Czech last names are honestly so interesting once you start looking into them.
Most of them go back hundreds of years and came from really simple, everyday things — what a person did for work, where they lived, what they looked like, or even a nickname that just stuck. So when you look up what a Czech surname actually means, you almost always get this cool little window into what life was like for that family a long time ago.
Whether you have Czech roots and want to know more about your own family name, or you are just curious about where these names come from, you are going to find a lot of good stuff in this list. Here are 103 popular Czech last names with their meanings.
Common Czech Last Names
These are the surnames you will come across most often in the Czech Republic. A lot of them are so common there that they are basically the Czech version of Smith or Johnson.
- Novák
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “New man” or “newcomer” — given to someone who had recently moved to a village or town
- Pronunciation: NOH-vahk
- Svoboda
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Freedom” or “liberty”
- Pronunciation: SVOH-boh-dah
- Novotný
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Similar to Novák, it refers to someone who was new to an area
- Pronunciation: NOH-vot-nee
- Dvořák
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Court” or “manor” — someone who lived or worked at a noble’s estate
- Pronunciation: DVOR-zhahk
- Černý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Black” — likely a nickname for someone with dark hair or a dark complexion
- Pronunciation: CHER-nee
- Procházka
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Walk” or “stroll” — possibly for someone who traveled a lot
- Pronunciation: PRO-khahz-kah
- Kučera
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Curly” — a nickname for someone with curly hair
- Pronunciation: KOO-che-rah
- Veselý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Cheerful” or “merry”
- Pronunciation: VEH-seh-lee
- Horáček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Mountain man” or someone from the highlands
- Pronunciation: HOH-rah-chek
- Blažek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from the name Blažej, meaning “blessed” or “happy”
- Pronunciation: BLAH-zhek
Czech Last Names From Occupations
A huge number of Czech surnames came straight from what a person did for a living. These are the ones with job-related roots — and some of them are really cool when you find out what they actually mean.
- Kovář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Blacksmith”
- Pronunciation: KOH-varzh
- Tesař
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Carpenter”
- Pronunciation: TEH-sarzh
- Řezník
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Butcher”
- Pronunciation: RZHEZ-neek
- Švec
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Shoemaker” or “cobbler”
- Pronunciation: SHVETS
- Mlynář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Miller” — someone who worked at a mill grinding grain
- Pronunciation: MLEE-narzh
- Sedlář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Saddler” — a maker of horse saddles
- Pronunciation: SED-larzh
- Horník
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Miner” — someone who worked in the mines
- Pronunciation: HOR-neek
- Rybář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Fisherman”
- Pronunciation: REE-barzh
- Zeman
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Landowner” or “nobleman” — a minor gentry title
- Pronunciation: ZEH-mahn
- Krejčí
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Tailor”
- Pronunciation: KRAY-chee
- Kopecký
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Related to “kopec” meaning hill — likely for someone who lived near or worked on a hill
- Pronunciation: KO-pets-kee
- Zahradník
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Gardener”
- Pronunciation: ZAH-hrad-neek
- Vlček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little wolf” — but also used as a nickname for hunters
- Pronunciation: VUL-chek
- Truhlář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Cabinetmaker” or furniture maker
- Pronunciation: TROO-hlarzh
- Kolář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Wheelwright” — someone who made wooden wheels
- Pronunciation: KOH-larzh
- Bednář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Cooper” — a maker of barrels and casks
- Pronunciation: BED-narzh
- Hrnčíř
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Potter”
- Pronunciation: HRN-cheer
- Sklenář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Glassmaker” or “glazier”
- Pronunciation: SKLE-narzh
- Šafář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Steward” or “farm manager”
- Pronunciation: SHAH-farzh
- Kramář
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Merchant” or “trader” — someone who sold goods
- Pronunciation: KRA-marzh
Czech Last Names From Nature and Places
A lot of Czech surnames came from the land around where a family lived. Hills, rivers, forests, fields — Czech nature is literally written into these names.
- Horák
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Mountain man” or someone from a hilly region
- Pronunciation: HOH-rahk
- Polák
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Pole” or someone from the fields — also used for people of Polish origin
- Pronunciation: POH-lahk
- Lesní
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Of the forest”
- Pronunciation: LES-nee
- Potůček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little stream” or “brook”
- Pronunciation: POH-too-chek
- Kopec
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Hill”
- Pronunciation: KO-pets
- Dub
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Oak tree”
- Pronunciation: DOOB
- Bříza
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Birch tree”
- Pronunciation: BRZEE-zah
- Skála
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Rock” or “cliff”
- Pronunciation: SKAH-lah
- Jezerní
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Of the lake”
- Pronunciation: YEH-zer-nee
- Vrba
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Willow tree”
- Pronunciation: VUR-bah
- Jelen
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Deer” or “stag”
- Pronunciation: YEH-len
- Sokol
- Origin: Czech/Slavic
- Meaning: “Falcon” — one of the most recognized Czech surnames internationally
- Pronunciation: SOH-kol
- Liška
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Fox” — likely a nickname for someone clever or cunning
- Pronunciation: LEESH-kah
- Vlk
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Wolf”
- Pronunciation: VULK
- Zajíc
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Hare” or “rabbit”
- Pronunciation: ZAH-yeets
- Holub
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Pigeon” or “dove”
- Pronunciation: HOH-loob
- Vrabec
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Sparrow”
- Pronunciation: VRAH-bets
- Růžička
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little rose”
- Pronunciation: ROO-zhich-kah
- Travníček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little meadow” or “grassy place”
- Pronunciation: TRAV-nee-chek
- Doubek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little oak” — a diminutive of Dub
- Pronunciation: DOH-bek
Czech Last Names From Personal Appearance or Personality
These are the surnames that started out as nicknames. Someone in the family was tall, or red-haired, or known for being strong, and that description just became the family name over time.
- Bílý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “White” — likely for someone with very fair or white hair
- Pronunciation: BEE-lee
- Červený
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Red” — a nickname for someone with red hair or a red complexion
- Pronunciation: CHER-veh-nee
- Malý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Small” or “little”
- Pronunciation: MAH-lee
- Velký
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Big” or “great”
- Pronunciation: VEL-kee
- Šedivý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Gray” — likely for someone with gray hair
- Pronunciation: SHEH-dee-vee
- Silný
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Strong”
- Pronunciation: SIL-nee
- Rychlý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Fast” or “swift”
- Pronunciation: REEKH-lee
- Tichý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Quiet” or “silent”
- Pronunciation: TEE-khee
- Veselý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Jolly” or “cheerful” (also listed above — it appears as both a common name and a personality nickname)
- Pronunciation: VEH-seh-lee
- Moudrý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Wise” or “clever”
- Pronunciation: MOH-drree
- Starý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Old” — likely for the older son in a family or an elder in the village
- Pronunciation: STAH-ree
- Mladý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Young” — often used for the younger generation to distinguish them
- Pronunciation: MLAH-dee
- Hubený
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Thin” or “lean”
- Pronunciation: HOO-beh-nee
- Tlustý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Fat” or “stout” — old nicknames were not very subtle!
- Pronunciation: TLOOS-tee
- Lysý
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Bald”
- Pronunciation: LEE-see
Czech Last Names Derived From First Names
Many Czech surnames came straight from a father’s or grandfather’s first name. These patronymic names are some of the oldest and most historically significant in Czech culture.
- Janáček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Jan (Czech form of John) — means “son of Jan” or “little Jan”
- Pronunciation: YAH-nah-chek
- Petrů
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Petr (Peter) — “of Petr” or belonging to Peter’s family
- Pronunciation: PEH-troo
- Tomáš
- Origin: Czech/Hebrew
- Meaning: From the name Thomas, meaning “twin”
- Pronunciation: TOH-mahsh
- Martinů
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Martin — “of Martin” or from Martin’s family
- Pronunciation: MAR-tee-noo
- Marek
- Origin: Czech/Latin
- Meaning: From the Roman name Marcus, meaning “of Mars” — the Roman god of war
- Pronunciation: MAH-rek
- Jakubec
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Jakub (Jacob) — “little Jakub” or from Jacob’s family
- Pronunciation: YAH-koo-bets
- Adamec
- Origin: Czech/Hebrew
- Meaning: Derived from Adam, meaning “earth” or “man”
- Pronunciation: AH-dah-mets
- Šimánek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Šimán, a form of Simon meaning “he who hears”
- Pronunciation: SHEE-mah-nek
- Benešík
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: From Beneš, a Czech form of Benedict meaning “blessed”
- Pronunciation: BEH-neh-sheek
- Václavek
- Origin: Czech/Slavic
- Meaning: Derived from Václav, meaning “more glory” — a beloved Czech name
- Pronunciation: VAHTS-lah-vek
- Ondráček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Ondřej (Andrew), meaning “manly” or “strong”
- Pronunciation: ON-drah-chek
- Lukáš
- Origin: Czech/Greek
- Meaning: From Luke, meaning “light” or “from Lucania”
- Pronunciation: LOO-kahsh
- Filipec
- Origin: Czech/Greek
- Meaning: From Filip (Philip), meaning “lover of horses”
- Pronunciation: FEE-lee-pets
Unique and Less Common Czech Last Names
These surnames are a little rarer but really interesting. Some of them have meanings that will genuinely surprise you.
- Bareš
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Possibly related to a regional variation of a personal name or place
- Pronunciation: BAH-resh
- Doležal
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Possibly from “doležat” meaning “to lie down” — a lazy person, or someone known for resting
- Pronunciation: DOH-leh-zhal
- Fojtík
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: From “fojt” meaning “village headman” or mayor
- Pronunciation: FOY-teek
- Gavenda
- Origin: Czech/Slovak
- Meaning: Possibly from old Slavic personal names
- Pronunciation: GAH-ven-dah
- Hašek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Likely derived from the name Haštal or a personal nickname
- Pronunciation: HAH-shek
- Chalupa
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Cottage” or “small farmhouse” — for someone who lived in a simple rural home
- Pronunciation: KHAH-loo-pah
- Jaroš
- Origin: Czech/Slavic
- Meaning: From an old Slavic name meaning “fierce” or “spring-like”
- Pronunciation: YAH-rosh
- Kratochvíl
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Pastime” or “entertainment” — possibly a nickname for someone fun or festive
- Pronunciation: KRAH-tokh-veel
- Macháček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from the name Mach, a short form of Matěj (Matthew)
- Pronunciation: MAH-khah-chek
- Nohavica
- Origin: Czech/Slovak
- Meaning: “Trouser leg” — an unusual but very real Czech surname
- Pronunciation: NOH-hah-vee-tsah
- Outrata
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Expenditure” or “expense” — originally possibly a nickname
- Pronunciation: OH-trah-tah
- Pospíšil
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: From “pospíšit” meaning “to hurry” — for someone who was always in a rush
- Pronunciation: POS-pee-shil
- Quido
- Origin: Czech (rare)
- Meaning: From an old personal name related to the name Guy
- Pronunciation: KVEE-doh
- Růžek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little corner” or diminutive of Růže (rose)
- Pronunciation: ROO-zhek
- Szymański
- Origin: Polish/Czech border regions
- Meaning: Derived from Szymon (Simon)
- Pronunciation: Shih-MAN-skee
- Šoupal
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: From a regional verb meaning “to shuffle” or “to drag feet”
- Pronunciation: SHOH-pahl
- Trávníček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little meadow”
- Pronunciation: TRAHV-nee-chek
- Uhlíř
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Charcoal burner” or “coal man”
- Pronunciation: OOH-leer
- Vítek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: Derived from Vít, a Czech form of Vitus, meaning “life” or “vital”
- Pronunciation: VEE-tek
- Wágner
- Origin: Czech/German
- Meaning: “Wagon maker” or “cartwright”
- Pronunciation: VAHG-ner
- Xaver
- Origin: Czech (rare)
- Meaning: From the name Francis Xavier — meaning “new house” in Basque
- Pronunciation: KSA-ver
- Zámečník
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Locksmith” — someone who made or repaired locks
- Pronunciation: ZAH-mech-neek
- Žáček
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little student” or “pupil” — from “žák” meaning student
- Pronunciation: ZHAH-chek
- Zoubek
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Little tooth” — possibly a nickname for someone with a notable tooth
- Pronunciation: ZOH-bek
- Zvěřina
- Origin: Czech
- Meaning: “Game” or “wild animals” — likely for a hunter or someone who lived near wildlife
- Pronunciation: ZVYE-rzhee-nah
Wrapping Up
Czech last names tell so much of the story of where a family came from and who they were. From blacksmiths and millers to people who lived by the oak tree or were known for their curly hair, there is a real human story behind almost every one of these names.
If you found your own family name on this list, or just discovered a new favorite, save this post to your Pinterest board so you can come back to it! 💛