Novak

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Novák, Novak or Nowak is the most common Polish, Czech, Slovakian and Slovenian[1] surname.

The name is derived from nový (=new), meaning something similar to new man, newcomer or stranger in English. The name was often given to someone who came to a new city or a convert to Christianity.

It is usually spelt Novák in Czech and Slovak, Nowak in Polish, and Novak in Slovenian, and pronounced the same way. Many Americans of the surname Nowak have had it Anglicized to Novak.

In Poland, it is spelled Nowak, and 203,506 people carry this surname. The archaic feminine version of the Polish version is Nowakowa and its plural Nowakowie. In that country, Nowakowski, Nowacki, and Nowakiewicz developed as well.

There are two noble Nowak lines of Polish origin:

  • in Silesia from 15th c., (Anatol Nowak, archbishop of Wrocław, died in 1456), Bohemian barones from 1660.
  • in Masovia known from 1750, Antoni and Józef Nowak - LtGenerals of Polish Army in Napoleon's Campaign; Aleksander Nowak - LtGen in Polish-Russian War of 1831

"Nowak" as a surname in Voivodeships (administrative units in Poland):

In German speaking countries, it is also spelled Nowak. For example, in the Austrian capital of Vienna, where large Czech communities settled down at the end of 19th century, where the "w" is pronounced as a "v".

Novack is found in Slavic speaking countries (e.g. Serbia, Croatia, etc.) as well. In Croatia it is the second most common surname. In Serbia, there are people that have the first name Novak. Novaković also developed in Serbia.

Novák is the most common surname in the Czech republic.

Contents

[edit] People

[edit] Surnamed Novak

[edit] Surnamed Nowak

[edit] Personal name Novak

[edit] Other

  • Novak Electronics, manufacturer of radio control electronic equipment
  • Novak, type of gunsight for automatic pistols.

[edit] References

  1. ^ :: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia - Database of first names and family names ::


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