Surname Kostelec - Meaning and Origin
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Kostelec: What does the surname Kostelec mean?
Kostelec is a Czech surname, deriving from the word 'kostel', which translates to 'church' in English. The suffix '-ec' is a diminative or descriptive term, so essentially, Kostelec might mean 'little church', 'by the church', or possibly 'protector of the church'. This surname likely originated in the medieval era as a locational surname, given to someone living near a church or in a place named 'Kostelec'. There are several towns and villages in the Czech Republic named Kostelec, further supporting this hypothesis. As with many surnames, over time and through migration, the precise meaning may have evolved or become less context-specific. Nevertheless, the root word and its religious association still hold relevance in contemporary analyses of the surname's meaning. Keep in mind that interpretations may vary based on regional and cultural differences.
Order DNA origin analysisKostelec: Where does the name Kostelec come from?
The surname Kostelec is of Czech origin. It is derived from the Czech word "kostel", meaning church, and the suffix "ec", possibly indicating a place. Hence, it might be indicating a person who lived near a church or was in some way associated with a church.
Today, Kostelec is common in the Czech Republic. Additionally, due to emigration throughout the centuries, the last name has spread to various parts of the world; those of Czech descent carrying the Kostelec surname can be found in the United States, Canada, and other countries. However, its highest concentration remains in its homeland, the Czech Republic.
Variations of the surname Kostelec
The surname Kostelec is of Slavic origin, indicative of geographic location, specifically from a place named "Kostelec" which means 'church building' or 'chapel'.
The spelling can change slightly based on regional dialects and language influence but main variants and similar surnames include Kostelac, Kostalek, Kostelka, and Kostulak. These are seen primarily in countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia.
In addition, during immigration processes, the names could be anglicized or changed to sound more ‘western’, thus developing into more diverse variations. For example, the name could possibly have been recorded as Costello or Castle in English-speaking countries. However, the correlation between the names could largely be speculative, as surnames have complex histories and can be changed for a variety of reasons.
As with many surnames, the true variants can be numerous, given that nicknames, patronymics, and geographical and occupational based derivations can all lead to the creation of alternative spellings and forms. For example, the addition of common Slavic suffixes like "-ovic" or "-evic" (denoting 'son of') could also give similar but distinct surnames. So, names like Kostelic and others could potentially be considered.
Famous people with the name Kostelec
- Jaromír Kostelec: a former Czech footballer and football manager, who played as a midfielder for Tatran Prešov and Sigma Olomouc in the Czech competitive leagues, as well as for the Czechoslovakian national team.
- Antonín Kostelec: a Czech ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
- Lucie Kostelecká: a Czech former hurdler and long jumper who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Zuzana Kostelecká: a retired Czech gymnast who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Tomáš Kostelec: a Czech former football goalkeeper who was a member of the 1993 Czech U19 national team.
- Jana Kostelecká: a former Czech-Finnish alpine skier who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Petr Kostelec: a professional Czech tennis player.
- Libor Kostelec: a Czech figure skater who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics.
- Josef Kostelec: a Czech sculptor and professor at the Prague's Academy of Fine Arts.
- Michal Kostelec: a Czech mountain bike racer who represented the country in the 1987 and 1988 World Championships.