Surname Petko - Meaning and Origin
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Petko: What does the surname Petko mean?
The last name Petko is of Slavic origin, and the origin of the name is believed to be derived from the given name Petar (Peter). Petko is a patronymic name which is derived from Petar and has been in use in various Slavic countries for centuries. The name Petko is one of the many surnames found among the many nationalities of the region known as the Balkans.
The meaning of the name Petko is generally believed to be derived from the name Peter, which has its roots in the Greek word, ‘petros’, which means rock or stone. Peter was a very popular name in the ancient Christian world, and as such, many people chose to take on the name for their own use. It is believed that the name Petko was derived from this source, and many have used it to represent strength and stability.
The name Petko can also be associated with the Czech word ‘pesecky’, which means ‘belonging to a bush’ or ‘bushman’. This may suggest that the name originated with a bush man who lived amongst the Slavic people.
Petko is seen as an honorable and noble surname with deep ancient roots. Those of this surname feel a close connection to their heritage, and to those who have adopted the name. It serves as a reminder of the rich history behind the name, and those who carry it are proud to do so.
Order DNA origin analysisPetko: Where does the name Petko come from?
The last name Petko is most prevalent in Eastern European countries, including Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovakia. It is thought to derive from the petro nicknames found in those countries, which comes from the Greek word for “rock”. As such, it is sometimes spelled Peko and Pekko.
Today, there are nearly 20,000 people in Hungary who bear the name Petko. It is the 361st most popular name in the country. Similarly, in Croatia, Petko ranks as the 410th most popular surname, with about 7,000 people bearing it. Petko also finds its way farther east, with about 6,000 people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even up into Slovakia, with over 200 people there using the Petko surname.
In terms of emigration, Petko is found in the United States, with more than 1,150 people living there under that name. Australia also has Petkos, though the surname is quite rare there. In total, Petko is estimated to be used by nearly 65,000 people around the world, making it a surprisingly widespread surname.
Variations of the surname Petko
The surname Petko is part of the larger family name Petroff, which is of Slavic origin. It is derived from the Russian word petrof which means 'stone'. The surname has several variants including Petroff, Petrou, Petrucci, Pescod, Pettroff, and Pitroff. It also has multiple spellings such as Petrof, Petrov, Petrovsky, Petrović, and Pitrov. In some parts of the world, including the United States, the original spelling has been Americanized to Peters.
In Slavic countries, the surname is also used with the diminutive suffixes -ko, -ka, -ov, -eva, and -ovich. For example, Petko is one such suffix variation of the Petroff surname. These suffixes are also added to the beginning of the name, such as Kov and Kop. Other diminutive suffixes for Petroff include Petrushenko, Petrunenko, and Petrovskaya.
The surname is found not just in Slavic countries, but also in many parts of the world such as Europe, North America, Australia, and South Africa. The spelling variations and suffixes may be different depending on the region, culture, and language.
In summary, the surname Petko is a diminutive suffix form of the larger Petroff surname. This surname can have several spelling variations, suffixes, and surnames of the same origin throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Petko
- Maria Petko: a professional ballet dancer from Dresden, Germany
- Alexander Petko: a Russian footballer
- Yegor Petko: a Ukrainian footballer
- John Petko: a celebrated American folk artist
- Tihomir Petko: a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria
- Johannes Petko: a contemporary German actor
- Johannes Petko: a Saxon clergyman and theologian
- Jaroslav Petko: a preeminent Czech sculptor
- Petra Petko: a celebrated Dutch fashion designer
- Jovan Petko: a renowned Serbian chef and restauranteur