Surname Potocnik - Meaning and Origin
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Potocnik: What does the surname Potocnik mean?
The last name Potocnik is derived from the South Slavic language of Slovenia. It is derived from a noun meaning 'peasant' or 'farmer'. The word 'potocnik' itself is derived from the Slovenian verb 'potocati', which means 'to fill with water' or 'to irrigate'. So this surname is thought to have originated from a person who was involved with water resources and shipping.
The Potocnik name is quite rare and can be found mainly in Slovenia, Austria and the Czech Republic. The surname likely has some ties to Christianity, as evidenced by its close association to a village of the same name near the Slovenian town of Vransko. The village, which is known as religious place has roots that go back to the 16th century when Franciscans built the local Church of St. John.
Today, the surname Potocnik continues to be closely associated with Slovenia and other parts of Central Europe. It is a name of honor for many families and some people named Potocnik may have achieved fame in various fields throughout history. Additionally, this particular name is linked with some members of the Slovenian nobility and other distinguished families with ancestry that can be traced to the 16th century.
Order DNA origin analysisPotocnik: Where does the name Potocnik come from?
The Potocnik surname is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe today. Predominantly, it is found in Poland, Slovenia, Croatiea, Serbia, and the Czech Republic, with other lesser occurrences in Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Germany and Hungary.
In Poland, the surname is most strong around the town of Nysa in the Opolskie province, and also has its roots in other Polish provinces, such as Małopolskie, Lesser Poland, and others.
In Slovenia, the Potocnik surname is one of the most prominent surnames, having possibly been derived from the surname Pocnik. It is documented in the documents of the Catholic Church in the 12th century. Today, it is most frequent in Lower Carniola-Koroška, Upper Carniola-Gorenjska, and Styria.
In Croatia, the Potocnik surname is documented going back to the 16th century. It is one of the most common surnames in the region. Today, it is most intensely present in the central part of the country - Zagrebacka, Sisacko-Moslavacka, and Karlovacka (Croatia).
In Serbia, the surname appears in documents starting from the 15th century. It is still found in high frequency in central Serbia, particularly around towns such as Užice and Zlatibor.
Overall, the Potocnik surname is heavily concentrated around Central and Eastern Europe, with its highest density in Slovenia and Croatia.
Variations of the surname Potocnik
The surname Potocnik is a surname of Slovenian origin that has several variants and spellings. It is derived from the old Slovenian word ‘potoka’ which means creek.
The most common variants for the surname Potocnik are Potocnik, Potočnik, Potocan, and Potočan. Other spellings include Pototschnig, Potocznik, Potoni, and Potochnik.
The surname Potocnik can be found in other countries as well as Slovenia, with many variations of the name making appearances. In Germany it appears as Potonig and Potznik while Austria has Potocsnig and Potonschnig. In Croatia the variant appears as Potocanec, while in Serbia it appears as Potokanović. In Hungary the variant of Potonik can be found, while in Slovakia the variants of Potončok, Potocánok, and Potončík are used.
The name Potocnik is not a common surname, but there are individuals who have taken on other surnames with similar roots such as Potokar, Potonček, Pokorni, and Poglajen. These surnames are originated from the old Slovenian word potoka, and can be found in different countries across Europe.
Famous people with the name Potocnik
- Maja Potocnik: Slovenian businesswoman and politician and the former Minister of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning.
- Andrej Potocnik: Slovenian economist and libertarian.
- Matej Potocnik: Slovenian actor.
- Roman Potocnik: Slovenian alpine skier.
- Aljoša Potocnik: Slovenian football player.
- Janez Janša: Slovenian Prime Minister and former Minister of Defence, born as Janez Potocnik.
- Davorin Potocnik: Slovinian football manager.
- Luka Potocnik: Slovenian writer and publicist.
- Jaka Potocnik: Slovinian footballer.
- Nastja Potocnik: Slovenian tennis player.