Surname Safaric - Meaning and Origin

Safaric: What does the surname Safaric mean?

The last name Safaric is of Slavic origin, initially found amongst the Croatian people. It derives from the word 'safar' which comes from Persian and Arabic, and describes a person travelling on horseback or camel. In Croatia, this surname is most commonly found around the cities of Zagreb and Osijek, and is also recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, and Slovenia.

As a surname, Safaric has historically represented a sign of mobility. It was often used as an indicator that someone had travelled long distances or moved to a new place, and indicated that they were a nomadic, adventurous person. It is thought that the original meaning of the name denoted a trader or merchant who travelled large distances to source and trade goods. The name has also been used to signify strength and courage, as the word 'safar' also means 'journey' in some languages.

Over the centuries, the surname has evolved in other countries, including Bosnia, where 'Safer' is an alternative spelling. Those with the Safaric surname tend to be proud of their heritage, and its representation of courage, strength, and a spirit of adventure.

Safaric: Where does the name Safaric come from?

The last name Safaric is most commonly found in countries with large populations of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Albanian people, such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro. It is believed to originate with Slavic settlers who arrived in these countries in the early middle ages, and it is present in numerous records stretching back centuries. It is suggested that the original form of the name was 'safar', which is thought to mean 'smoke'. This most likely provided an intuitive association with the smoke of a kitchen fire, and therefore indicated that a particular family were involved in the preparation of food.

Today, Safaric is a less common name in the countries of the region, as many families have changed their name or adopted an entirely different name over time. Many families who retain the name have intermarried into other cultures, and this has slowly diluted their Croatian heritage and lessened the prevalence of Safaric. However, in areas where the name is still relatively common, it is usually associated with an ancient and significant family and carries a certain status.

Variations of the surname Safaric

The surname Safaric is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Safar. It is a variation of the name Safaride, which was used by the Safarides noble family in Spiš region of Slovakia. This name was also used in North and South Czechoslovakia, in Texas, and in some Latin American countries.

Variations on the surname include Safaryc, Safarik, Safaricz, Safarick, Safariciu, Safarits, Pafarijc, Apharik, Savorik, and Savoricz.

In North and Central Europe, the name could be spelled "Sapharic," due to crossed spelling, while in the U.S. it is usually spelled "Safaric."

In Czechoslovakia, some versions of the Safaric surname include Safárik, Sapárik, and Sapáryk. Generally, when this surname is found in the U.S., it is spelled Sapharic.

In some Latin American countries, the surname may be spelled Safarik, Safarić, Safarits, Saferik, and Sferik. There are also spelling variants such as Saphorik, Safierik, and Shaphark.

Surnames that have the same origin as Safaric include Saper, Sefer, Safarac, and Saparac.

Famous people with the name Safaric

• Safarik Pestritt: Czechoslovakian Olympic speed skater.
• Safarik Syed: Iraqi linguist and scholar.
• Željko Safaric: Serbian footballer.
• Kassim Ibrahim Safaric: Kenyan diplomat and businessman.
• Mirko Safaric: Croatian footballer.
• Alen Safaric: Slovenian footballer.
• Dalibor Safaric: Serbian handball player.
• Jean-Marc Safaric: French athlete.
• Ivan Safaric: Czech singer and songwriter.
• Andrea Safaric: Slovenian CrossFit athlete.
• Miralem Safaric: Bosnian footballer.
• David Safaric: Czech ice hockey player.
• Marijo Safaric: Croatian football coach and sporting director.
• Peter Safaric: Slovakian alpine skier.
• Predrag Safaric: Montenegrin basketball coach.
• Milan Safaric: Slovenian footballer.
• Orhan Safaric: Croatian opera singer.
• Bojan Safaric: Slovenian footballer.
• Velimir Safarac: Serbian weightlifter.
• Ivo Safaric: Croatian sailor.

Other surnames

SafarSafarik