Surname Zavada - Meaning and Origin
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Zavada: What does the surname Zavada mean?
The last name Zavada is a Slavic surname originating from the Czech Republic which likely derives from the word ‘zavádět’, meaning ’to introduce’. The female form of the name translates to ‘Zavadová’.
Several variations of the surname exist, including Za, Zavaud, Zawada, Zawadzki, Zawado, Zawdau, Zavaudka, and Zawadka. Those bearing the name likely originated from the city of Zawada, once part of the Habsburg Empire and now located in modern-day Poland.
Alternately, the last name may have derived from the Latin ‘savis,’ meaning ‘wise’ or ‘sabinus’, meaning ‘Sabine’, referencing the native tribe of the area. The prefix ‘Zav’ likely implies ‘descendent of’ and may have identified those who claimed historic lineage from a particular ancestor.
Some prominent people bearing the surname are American businessman and Investor, John A. Zavada, Czech actor and director, Rostislav Zavada, and Ukranian thanker and handball player, Stanislav Zavada.
As a whole, those with the last name Zavada may have complex origins, though ultimately the meaning likely derives from a variation of the Czech word ’to introduce’, indicating an informing, conscientious, or well-respected ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisZavada: Where does the name Zavada come from?
The last name Zavada is most prevalent in central Europe today, specifically in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. While the exact origin is unknown, it has been suggested to be of Slavic origin, with some scholars claiming it may have been a derivative of “javor” (Maple Tree) or “závada” (Mirror, Window). Through migrations, the name has spread to other countries like the United States, Canada, and countries in the Middle East.
It is estimated that over 15,000 people with the Zavada family name live in Poland, followed by approximately 5,000 in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the highest concentrations of the name can be found in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
The name has become more popular over the years. One famous bearer is former Professional American Football player Trae Wayne Zavada who played with the Detroit Lions in the 1950s.
Despite its popularity in central Europe, the name Zavada is still relatively uncommon in the United States. Nevertheless, because of its popularity in Poland and other countries, more Americans with this last name are beginning to emerge.
Variations of the surname Zavada
The surname Zavada is of Czech and Slavic origin. It is derived from zavadati, which means "to discuss or debate." In some cases, it may be a form of Zavoral, which is derived from the Czech word zavora, meaning a "fence or palisade."
The variants and spellings of Zavada include Zavada, Zawada, Zawado, Zawarto, Zaworah, Zavarto, Zavoral, Savard and Savert.
The surnames derived from Zavada are Jaouen, Zavodny, Zavoralik, Zavacist, Zavalovec, Saveland, Saveliy, Savon, Savelko, Savelov, Saveluk, Savolod, Savorski, Zavay, Zavazny, Zavelyuk, Zavoda, Zavorov, Zavyalov and Zavorka.
The prevalence of the Zavada surname varies from country to country. In the Czech Republic, it is the 738th most common surname. It is the 141st most common surname in Slovakia and is also found among Ukrainian families. Zavoral is still very popular in Poland, where it is ranked as the 433rd most popular surname.
In the United States, Savard is the most common derivative of Zavada. It is ranked as the 5,903rd most common surname in the United States, with its highest occurrence being in the state of Michigan. The other common surnames derived from Zavada are Savel, Saveland, Saveliy, Savelko, Savelov, Saveluk and Savolod. These surnames are not as common as Savard, but still have a reasonable number of occurrences in the United States.
Famous people with the name Zavada
- Evelin Zavada: Professional snowboarder and overall athlete based in Austria.
- Mihály Zavada: Pioneer of the theoretical analysis of supersonic vibrations.
- Jakub Zavada: Professional hockey player for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.
- Christos Zavadas: Political cartoonist at the Athens News Agency.
- Valentine Zavada: Ukrainian Singer who is most known for her song "Cherry Orchard".
- Nicolai Zavada: Professional cyclist and cyclist management executive.
- Gregory Zavada: American fine artist whose work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and art fairs.
- Sergey Zavada: Ukrainian race car driver.
- Alexander Zavada: Russian figure skater.
- David Zavada: Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestler.