Surname Zachratka - Meaning and Origin
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Zachratka: What does the surname Zachratka mean?
The last name Zachratka is of Czech origin, derived from the Old Czech personal name Zacheroslav, composed of the elements zachrana, meaning ‘rescue’, and slav, meaning ‘famous’ or ‘glory’. As such, the name Zachratka roughly translates to mean ‘famous rescuer’. It is also spelled Zacharatka, Zacheratka, and Zachrata.
The earliest known document referencing this last name dates back to 1558 in the town records of Chlumec terms and since then, it has been found concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the Czech Republic. This was likely due to the early migration of people within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to which the Czech Republic belonged from the late 17th century to 1918.
Today, Zachratka is an everyday last name and is shared by people from all parts of the world. People with this surname can be found in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and many other countries. The Zachratka family is typically associated with hardworking, humble, and generous people which is no surprise given its namesake. Seeing as ‘rescue’ is in its meaning, the Zachratka family stands for helping those in need, sometimes even sacrificing their time or resources to help those in need.
Overall, despite its commonality, the Zachratka surname is an important one that has long been celebrated throughout the Czech Republic and beyond. It embodies the philosophy of helping the less fortunate and the importance of being kind to those in need.
Order DNA origin analysisZachratka: Where does the name Zachratka come from?
The last name Zachratka is still fairly common today, primarily in central Europe. It is particularly popular in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. There are also small pockets of Zachratkas scattered throughout the United States, primarily on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
In the United States, the name is usually of German or Bohemian origin. The name is commonly found in Pennsylvania, in counties such as Grant, Fayette, and Westmoreland, which were once heavily populated with German and Slovak immigrants. It is also commonly found in the Midwest, where many immigrants from this region settled in today’s states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
The name is derived from the Germanic word “zachratka” meaning roughly “place of meeting, buckle or fold." It may have Older Germanic roots in the Middle High German words “zachen” meaning twig and “raten” meaning to riddle, speculate, guess or interpret or Old High German origin for “harrahta” meaning vine or shrub.
The Zachratkas of today are generally proud of their heritage and many come from long lines of Germanic and overs from these once heavily populated areas of the United States. Whether from the US or from Europe, the Zachratka name is still fairly common today.
Variations of the surname Zachratka
The surname Zachratka is of Czech or Slovak origin and is derived from the given name Zachar, itself derived from the Hebrew name Zechariah. The variants and spellings of this surname are typically phonetic in nature and can vary depending on dialect, with some of the most common forms being Zachar, Zacharatka, Zacharko, Zacharek, Zachek, Zachera, Sachar, Sachora, Sacharek, and Sacharata.
In prior generations, Zachratka may have been altered slightly depending on the current circumstances. During World War II, the surname may have been spelled Zacharko due to the difficulty of writing or pronouncing 'ř'. Meanwhile, when relatives of this surname traveled to America, the spelling changed once again as Zachratka became Zachera or Sachara.
Although Zachratka is quite a rare family name, it is also a popular surname in the US among immigrants from Eastern Europe. As far as surnames with similar origins, similar Czech and Slovak surnames include Zacharias, Zachariasz, Zacharčík, and Zachová.
In conclusion, the surname Zachratka has many variants and spellings, depending on dialect, historical context and immigration history. These variations of the surname will continue to evolve but they all share a common origin of Czech or Slovak heritage.
Famous people with the name Zachratka
- Maciej Zachratka: Polish rower and Paralympic champion.
- Lauren Zachratka: American singer-songwriters.
- Edwin Zachratka: American politician and a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Lucian Zachratka: New Zealand All Black rugby player.
- Jean Zachratka: American illustrator and comics artist.
- Rebecca Zachratka: American politician and author from Minnesota.
- Daniel Zachratka: American professional basketball player.
- Alex Zachratka: Polish video game developer.
- Jakub Zachratka: Polish Ekstraklasa football goalkeeper.
- Jonathan Zachratka: American professional disc golfer.