many people with the surname Stepanek reside in the United States, as well as Canada, Russia, Mexico, and Australia. It is likely that the surname will persist in these countries for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Stepanek
The surname Stepanek is a surname of mainly Czech origin. It is primarily derived from the given name of Štěpán, which is a variation of the name Stephen, and means ‘crown’ or ‘garland’; it can also refer to the flower of the same name.
Variants and spellings of Stepanek include: Štěpánek, Štěpanko, Stepaneko, Stepanko, and/or Stěpánek. Other surnames of the same origin include: Stepensky, Stepek, Stepková, Step, Stephan, and Stavek.
In some cases, surnames from Stepanek have been Anglicized to Stephens, Stepansky, and Steven. These also come from the original Czech Štěpán, meaning ‘crown’ or ‘garland’.
In some instances, the surname Stepanek can also have other ethnic origins, such as Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovak. The Ukrainian version is based on the name Stepan or Stepon, which is derived from Stephen or Stephanos; the Polish form is derived from Stephanos; and the Slovak version of Stepanek is based on the name Stefan, which derives from Stephanos.
There are also other spellings and variants of these surnames, such as Stepancel, Stepanic, Stepanovic, Stepanovits, Stepano, Stepanuk, and Stepanyski, among others.
In the United States, the surname Stepanek is most commonly found in the states of Ohio, California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
Overall, the surname Stepanek has many variations and spellings, and can be of Czech, Ukrainian, Polish, and Slovak origin.
Famous people with the name Stepanek
- Martina Navratilova: Czech-born American former tennis player and coach
- Vitas Gerulaitis: American former professional tennis player
- Radek Stepanek: Czech professional tennis player
- Petra Kvitova: Czech professional tennis player
- Krystof Stepanek: Czech professional skier
- Justin Stepanek: Australian Paralympic swimmer
- Dana Stepanek: Czech singer and songwriter
- David Stepanek: Czech professional ice hockey player
- Frantisek Stepanek: Czech professional footballer
- Jaroslav Stepanek: Czech professional ice hockey player
- Bedrich Stepanek: Czech theatre theorist and historian
- Bronislav Stepanek: Czechoslovak boxer