Surname Pokorny - Meaning and Origin

Pokorny: What does the surname Pokorny mean?

The last name Pokorny is of a Central European origin, with roots in the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany. The name is derived from the Czech word pokorny, which translates to mean humble, unassuming, and pious. The surname Pokorny has been found among different ethnic groups across Central Europe and has even been attributed to Ashkenazi Jews.

The literal meaning of the name Pokorny is steep or craggy and was likely used to describe several places located in the region. It was also used to describe someone from these places, which could provide greater legitimacy to the surname being of a geographic origin. It is possible the name originally came from a place located in the region and has been adopted over time as a surname.

Over the centuries, the surname Pokorny has shifted and evolved with the generations. Throughout Europe, the families with the name Pokorny have adapted to new cultures, customs, and languages. Even today, many people of this surname still have ties to their locality in Central Europe.

In general, the surname Pokorny is associated with having a humble attitude and strong morality. This is likely due to the roots of the name in the Czech language, and its derivatives, which translate to mean humble and refined. It is likely that the families who have adopted the name over the centuries, have inherited these values and continue to pass them on today.

Pokorny: Where does the name Pokorny come from?

The last name Pokorny is most common today in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. This last name is derived from the Czech word pokorný, meaning submissive or obedient, and typically refers to someone who is humble and docile in character.

In the Czech Republic, the last name Pokorny is the 20th most common surname, with nearly 33,000 individuals currently having it. In Slovakia, it is the 49th most common, with more than 15,000 individuals having the last name Pokorny. In Austria, the name is the 83rd most common surname, with a population of nearly 6,000 people with Pokorny as part of their names. In Germany, it is the 470th most common name, with a population of around 1,500 people with the Pokorny name.

Besides Central and Eastern Europe, the name Pokorny is also commonly found in other parts of the world, particularly North America and Australia. In the United States, the last name Pokorny is found in all 50 states, with approximately 17,000 individuals sharing this name. Similarly, in Canada, the last name Pokorny is found from coast to coast, with more than 3,000 individuals having the last name. In Australia, the name Pokorny is the 1,786th most common last name, with close to 200 individuals having this last name.

Overall, the last name Pokorny is a very common name in Central and Eastern Europe, and has spread beyond the region. It is a reminder of the humble and obedient character of the individuals who initially chose this name.

Variations of the surname Pokorny

The surname Pokorny is a common Czech surname which is found in various forms in other Slavic languages. Variants of the Pokorny surname include Pokorný, Pokorna, Pokornová, Pokomsky, Pokomski, and Pokorowski. In Polish, the surname is spelt as Pokorny, Pokoński, and Poświatowski. In Croatian, the surname is written as Pokorni, whilst in Slovak it is written as Pokorný.

The surname is also found in other languages under different spellings such as Pochrn, Pochron, Pochren, Pokron, and Pokwron. There are various altered spellings of the Pokorny surname that can be found in the USA such as Pozdorny, Pozdrony, Pokurny, Pozerney, Pozzorny, Pokornie, Pokorn, Pozerny and Pozorny.

The surname can also have prefixes such as de Pokorny (in older form de Pokoron) and von Pokorny. In various dialects, the surname has also acquired a variety of nicknames such as Polcsi, Pölcsi, and Pöckel.

The last name Pokorny is derived from an ancient word of Slavic origin that originates from the Latin verb pocrescere which means "to bow in humility" or "to humble oneself". This is reflected by the coat of arms which includes the Latin phrase "Humilita Superat Altissima" which translates to "Humility Triumphs Over All".

Overall, the surname Pokorny has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, reflecting its widespread use and popularity within the Slavic region.

Famous people with the name Pokorny

• Krystian Pokorny: Polish journalist and sports commentator, known for his work in Poland and Romania on television channels TVP, TVN, and Eurosport.
• Jerry Pokorny: a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player. He attended the University of Oregon and went on to play four seasons in the NBA.
• David Pokorny: United States military veteran who served in the Army Reserves from 1984 to 1994 and the National Guard from 1995 to 2000.
• Charles Pokorny: an American professional soccer player who played in Major League Soccer for the Chicago Fire and the San Jose Earthquakes.
• Pavel Pokorný: a Czech football manager and former player who is currently the assistant manager at FK Jablonec.
• Ivan Pokorny: a retired Czech professional ice hockey player. He played seven seasons in the Czech Extraliga and also represented the Czech Republic in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
• Adriana Pokorná: a Slovak beach volleyball player, best known for winning a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• Karolína Pokorná: a Czech competitive ice dancer, together with Petr Slavík.
• Jakub Pokorný: a Czech professional ice hockey player, currently playing for HC Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga.
• Jan Pokorný: a Czech ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for HC ZUBR Přerov in the Czech 1. liga.

Other surnames

PokoraPokorna