Surname Safarik - Meaning and Origin
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Safarik: What does the surname Safarik mean?
The last name Safarik is of Czech origin and is derived from the word “safar” meaning “hawk”. It is also the name of Slavic goddess of hunting and can be interpreted to refer to a “hunter”. Many of the bearers of this surname are originally from Moravia which is part of the Czech Republic.
The surname Safarik is usually linked to a romantic family history, as it is believed to refer to a hunter of ancient times. This surname is seen as a sign of strength, bravery and honor, as hunting was a sign of status in early times and hunters were held in high regard. The name is also believed to have been given to a brave hunter who would have served in the royal court.
The name Safarik is rare but widespread across countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. A common misspelling of the name is Safrák, which is a variant specifically used in Slovakia and is widely used among Slovaks.
In conclusion, the last name Safarik is believed to have been derived from the word “safar”, meaning “hawk”, and has a romantic family history linked to a legendary brave hunter who served in the royal court. It is widespread across the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, and is usually seen as a sign of strength, bravery and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisSafarik: Where does the name Safarik come from?
The last name Safarik is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Safarik family can trace its roots back to regions of Medieval Bohemia, the historical Czech region of Czechoslovakia. Records of the Safarik name can be found dating back to the 1100s in what was then the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Though records of the Safarik name are found in regions throughout Europe, the highest concentration of the name is found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the 21st century, it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people share the Safarik surname across these two countries.
Family members with the Safarik surname can be found scattered across the world, but particularly in Europe, North America, and Australia. The Safarik name is not typically found outside of European-settled countries.
Today, the Safarik name still holds a certain level of prominence in areas of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Despite a decrease in the overall number of Safariks living in Central and Eastern Europe today, the name still carries a certain sense of legacy and history. As such, many Safarik descendants are proud to continue their families’ stories and carry on the legacy of their ancestors.
Variations of the surname Safarik
The surname Safarik is derived from of the Czech root word 'safar', which translates as 'to hunt'. Variants of this surname include Safarova, Safarikova, Zafarik, Zafarikova, Saforan and Safarik. These forms of the name may be the result of incorrect spelling in official documents over the centuries, or may have also been adapted due to phonetic spelling variations.
The surname Safarik is also used as a given name in some cultures, which may also result in some surname variations. This is especially true in countries in the former Czechoslovakia, Romania and Hungary. Variations can include Safariko, Zafariko, Zafarik, Zafaric, Safaric, Safarus and Safar, just to name a few.
The spelling of Safarik has also been adapted in some cases, such as Saffarick, Safirik, Saferik, Saferick, Safirico and Saffirik. The origins of these spellings may be to accommodate a foreign accent, usually in former Czechoslovakian countries.
In the United States, the Safarik surname became Safarick, the Slovak Safarikova transitioned to Szafarick and the Polish spelling of Szafarowicz became Saffarowich. The Czech Safar became Safaric and the Polish Safran changed to Saffron. All of these spellings are variations of the same surname.
No matter the spelling, however, all variants of the Safarik surname indicate roots in Czech tradition and culture.
Famous people with the name Safarik
- Peter Šafárik: a 19th century Slovak philologist and poet.
- Alan Safarik: a former Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division (CID).
- František Šafárik: a 19th century Slovak scientist and historian.
- Peter Safarik: a Slovenian graphic designer and illustrator.
- Alexander Šafárik: a 19th century Slovak linguist.
- Jozef Šafárik: a 19th century Slovak scholar and writer.
- Karel Šafárik: a 19th century Czech archaeologist and historian.
- Egon Šafárik: a Slovak poet and critic.
- Jozef Safarik: a Slovak poet and prose writer.
- Anton Safarik: a Slovak politician and former agent of the Czechoslovak National Security.