Slovenian Last Names: “Kako se pišeš?” (What is your last name?)

Slovenian last names have an interesting history of development through time. Last names (priimki) have arisen in the past from professions, trades, associations with nature (animals, trees, birds…), personal characteristics, first names and places where people settled. Slovenians usually have only one last name which they get from their parents (mostly fathers). For example, in Latin America and elsewhere where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken, they have more last names, and in the English speaking countries they also have a middle name. Nowadays’ trend is that particularly women and children have two last names in Slovenia; women keep their maiden name (dekliški priimek) after they get married and some children have last names from both parents.

The Slovenian last names are the same for both males and females, there is no change in endings. So we have, for example, Jana Novak (F) and Peter Novak (M). In Slovenian, we decline first names, but when it comes to last names we decline only male ones, the female last names remain the same in all 6 cases.

It is surprising that there are so many Slovenian last names related to animals, quite common ones are also those that originate from occupations and settlements. For example, the last name Zupan is quite common in Slovenia and is supposed to originate from the word “župan”, “mayor”, but some sources also claim that that last name meant that someone was a farmer. What a combination!

Below, you can see where some Slovenian last names supposedly originate from.

10 most common Slovenian last names from 2022 statistics:

Novak
Horvat
Kovačič
Krajnc
Zupančič
Kovač
Potočnik
Mlakar
Vidmar
Kos

Last names derived from professions and trades

Slovenian last name	English translation	Origin
Godec	musician	from the word “godec”
Kmet	farmer	from the word “kmet”
Kopač	digger	from the word “kopač”
Kovač	smith	from the word “kovač”
Kuhar	cook	from the word “kuhar”
Lončar	potter	from the word “lončar”
Mlinar	miller	from the word “mlinar”
Pevec	singer	from the word “pevec”
Ribič	fisherman	from the word “ribič”
Šuštar	shoemaker	from the word “šuštar” which is an old expression for a shoemaker
Žagar	sawyer	from the word “žagar”

Last names derived from nicknames

Animal last names were supposed to indicate the person’s physical or mental features.

Slovenian last name	English translation	Origin
Bolha	flea	from the word “bolha”
Golob	pigeon	from the word “golob”
Jelen	deer	from the word “jelen”
Jež	hedgehog	from the word “jež”
Kos	blackbird	from the word “kos”
Maček	male cat	from the word “maček”
Medved	bear	from the word “medved”
Sraka	magpie	from the word “sraka”
Volk/Vovk	wolf	from the word “volk”
Zajc/Zajec	rabbit	from the word “zajec” which means a rabbit
Zver	beast	from the word “zver”

Last names derived from status

Slovenian last name	English translation	Origin
Knez	prince	from the word “knez”
Kralj	king	from the word “kralj”
Papež	pope	from the word “papež”
Škof	bishop	from the word “škof”
Zupan	mayor	from the word “župan” which means a mayor

Last names derived from settlements

Slovenian last name	Origin
Blatnik	from the word “blato” which means mud (swampy regions)
Dolenc	from the word “Dolenjec” which is an inhabitant of the Dolenjska region
Dolinšek	from the word “dolina” which means a valley
Furlan	from the word “Furlanija” – a region in Italy which is close to west Slovenia
Gorenc	from the word “Gorenjec” which is an inhabitant of the Gorenjska region
Hrastnik	from the word “hrast” which means an oak
Hribar	from the word “hrib” which means a hill
Korošec	from the word “Korošec” which is an inhabitant of the Koroška region
Mlakar	from the word “mlaka” which means a puddle
Novak	from the word “novinec” which means a novice
Potočnik	from the word “potok” which means a stream
Ravnikar	from the word “ravnina” with means a plain
Smrekar	from the word “smreka” which means a spruce

Last names derived from first names

Here you can see the suffix –ič, which is typical for the last names that derive from the first names (mostly father’s names).

Slovenian last name	Origin
Gregorčič	from the first name “Gregor”
Janežič	from the first name “Janez”
Majdič	from the first name “Majda”
Pavlič	from the first name “Pavel”
Petrič	from the first name “Peter”
Primožič	from the first name “Primož”
Tomažič	from the first name “Tomaž”
Uršič	from the first name “Urša”

Last names derived from connections with other nationalities

Slovenian last name	Origin
Čeh	from the word “Čeh” which means a Czech
Horvat/Hrovat	from the word “Hrvat” which means a Croat (it meant a newcomer from Croatia)
Nemec	from the word “Nemec” which means a German
Rus	from the word “Rus” which means a Russian
Turk	from the word “Turek” which means a Turk

Other interesting Slovenian last names

Slovenian last name	English translation	Origin
Božič	Christmas	from the word “božič”
Čas	time	from the word “čas”
Grbec	hump/humpback	from the word “grba” which means a hump
Hren	horseradish	from the word “hren”
Jug	south	from the word “jug”
Mrak	dusk	from the word “mrak”
Oblak	cloud	from the word “oblak”
Ocvirk	crackling	from the word “ocvirek” which means a crackling
Petek	Friday	from the word “petek”
Potrebuješ	you need (the 2nd person singular)	it literally means “you need” (“ti potrebuješ”)
Prešeren	merry	from the adjective “prešeren”
Sever	north	from the word “sever”
Sluga	servant	from the words “sluga” or “služabnik” which means a servant
Štrukelj	štrukelj (rolled dumpling)	from the word “štrukelj”
Vesel/Veselko	happy, joyful	from the adjective “vesel” which means happy
Vodnik	guide	from the word “vodnik”
Vodopivec	person who drinks water	from the words “voda” (water) and “pivec” (drinker)
Zlobec	evil person	from the adjective “zloben” which means evil