Surname Kaudelka - Meaning and Origin

Kaudelka: What does the surname Kaudelka mean?

The last name Kaudelka is of Czech origin and derives from the ancient Slavic word ‘kauda’, which means ‘bend’. It is also associated with an ancient Slavic, occupation-based, name for a merchant. This occupational name may also have signified someone from a small village, since the word translates to a bend in a river, which often marked the borders of homesteads.

The use of the name spread beyond the Czech Republic when people began to migrate to other countries, and is now concentrated in the US, Germany, Austria, and other parts of Europe, where it can still be found as a surname today. In the US, Beaumont, Texas, has one of the highest concentration of Kaudelka families.

In Czech, ‘Kaudelka’ also means ‘curly haired person.’ This moniker could have been given to the original members of the family for their coarse, curly hair, as was popular in the nineteenth century, or it could symbolize their strength or bravery, since curly hair in Slavic cultures was often associated with a wild, untamable spirit.

The Kaudelka family credo is “Honor, Strength and Integrity,” which is said to have been passed down through generations. This certainly makes sense, given its origin as an occupation-based surname, with a unique connection to wild, untamable strength.

Kaudelka: Where does the name Kaudelka come from?

The last name Kaudelka is most commonly found in the Czech Republic and surrounding countries, such as Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is also found in immigrant populations scattered around the world. According to World Names Public Profiler, Kaudelka is the second most common last name in the Czech Republic (after Novák). It is also the 51st most common last name in Slovakia. Kaudelka likely comes from the Czech word ‘Koudelka’, which is an occupational name referring to a maker or seller of pottery kettles. It likely evolved from this to Kaudelka over time.

Outside of Central and Eastern Europe, the surname Kaudelka can be found in the United States, as well as in various countries in South and Central America. It appears that most Kaudelka families immigrated to the US in the late 19th century and early 20th century, likely in search of economic opportunities or fleeing religious and political persecution.

Today, Kaudelka is likely to be found in both areas of origin and areas of settlement, though certain variants such as Kauldelka may be more common in the United States. In the 2020 US Census, around 120 households reported the spelling Kaudelka, making it a relatively rare last name in the US.

Variations of the surname Kaudelka

The surname Kaudelka is derived from the Czech word ‘kaudelka’, which means ‘curly hair’. The variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kaudelka, Kaudela, Kaudel, Kohdelka, Chaudelka, Khaudelka, Koudelka, Kaudelková, Kaudelkova, Kaudelek, Kaudelke, Kaudelkem and Kaudelekova.

Kaudelka is an uncommon surname, especially in the United States. It is most commonly associated with Czech-American or Czech-Canadian ancestry. Records of the name first appear in Czech Republic in the 17th century.

The variant spellings of Kaudelka can be attributed to immigration records, in which names were altered due to difficulty in pronunciation or transcription errors. The meanings of the surnames with similar spellings derived from Kaudelka are nearly identical, as they all refer to the same original source of the name— the Czech word for ‘curly hair’.

The Kaudelka name has been modified and adapted in different ways in various countries across Europe. In Germany, the Kaudelka surname has been changed to Kohdelka, a spelling that is more phonetically accurate regarding the original Czech pronunciation. The Polish variant Kaudelekova is also common, deriving from Kaudelek, a more traditional spelling of the name. Additionally, the surname Kaudelkova is common in Russia.

Variations of the Kaudelka surname can be found throughout Europe, and in countries where people of Czechoslovakian descent have settled, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. The surname also continues to be popular in the Czech Republic.

In summary, the surname Kaudelka is of Czech origin, and its variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Kaudelka, Kaudela, Kaudel, Kohdelka, Chaudelka, Khaudelka, Koudelka, Kaudelková, Kaudelkova, Kaudelek, Kaudelke, Kaudelkem and Kaudelekova. These surnames originate from the Czech word for ‘curly hair’.

Famous people with the name Kaudelka

• Nicolas Kaudelka: French professional basketball player
• Tom Kaudelka: American film director
• Miroslav Kaudelka: Czech motorcycle racer
• Franz Kaudelka: German photographer
• Ondřej Kaudelka: Czech football midfielder
• Henry Kaudelka: American farmer and politician
• Jan Kaudelka: Czech astronomer
• Mira Kaudelka-Pleštinská: Czech architect
• Radek Kaudelka: Czech racing cyclist
• Jiří Kaudelka: Czech ice hockey defenceman
• František Kaudelka: Czech fencer

Other surnames

Kaudela