Surname Proks - Meaning and Origin
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Proks: What does the surname Proks mean?
The surname Proks is of Czech origin, having its roots in the Czech word 'prok' which was used to designate a 'talker' or 'speaker'. It was likely first used as a nickname to describe someone particularly eloquent or good at making speeches. It is also possible that the surname may have originally been a shortened form of the popular Slavic personal name Prokop.
The surname Proks is most prevalent in the Czech Republic but can also be found in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in other countries, such as the United States.
Today, the name is an example of a Czech occupational surname, meaning that it described the original bearer's occupation, or the occupation of their ancestors. The word 'prok' is related to words such as 'prokázat' – 'to demonstrate', 'prokecat' – 'to talk', and even 'prokopat' – 'to dig', so it is possible that the surname may have also been used to describe a worker in one of these occupations.
Over the centuries, the surname Proks has evolved in use and has become the focus of familial tradition. It is often seen as a representation of strength, loyalty and honor, and is commonly associated with whatever characteristics the person with the surname chooses to embody.
Order DNA origin analysisProks: Where does the name Proks come from?
The last name Proks is predominately found in areas of Central and Eastern Europe. It is particularly common in countries such as Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Ukraine. A high concentration of people with this last name are found in Slovakia in the region of Liptov in northern Slovakia.
The Proks name can be traced back to medieval Poland with records dating back to 1335 AD in the village of Świniary near Drohiczyn, Poland. It is believed that the name originated from the Czech-Slovak word “pokřik” which means ‘shout’.
It is not an uncommon last name in the Americas either. Immigration from this area of Europe was common during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Consequently, it can now also be found throughout the United States and Canada. In fact, the United States has one of the highest proportions of people named Proks in the world.
Although it is not a particularly common last name in other parts of the world, it does exist, particularly in regions such as Brazil, Australia, France, and Germany. Nevertheless, the majority of people named Proks are housed primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, with Slovakia having the highest concentration of all.
Variations of the surname Proks
The surname Proks is a Jewish surname derived from the Yiddish language and originally derived from the German word “proks,” which means “principal” or “head.” It was thought to refer to an important person in the community. Variants of this surname can include the following spellings: Proks, Proksch, Prox, Proxch, Praksas, Prasas and Prosas.
Surnames that are derived from the same origin as Proks include Proshansky, Proshan, Proshansky and Proshasny. These surnames can also be further derived into various spellings including Prochansky, Proshansky, Prochany, Prak is, Prasha and Proshensky. The use of the “sh” instead of the “x” is also common in some of the variants, such as Proshansky or Prasha.
Variants of the Proks surname can be found in countries across the world. In the United States, more than 5,700 individuals with the Proks surname were recorded in the 2000 census. In Germany, the surname was more commonly found as Prox, Proksch and Prosas. However, the spelling Proks was a more common variant in countries such as Poland, Israel and Ukraine. In England, the Proks surname is also known to date back to the Middle Ages.
Overall, Proks is an ancient surname that has many variants and spellings across Europe and other parts of the world, is usually derived from the Yiddish language and is believed to refer to an important person in the community.
Famous people with the name Proks
- Mark Proks: American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter.
- Ondrej Proks: Czech professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
- Daniel Proks: Czech footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for SK Slavia Prague.
- Yevgeniy Proks: Russian football player who plays for FC Chayka Peschanokopskoye.
- Patric Proks: Swedish hard rock and blues guitar player who has released five albums with his own band and has performed as a session musician with Swedish famous musicians.
- Zuzana Proks: Czech sport shooter who won the gold medal in the women's trap event at the 2004 Olympic Games.
- Milan Proks: Slovak actor who won the Best Actor Award at the 2007 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
- Miroslav Proks: Czech physicist and astronomer who facilitated development of astronomical observatories in North Bohemia.
- František Proks: Czech Olympic canoeist who won three medals in men's double kayak at the 2004 Olympics.
- Luděk Proks: Czech sports shooter who competed in the skeet event at the 2000 and 2012 Olympic Games.