Surname Petrak - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Petrak: What does the surname Petrak mean?
The surname Petrak is of Czech origin, and is derived from the Czech word ‘Petřek’, meaning ‘stone’ or ‘rock’. The name may have been given to individuals who lived near a large rock or stone, or to an ancestor who was strong and sturdy like a rock. People with this surname are often thought of having very strong wills and determination, as they were able to make a living in a strenuous environment.
Historical records reveal that the Petrak surname is most commonly found in Bohemia and Moravia, two regions in the south-western part of the Czech Republic. In these regions, the Petrak surname has been recorded since the 17th century. It was not until the 19th century that the surname began to spread to other parts of the country, and even outside of the Czech Republic.
The Petrak surname still remains relatively uncommon, suggesting that it is usually only found amongst families with strong Czech heritage. These families may have maintained this surname as a reminder of their proud heritage and strong family ties.
The surname Petrak is a reminder of the strength and determination of those who proudly bear it, and it is likely to remain an important symbol to these families for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisPetrak: Where does the name Petrak come from?
The last name Petrak is most commonly found in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and southeastern Austria. Other countries where this name may also show up include Croatia, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovenia.
Petrak is a surname of Slavic origin, derived from the personal name Piotr (also written as Peter), which means 'rock.' Petrak is an uncommon but not rare name that is found in many different locations throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
The largest occurrence of the Petrak name is in Slovakia, where it ranks as the 148th most common surname. The Czech Republic also has a sizable presence of the name, where it ranks as the 327th most common surname. Austria is home to quite a few Petrak families as well, where it ranks as the 1,172nd most common name.
In Croatia, the Petrak surname is slightly more rare, ranking as the 1,824th most common name. In Germany, Slovenia, and the Netherlands – all countries located along Slovakia's western border – the Petrakname is significantly less common, ranked as the 8,651st, 4,542nd, and 8,628th most common surname, respectively.
Hence, if you are looking for people with the Petrak surname, Slovakia is the best option as it has the most significant presence of this name.
Variations of the surname Petrak
The surname Petrak is derived from the Slavic word "petrok" meaning "stone." Variants of the surname Petrak include Petrok, Petrokevitch, Petrick, Petrakovich, Petrokovich, Petrakoff, Petrovich and Pietrak. Petrak is variated differently based on the culture in which it originates. In some cases, the suffix -ovich or -evich is added, in other cases the suffix -off is added.
In Poland, the variations are Petruk, Pietruk, Petruczak, Petras and Petrus. Examples of Russian spellings are Petrokov, Petryk, and Petryka. In the Czech Republic the spelling is Petrák. In Hungary, the surname is Petrenyi. In Ukraine, it is Petrokhiv and in Belarus, Petrokhin.
In some families with surnames that have their origins in the Petrak family, the surname became shortened or changed over generations. Examples of these variants include Petock, Petrokovich, Petricek, Petrath, Petriw, Petriv, Patrick, Parrick, and Popovich.
Additional variations include Patrakand Petkovic. Variations of Petrak also exist in other languages, for example, Swedish Pettersson, Danish Petersen, and German Petters. No matter the spelling, the surname has its roots in the Slavic word "petrok" meaning "stone."
Famous people with the name Petrak
- Tom Petrak: He was an Australian Rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the 1950s.
- Tony Petrak: He is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League.
- Richard Petrak: He was a Czechoslovakian-born Austrian theatrical producer, director and actor.
- Peter Petrak: He is a Slovak film director, screenwriter, and producer.
- Vlasta Petrak: She is an award-winning Slovenian actress and theatre director.
- Teja Petrak: She is a Slovenian Paralympic swimmer, who has competed at two Paralympic Games.
- Míla Petrak: She was a Czech stage and television actress.
- Anton Eliáš Petrak: He was an Austro-Hungarian cellist and professor born in Prague who taught at the Prague Conservatory.
- Pavel Petrak: He is a Slovak comedian, author and actor.
- Will Petrak: He is an American professional golfer who plays on the Web.com Tour.