Surname Prokop - Meaning and Origin
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Prokop: What does the surname Prokop mean?
The last name Prokop is a patronymic name derived from the Czech personal name Prokop (variously spelled Prokopec, Prokopov, Prokopek, Prokopecz). Prokop is thought to be an old Czech name consisting of two elements: "pro," which means "in front of" and "kop," which means "hill". This indicates the forefathers of those with the Prokop family name were likely associated with a hill in front of their town. It is possible the family lived close to or on a hill, served some important function at a particular hill, or lived in a house in front of the hill.
The Prokop family can be traced back more than 1,000 years in the Czech Republic, dating back to the year 1030 when the family name was first recorded in the area. It was also recorded in the late 1800s in Southeastern Poland.
Today, Prokop is most common in the Czech Republic, where it is the 59th most common surname. It is also fairly common in Slovakia, Austria, and Serbia, but it can be found in most countries.
People with the Prokop surname are likely to share a common ancestor and may have many of the same personality traits of those with the Prokop family name. It is thought that the Prokop family are naturally intellectual, with a passion for learning. They are often inspirational and ambitious, striving to continually learn and develop. Those with the Prokop family name are also known to be driven by the need for success, but often have a sense of pride and endure during difficult times.
Order DNA origin analysisProkop: Where does the name Prokop come from?
The last name Prokop is most commonly found in Eastern European countries today. Specifically, it is most commonly associated with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
In the Czech Republic, Prokop is the 29th most common surname, with just over 12000 people having it. The Slovak Republic views Prokop as the 35th most commonly used surname, with just over 9000 people having it. Ukraine has just over 1000 people with the Prokop last name, of which most are located in the western regions of the country. Belarus is home to the fewest people with Prokop being their last name, with just over 400 people living in the country with this name.
Archaeological and historical records also point to Germany as a potential home for the Prokop name, though it is unclear how common the name has been over time in the country. Numerous records from the 1600s and 1700s indicate people with the Prokop last name living in Bavaria, Saxony, and other areas of present-day Germany.
Overall, the Prokop last name is most commonly found in Eastern European countries today. This is likely due to the fact that numerous records from centuries past indicate that people with this name were more prevalent in these regions. As such, those with the name today can trace their origins back to this region.
Variations of the surname Prokop
The surname Prokop is derived from a Slavic name meaning “a courageous one”. It is used by members of multiple ethnic groups around the world, including Czechs, Poles, Ukrainians, Russians, Belarusians and Slovaks. The various spellings and surnames of the same origin are Prokopec, Prokopchuk, Prokopov, Prokopiuk, Prokopish, Prokopoff, Prokopenko, Prokopchik, Prokopenya, Prokowski, Prokopuk, Prokopovych, Prokopiv, Prokopyev, Prokopjevic, Prokopovich, Prokhorov, Prokoph, Prokhorchuk, and Prokofiev.
The Prokop surname is most commonly found in Central and Eastern European countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Slovakia. It is also found in North America, primarily in the United States, developed over the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries by newly arriving immigrants from the region. In the United States, some Prokops may be of Greek descent, due to the eventual adoption of the surname by Greek Orthodox priests.
The Prokop surname and its various spellings and other surnames of the same origin are unique identifiers of individuals and families who can trace their ancestry to Central and Eastern European countries. It is a great way to honor one's roots and to remember the cultural heritage of one's homeland.
Famous people with the name Prokop
- Phamie Gow: Scottish composer and multi-instrumentalist
- Jung von Matt/Next: Creative and media agency
- Katarina Prokopová: Slovak politician
- Stanley Prokop: Polish police officer
- Tomáš Prokop: Czech ice hockey player
- Silke Prokop: German music producer and sound engineer
- Valeri Prokop: Russian ice hockey player
- Tom Prokop: Australian actor and stuntman
- Jan Prokop: Czech astronomer
- Andrea Prokop: Austrian singer and winner of talent show “Talentmania”