Surname Dohnalek - Meaning and Origin

Dohnalek: What does the surname Dohnalek mean?

The last name Dohnalek is of Czech origin which often indicates this family had roots in Bohemia, a region that used to cover much of the current Czech Republic. The name itself has roots in the Czech word Dohnálik, which is a noun for someone who drives a horse-drawn cart. The surname has no clear meaning beyond that relating to horse-drawn carts, though it does imply the family likely belonged to the lower or perhaps peasant class of society.

From the 15th century to the 19th century the majority of Czech families had a hereditary surname. This was a classification system based on the roles and professions of individuals in society. By the 19th century these hereditary names were put in place to mark and distinguish families from each other. The surname Dohnalek was likely inherited through a family of drivers of horse-drawn carts. Having this kind of surname would suggest the family had grown up in an area where the transportation of goods by horse-drawn cart was common.

It is likely that most early Dohnalek families originated in the Czech Republic, and their descendants can be found across the globe today. The surname Dohnalek remains symbolic of the family’s hard-working, relative class in society and the means in which the family made its living.

Dohnalek: Where does the name Dohnalek come from?

The last name Dohnalek is most commonly found in regions of central and eastern Europe. It has strong roots in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, and is present in smaller numbers throughout various other Slavic countries. The Dohnalek surname has also spread to other parts of the world with Polish and Ukrainian migration throughout the centuries. In the United States, for example, the last name Dohnalek can be found primarily in the Midwestern states such as Michigan and Illinois, and in Northeast states such as New York and Pennsylvania. Canadian regions such as Ontario and Saskatchewan also boast a sizable presence of Dohnalek's.

Within Europe, the surname appears most often in the German region of Bavaria, with a smaller presence in neighboring Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. The Dohnalek surname is also present in smaller numbers in the Russian Federation, alongside Scandinavian and British countries as well. It is often written in English and other language forms such as "Dohnalke", "Dohnaleky", and "Donalek". Overall, the presence of the Dohnalek surname is continuously growing, so its reach is likely to expand even more throughout the coming decades.

Variations of the surname Dohnalek

The surname Dohnalek (or Dohnálek) is of German and/or Czech origin and is derived from either the Middle High German personal name ‘Tunall’ or the Czech personal name ‘Tunálek’. Both of these names are thought to be derived from the Old High German word ‘tun’ which means ‘enclosure’ or ‘fenced area’.

The surname Dohnalek is found mainly in the Czech Republic, and variants on the name - such as Donegalek, Doenalek, Dönall, and Dönalke - may occur. In the United States, some may find the name spelled as Donalek.

The earliest recorded name-holder was Johannes Tunall, born in 1448 in the Veitshöchheim, Bavaria, Germany. Further examples of the name include Johann Dohnalek, born 1750, in Trochtelfingen, the first of this name in this region, and Josef Dohnalek, born in Sekiran, Austria, in 1811.

The alternative surnames which are recorded as deriving from the same personal name ‘Tunall’ and ‘Tunálek’ include Tünall, Tünalek, Tunalek, Tunall, Tunalek, Tunila, Tunílek, and Tunille.

Surnames which may be variations of the surname Dohnalek include Donegalek, Doenalek, Dönall, Dönnalek, Donnalek, Donall, Dönalke, and Donalek.

Famous people with the name Dohnalek

• William Dohnalek, former International Relations Director of the World Bank.
• Joe Dohnalek, professional basketball player.
• Mike Dohnalek, former mayor of Parma, Ohio.
• Rich Dohnalek, former Major League Baseball coach and executive.
• Jason Dohnalek, professional tennis player.
• Stephen Dohnalek, American-Australian historian.
• Krista Dohnalek, American beauty pageant winner.
• Matthew Dohnalek, former political advisor.
• Sharon Dohnalek, Australian curler.
• Jacob Dohnalek, American musician.

Other surnames

Dohnal