Surname Votava - Meaning and Origin

Votava: What does the surname Votava mean?

The last name Votava has its roots in the Czech Republic and is thought to originate in the Bohemian and Moravian regions of the country. It is believed to have been derived from the Slavic word "voda" which means "water". It is therefore thought to have been a descriptive surname that denoted a person who lived near a body of water or described an occupation related to water.

The surname Votava was likely adopted by the people of Czechoslovakia during the Middle Ages and had begun to likely grow in popularity at this time. It is likely that there were only a few other existing surnames in the same area which would have characterized families that were fairly interconnected, which could have been a result of marriage or business.

Therefore, Votava has come to represent a proud heritage of a long history for its families in the Czech Republic. It is a testament to the fact that the people of the region had the imagination to give a descriptive name to the very landscape that defined them and that still defines them today.

Votava: Where does the name Votava come from?

The last name Votava is a relatively uncommon name today. It is best known for being a surname of Slavic origin.

The origins of the name Votava is uncertain, but it is believed to have come from the Czech Votavá, which could have itself derived from the Czech word vod meaning ‘water’ or ‘river’. The prevalence of the surname is mainly centered around the Czech Republic.

The Votava surname is most unusally widespread in several smaller towns in Southern Moravia, in the Czech Republic, and in towns in northern Austria. It’s usage appears to peak in the villages of Kojetice, Mohelnice, and Boskovic, located in the Southern Moravian region, comprising approximately 7-9% of the total surname usage in the village.

Outside of the Czech Republic, the name Votava is also commonly found in the United States, primarily in states with large concentrations of Czech immigrants such as Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Beyond these locations, its usage is quite scattered and not particularly numerous.

The Votava surname is often spelled differently depending on the country of origin, with variations such as Votaw, Wota, and Wotawa being encountered in records. While it may have been more common centuries ago, today the last name Votava is not highly prevalent, and can generally only be found in small pockets in the Czech Republic and in a few US states with large Czech immigrant populations.

Variations of the surname Votava

The surname Votava is of Czech origin. It is derived from the personal name "Vojtěch," which is a Czech form of the name Adalbert. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Votava, some of which are listed below.

Variants: Votawsky, Votawský, Votawska, Votavas, Votava, Votavka, Votawka, Votawski, Votaw, Voťavka, Voťacks.

Spellings: Votaba, Votaby, Vottavka, Vottavky, Votta, Vottaby, Vottava, Votky, Votoh.

Surnames: Voleck, Vlcek, Volecka, Vlcekova, Vochatka, Vochatnka, Wotawa, Wotawka, Vollert, Votamal, Votěchov.

The Votava surname is associated with a number of different lines that are separate and distinct from one another. Some of these include the Votavas who originated in Nalžovice; the Votavas who originated in Holice; the Votavas who settled in Prague; and the Votavas who moved south and settled in the Danubian provinces.

The various variants, spellings and surnames of the Votava name likely evolved due to the migratory nature of families in the area, as well as the fact that each region would have had its own unique dialect. This could have resulted in different versions of the same surname being used among various locales. Additionally, the name could have been shortened or adapted over time, and alternate forms could have been adopted in different countries or regions in which the family members resided.

Famous people with the name Votava

• Zbyněk Votava: a former Czech professional ice hockey player
• Ivo Votava: a Czechoslovak slalom canoeist who competed in the early 1970s
• Jan Votava: a Czech ice hockey player, who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1964 Winter Olympics
• Mikulás Votava: a former Czechoslovak ice hockey player who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics
• Vladimír Votava: a former Czechoslovak cyclist who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics
• Antonín Votava: a Czech former ski jumper who competed in the late 1940's
• Jaromír Votava: a Czech former ski jumper who competed in the late 1940's
• Ondřej Votava: a Czech football (soccer) player who plays for FK Jablonec in the Czech First League
• Rudolf Votava: a Czech former ski jumper who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics
• Pavel Votava: a Czech handball player who plays for FK Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Extraliga

Other surnames

Votavova