
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 |