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. Below, you can see where some Slovenian last names supposedly originate from.
10 most common Slovenian last names from 2024 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)
What is the origin of the surname “Osvald” in Slovenija? Where does that name originally come from?: Austria? Germany? Gottscheer?
I can’t find any connection. It’s a very rare last name. Maybe you can ask there: https://rodoslovje.si/
Hvala lepa! I will investigate further.
Ni za kaj! 🙂