Surname Novak - Meaning and Origin
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D. Novak
read moreNovak: What does the surname Novak mean?
The last name Novak is of Czech and Slovak origin, derived from the word "Nový" which means "new". It was typically given to someone who was new to a village or community, hence the translation of it often refers to a "newcomer" or "stranger". It is considered one of the most common surnames in these regions. The surname has variations across different cultures and languages, such as Nowak in Polish, Neumann in German, and Newman in English, all of which possess the same core meaning. The use of this surname can also be found among Jewish people, possibly as an adoption of the local custom in Czech, Slovak, or Polish regions. Regardless of its usage, the last name Novak symbolizes the start of something new or a transition.
Order DNA origin analysisNovak: Where does the name Novak come from?
The last name Novak is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in countries that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In particular, it is quite common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, and Serbia. It is also found in some countries in the former Soviet Union, including Belarus and Ukraine.
In the United States, the last name Novak has experienced significant immigration from Central and Eastern European countries. According to statistics compiled in 2018, Novak was the 573rd most common surname in the US. It is particularly common in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
The last name Novak has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly Australia, where it is the 258th most common name. Novak is the 51st most common name in someone in France, while in New Zealand, it is the 322nd most common. It is also gaining currency in parts of South America.
Given the pattern of global dispersal of the name Novak, it is likely to remain a common surname in many parts of the world for some time to come.
Variations of the surname Novak
The surname Novak originates from the Slavic personal name Novak, which is derived from the word ‘nov’, meaning ‘new’ or ‘noob’. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Novak are as follows:
Novak: The original Novak form can be spelled as Novak, or as Novack or Novakovich. The Novak spelling is the most common and is used in many countries around the world.
Novák/Nováková: This variation is used in Czech, Slovak and Polish, as well as in Slovenia and Montenegro. The feminine form is Nováková, but both are pronounced identically.
Novack: This is an Americanized version of Novak that was popularized by the 19th century wave of immigration.
Nowak: This variant is used in Poland and some parts of Germany, derived from a combination of the loosening of pronunciation and a lack of nasal emphasis.
Nowack: This is a variant of Nowak used in Germany, and is pronounced identically.
Nowacki: This is another variant of Nowak, derived from a combination of the loosening of pronunciation and the influence of the German language.
Novaković/Novakovska: This is a variation that is used in the Balkans, primarily Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia, derived from the Slavic personal names. The feminine form is Novakovska, but both are pronounced identically.
Nováček: This is the Czech diminutive form of Novak, used as a pet name or nickname for someone with the surname Novak. It has no other forms.
Novačka: This is the Slovak diminutive form of Novak, used as a pet name or nickname for someone with the surname Novak. It has no other forms.
Novič: This is the Slovenian dialectal form of Novak, and no other forms exist.
Novikov: This is the Russian variant of Novak, and is generally written with the ending -ov added to the stem Novik-. No other forms exist.
Novković: This is the Serbian variant of Novak, and is written with the ending -vić added to the stem Novko-. There is no feminine form.
These variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Novak provide insights into the cultural and geographical spread of the surname, which has its roots in Slavic countries.
Famous people with the name Novak
- Eva Novak: Former actress and supermodel
- Paul Novak: Professional ice hockey player
- Tom Novak: Soccer player of the United States national team
- Karol Novak: Slovak-Swedish footballer
- Dragoljub Novak: Serbian visual artist
- Josef Novak: Czech footballer
- Jacek Novak: Polish footballer
- Milan Novak: Serbian boxer
- Drago Novak: Croatian sculptor
- Theresa Novak: American architect
- Dragutin Novak: Croatian surgeon
- Jiri Novak: Czech tennis player
- Michael Novak: American theologian
- Mária Nováková: Czech classical pianist and composer
- Matthew Novak: American television writer
- Marilyn Novak: American actress
- Albert Novak: Hungarian basketball player
- Alfred Novak: Austrian sculptor
- Karl Novak: French architect
- Ivan Novak: Croatian slalom canoeist