About Czech Names
Czech Female Surname
Any Czech female Surnames have always ended with “ova” or “a” and male last names are typically the family name. It is the state law. For example male is Mr. NOVAK and female is Mrs. NOVAKOVA or Mr. CERNY and Mrs. CERNA.
Czech Diacritical Marks
The written Czech language uses diacritical marks above certain letters. Worldwide these diacritic marks are never used.
For example Mr. RŮŽIČKA = Mr. RUZICKA or CERMAK = ČERMÁK or DVORAK = DVOŘÁK or PAVLICEK = PAVLÍČEK or REHAK = ŘEHÁK etc.
Also note that some people change the spelling of the Last name for easier pronunciation in English .
For example letters SCH = Š or SH = Š or CH = Č or CZ = Č or W = V , F = V, C = K , E = I, OO = U , …
Other example : ŠEBESTA = SCHEBESTA or VAŠÍČEK = VASHICHECK or VOMÁČKA = WOMACKA etc.
English first names translated to Czech names
There are many common English first names though that do not have Czech translations. The only thing that changes across the languages would be pronunciation. Bellow are some obvious names that do have quick translations:
Male first names Alex = Aleš, Andrew = Ondřej, Anthony = Antonín, Charless = Karel, Eugene = Evžen, Frank = František, Frederick = Bedřich, Goerge = Jiří, Henry = Jindřich, Jacob = Jakub, James = Vaclav, Jerry = Jaroslav, John = Jan, Joseph = Josef, Larry – Ladislav, Milo = Miloslav, Peter = Petr, Rusty = Rostislav, Matthew = Matěj, Stanley = Stanislav, Steven = Štěpán, Thomas = Tomáš etc.
Female first names Ann = Anna, Barbara = Barbora, Blanche = Blanka, Camilla = Kamila, Christine = Kristýna, Claire = Klára, Elisabeth = Alžběta, Emily = Emílie , Frances = Františka, Georgia = Jiřina, Henriette = Jindřiška, Kathrine = Kateřina, Jean = Jana, Joanne = Johana, Judy = Jitka, Margaret = Markéta, Paula = Pavla, Rose = Růžena, Susan = Zuzana, Wendy = Vendula etc.
Czech Surnames Translated to English
Many Czech Surnames could translate to English. For example : NOVAK = NEWMAN, NOVOTNY = NEWCOMER, SVOBODA = FREEMAN, CERNY = BLACK, VESELY = CHEERFUL, PROCHAZKA = WALKER, JELINEK = DEER, PTACEK = BIRD, RUZICKA = LITTLE ROSE, KRAL = KING, HORAK = HIGHLANDER etc.
Additional resources
For other helpful pages and information visit our GENEALOGY MENU and click on RESEARCH TOOLS.
