Surname Horak - Meaning and Origin
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Horak: What does the surname Horak mean?
The last name Horak is derived from the Czech word horák which means “foothills” or “highland”. This suggests that the family was originally from a place of hilly or mountainous terrain. It is the same word from which the German language derives the word “Höhen”, meaning “altitude”. The name Horak is most commonly found in the Czech Republic, with many families having migrated to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The surname Horak appears to have two primary variations: Horek and Horák. These two variations may be related historically, or it may simply be that the two names have been independently adopted as a result of separate migrations. It is possible that the two forms of the name had a common origin, as members of different branches of the same family moved to different countries or different areas of the same country.
The meanings of the last name Horak are varied and interesting. It may simply reflect the physical terrain of the family’s original homeland, or it could be a reflection of the family needing to traverse hills or highlands in order to reach their destination. Alternatively, it could be a reflection of the family’s status or position in society, as they may have come to be viewed as people who were able to rise in society and make their way out of their original environment. Whatever the origin of the name, it is interesting to consider the different ways in which it has been interpreted over time.
Order DNA origin analysisHorak: Where does the name Horak come from?
The last name Horak is a common last name today, primarily in central and eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is thought to originate from several sources, including the Bohemian root ‘hrák’, meaning ‘climbing shrub’, and the Slavic word ‘horký’, meaning ‘brave’.
The surname became more widespread throughout Central Europe in the 13th century, and spread to Germany. In the 1400s, it was notably found in the German city of Hamburg. The name was also adopted by some German immigrants to the United States and Canada in the 19th century.
More recently, Horak remains a common surname in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Immigration records show that people bearing the Horak name settled in the United States and Canada in the early 20th century. Today, Horak is also sometimes found in other countries such as Russia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands, as well as in Latin American countries.
Regardless of where they are found around the world, individuals with the last name Horak can proudly trace their heritage back to 13th century Central Europe.
Variations of the surname Horak
The surname Horak is an English and German surname. It has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling of the surname is Horak, but it can also be spelled as Horack, Horruck, Horrach, Horrak, Horrack or Horricker.
In Germany, the name could be spelled Harveste, Harraste, Horatsche, Horrache, Horchem and Horken. These spellings are usually found in old German records.
In Slovakia, the Horak surname has been spelled with many different variants, including Horak, Gorak, Gorack, Goračák, Goračiak, Goračik and Gorčik.
In Poland, the Horak name has been spelled Horak, Gorak, Haraszkiewicz, Haraszkiewicz-Kwasigroch, and in Czech, it can be spelled as Horák, Horacek, Horacky, Horak, and Horcak.
In Austria, the Horak name has been found spelled as Harak, Harakh, and Hornak. In Hungary, the name Horak has been found spelled as Horck, Horcska, Horka and Horock.
The Horak surname has also been found in many other countries with different spellings, including Horack, Horrock, Horacko, Harak, Herke, Harick, Herak, Horsack and Hoerke in the United States, Horcak in Slovakia and Horick in the United Kingdom.
It is likely that some of these variants come from other languages such as Czech, German, Polish and Hungarian, while some variations could also be a result of misspellings or mistranslations.
Famous people with the name Horak
- Ivan Horak, a professional football (soccer) player.
- Jiri Horak, a chess grandmaster.
- Emil Horak, a playwright and director from the Czech Republic.
- Petr Horak, a former professional ice hockey player.
- Simon Horak, a Czech rower who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Stanislav Horak, a late Czech poet.
- Vaclav Horak, a former Czech footballer.
- Roman Horak, a Czech professional ice hockey centerman.
- Jan Horak, a Czech ice hockey player.
- Thomas Horak, a German Actor.