Surname Vitous - Meaning and Origin
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Vitous: What does the surname Vitous mean?
The last name Vitous is a Czech-Slavic surname. This surname is derived from the Bohemian and Czech word 'vít', which means 'to greet or welcome'. The name can also be connected to the word 'věta', which means 'sentence'. As such, the name Vitous could carry a meaning of 'welcoming friend'.
It is likely that the name Vitous originated from the town of Vitoušov, which can be found in the Czech Republic. The town was first mentioned in 1247 and its name is derived from an old Bohemian personal name. Historians believe that the first individuals to bear the surname Vitous descended from those who lived in the area of Vitoušov in the late Middle Ages.
Overtime, the Vitous surname has spread around the world, especially to the countries of the former Czechoslovakia. During the 19th century, a large number of Czech people emigrated to the United States. As a result, the surname Vitous can be found today in many countries around the world, particularly in the Czech Republic, United States, and Canada.
Ultimately, the Vitous surname symbolises the concept of welcome and hospitality. The people with this surname often embody the same traits, as befitting the origin of the surname. They are open and friendly to anyone they meet and demonstrate a deep sense of warmth and hospitality to those around them.
Order DNA origin analysisVitous: Where does the name Vitous come from?
The last name Vitous is of Czech origin and is tied to the regions of Bohemia and Moravia. It is a name with an ancient and proud heritage. Today, Vitous is a relatively uncommon name, but it can still be found across the Czech Republic and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
In the Czech Republic, the name is still relatively widespread. The surname makes up around 0.003% of the population, with the most common regional locations being in Prague, the city of Brno, and the towns of Olomouc and Opava. It is also concentrate in the northern regions of Česká Lípa and Liberec. In Slovakia, the surname Vitous is most prevalent around the Prešov Region and the Trenčín Region.
Throughout Europe, the name Vitous is most strongly associated with the Czech Republic, though it can also be found in Austria, Germany, the Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, and Belarus. Outside of Europe, the name appears to be especially common in the United States, with large American-descended populations also in Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
The last name Vitous is also linked to several prominent figures. Perhaps the most famous is Milan Vitous, a celebrated Czech jazz bassist and composer who has been the recipient of multiple Grammy Award nominations over the course of his career.
Variations of the surname Vitous
The surname Vitous is a patronymic surname of Czech origin. Vitous is the original spelling of the surname. Variants of the surname Vitous include the spelling Viteous, Viteus, Vitus and Vitoussky.
The Vitous surname comes from the first name Vitek, which is a Czech diminutive of the name Vit. The name Vit is derived from the Old Slavic root “vit” which means man. Over time the ending "-ous" was added to give the surname Viteous.
Vitousky is a Czech patronymic version of the surname Vitous. Patroynymic surnames are created by adding the Czech suffixes "-sky" or "-ý" to the name of a father. A father named Vitouš would have the surname Vitoušsky if he had sons, and the ending of the sons' surnames would change to "-ský" to form Vitousky.
The common spelling variant of the surname Vitous is Viteus. This is likely derived from the Latin form of the name which is Viteus. The Latin form of the name was used in church records, so the spelling became popularized.
Many people from European countries have adopted the Vitous surname, including some in England and France. As such, there are many variants and spellings for the Vitous surname, including the English versions Viteos, Vites and Vitas, as well as the French version Vitoux.
Famous people with the name Vitous
- Miroslav Vitous: Czech jazz bassist, composer, and founder of the influential jazz-rock group Weather Report.
- Petr Vitoň: Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2017.
- Jiří Vítů: Czech footballer who won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
- Oldřich Vítů: Czech footballer, most notably for the Czechoslovakian National Team.
- Jakub Vítů: Czech long-distance runner, winner of the Biathlon World Cup.
- Jan Vitouš: Czech footballer who played for both the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- Jaroslav Vítů: Czech poet and translator, active in the underground dissident movement in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Miroslav Vítů: Czech architect, renowned for his expertise in baroque, neo-Renaissance, and modernist architecture.
- František Vítů: Czech actor, most notably in the role of assistant professor Macoun in the 1950s cartoon series Hurvínek and Spejbl.
- Luděk Vítůz: Czech artist considered to be a post-surrealist painter.