Surname Martinek - Meaning and Origin
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Martinek: What does the surname Martinek mean?
The last name Martinek is an occupational surname originally derived from the medieval Czech terms “martin” and “ek” which each mean “miller”. Traditionally the name was given to individuals who worked as either millers or purveyors of grain. It is argued that the name is of Slavic origin, likely deriving from the term “martin” used in certain medieval Eastern European languages to refer to a miller.
Today the surname Martinek is commonly encountered across the Czech Republic; however, it is more widespread throughout Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. A small number of people also bear the surname in the United States, where it was likely adopted through immigration into the country.
The surname Martinek is often related to other surnames including Martinetus, Mertinek, Martiniak, or Martinka, all of which share the occupational element associated with millers and grain-traders. For example, the word Mertinek is derived from “maultier” which has a similar meaning to “martin”.
Despite its single-word origin, the surname Martinek can be adapted to a variety of languages all of which carry a reference to the occupation before it. Through its use in Slavic languages, Germanic languages, English, and other languages, the surname captures the international migration of the Czech people and serves as a reminder of the country’s medieval history.
Order DNA origin analysisMartinek: Where does the name Martinek come from?
The last name Martinek is most commonly found today in the Central European countries of Czech Republic, Germany,Austria, and Slovakia. This surname is believed to have originated from the Czech word "martinek," meaning a small falcon. The Martinek name is probably derived from this word and is most likely of Czech origin.
In the Czech Republic,Martinek is quite popular, ranking in the top 100 surnames in that country. The surname is also relatively common in Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, although it does not rank as high in those countries as it does in the Czech Republic.
There are a few spelling variations of the Martinek surname today. In the Czech Republic, commonly-used spellings include Martinek, Martínek, and Martinka. In Germany, Austria, and Slovakia alternate spellings include Martineck, Martinec, and Martinick.
In addition to Central Europe, the Martinek surname can be found in other parts of the world due to emigration. Many people with the surname Martinek have relocated to Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The United States, in particular, has a sizable population of people with the Martinek surname, with the majority living in the Midwest states.
Variations of the surname Martinek
The surname Martinek is of a Czech origin and is derived from the personal name Martin, meaning “Worshipful” or “warlike”. It is a widespread surname throughout Central and Eastern Europe, mainly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. There are a few variants, alternate spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Martinek.
Alternative spellings include Martinek, Martineck, Martinka, Martinko, and Martinski. Surnames of the same origin are Martinček, Martinovič, Martiník, Martinák, and Martinšek.
The surname has made its way around the world, with many Czech and Slovak immigrants settling in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries since the late 19th century. Variations of the surname therefore exist in different languages, such as Martinic (Croatian), Martinek (German), Martenec (Ukrainian), and Martinko (Polish).
Over the centuries, some of the surname have also been altered through misspellings, resulting in such spellings as Marhimac, Marminic, and Marpinka.
In its various forms, the surname Martinek is still widely found around the world today, as a reminder of the legacy of the members of the Martinek family who have journeyed and settled in many foreign lands.
Famous people with the name Martinek
- Milan Martínek: Slovak professional wrestler who has made appearances in MLW and the Global Force Wrestling.
- Zdeněk Martínek: Czech luger who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, winning a Silver medal in the men's singles luge.
- Daniel Martínek: a Czech professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the HC Dynamo Pardubice.
- Jaroslav Martínek: a Czech ice-hockey player and coach and was a member of the Czech national team at the 1997, 1998 and 1999 World Championships.
- Ivan Martinek: Czech football player and manager.
- Suzanne Martinek: an American film, television and stage actress, making her film debut in Paramount Pictures' "Miller's Crossing."
- Pavel Martínek: a Czech musician, composer and producer, and an organizer and leader of international music events all over Europe.
- Jiří Martínek: a Czech sculptor who primarily works in cement and bronze.
- Tomáš Martínek: a retired Czech ice hockey forward who last played for HC Olomouc of the Czech Extraliga.
- Robert Martínek: a retired Czech rally driver, motoring journalist, automobilist and car collector.