Surname Kullanek - Meaning and Origin
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Kullanek: What does the surname Kullanek mean?
The last name Kullanek originated in the Czech Republic, meaning it has Czech origins. Kullanek is a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the first name of a father or ancestor in a family line. The name likely comes from a Czech root, such as "Kulan," which means head, leader or chief. This name may have been given to a person who held a position of authority, such as a village chieftain.
The Czech Republic was formerly a part of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy and as a result, many names from this area bear German influences. The Kullanek name may have evolved from its Czech root to sound more German. For example, the ending -ek is a common German suffix used to indicate frequentative action, which means doing something repeatedly. Therefore, the Kullanek name may have been used to describe a person who held a leader-like position and did things repeatedly.
Today, the Kullanek last name is found around the world, but the vast majority of people bearing this name still live in the Czech Republic. By examining the Czech historical and linguistic roots of the name, people with the Kullanek surname can gain an understanding of their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKullanek: Where does the name Kullanek come from?
The last name Kullanek has origins in Germanic countries such as Bavaria, Austria, and the area now known as the Czech Republic. The oldest recorded version of the surname is from a 12th century records book in Bavaria. Today, the surname is seen predominately in countries with past Germanic influence, including parts of eastern Europe and the United States.
In the United States, the Kullanek surname is seen only in relatively small numbers. The current population of people with the name in the US is estimated to be under 800 individuals. Most are centered either in Texas, where they were likely settled post-World War II, or in the Midwest, where they may have been previously settled.
The surname is also seen in substantial numbers in Belgium, where it has been suggested that between 4,000 and 8,000 individuals may carry the name. This is most likely due to the large number of Germanic migrations to Belgium in the 19th century, as people sought work opportunities in the industrial cities of the North.
The surname is likewise popular in Czechia and Slovakia, with the largest historically recorded population residing in an area of Bohemia near the modern-day city of Prague. This suggests that the name was likely localized in this area for centuries before the population began to disperse from the area during World War II.
In short, the Kullanek surname can be found in small numbers throughout Europe and the United States, with the largest concentrations of people carrying the name residing in either Belgium or Czechia/Slovakia.
Variations of the surname Kullanek
Kullanek is a surname of German origin, most commonly found in the United States. It has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Cullanek, Kullmanek, Cullenack, Kullanack, and Kulanek.
Kullanek is a relatively rare surname and is the anglicized form of the German name “Kullmanek”. The name “Kullmanek” is derived from the German words “Kull” meaning “belly” or “stomach”, and “Mann” meaning “man”. Thus, the literal meaning of the name is “man with a big belly”, originating from a nickname for a rather portly person.
Other variants of Kullanek include Coulter, Kojola, Culler and Koller. Coulter is an English variation of Kullanek and Kojola is a Finnish version, while Culler and Koller are German spellings. All these variants have the same root as Kullmanek and all ultimately share the meaning of “man with a big belly”.
There are also several related surnames. The most common are Ullman, Kullmann, Cullen, Cullin, Kullen, Koolen, Kulling, and Kuling. Ullman and Kullmann are German, while Cullen, Cullin, Kullen, Koolen, Kulling, and Kuling are all English variations.
The surnames of Kullanek and its variants have been found in records as far back as the 1700s. They are believed to have originated in the Palatinate region of Germany and been spread across Europe and North America via emigration patterns.
Famous people with the name Kullanek
- László Kullanek: László Kullanek is a Hungarian sculptor and filmmaker. He has held several solo exhibitions since 2005 and participated in group exhibitions in Hungary and abroad. He is the son of ceramic artist László Kullanek, Sr., whom he followed in his art.
- Simon Kullanek: Simon Kullanek is a Swiss actor, known for his roles in the 2017 cinema release "Behind Blue Skies" and the 2019 Swiss TV show "Ruth & Bob". He is also active in theatre and the music business and has a YouTube channel.
- Mátyás Kullanek: Mátyás Kullanek is a Hungarian film composer, contrabass player and actor. He studied at the International School of Music in Budapest and is a part of the independent Hungarian music production team "Sessions".
- Joe Kullanek: Joe Kullanek is a Czech-American actor, known for his roles in the 2017 Netflix series "Mindhunter", the 2019 action movie "Den of Thieves", and the 2020 thriller "Secrets and Lies". He also worked as the assistant director in several films.
- Gábor Kullanek: Gábor Kullanek is a Hungarian researcher and professor. He teaches at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and his research focuses on the cultural history of Hungary and Central Europe. He has published several books on various aspects of Hungarian culture.