Surname Soukup - Meaning and Origin
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Soukup: What does the surname Soukup mean?
Soukup is a Slavic surname. It is a patronymic name derived from Souk meaning a market in Czech, Slovak, and Slovenian languages. It can also be derived from Soukop meaning "a man of the market or merchant" in Czech and Slovak.
The Soukup surname is relatively common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the U.S., and is found mainly among Czech- and Slovak-Americans. It is associated with Europe's Habsburg Empire, which was full of merchants and marketplaces, and empires where the Soukup surname was used include the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed by Czechoslovakia and eventually the European Union.
Soukup families were typically farmers and merchants who relocated to cities or set out on their own to become entrepreneurs. They often specialized in the trade of crops and other agricultural products at markets and fairs that took place around the region. The Soukup family name also appears in records of military service in the Austro-Hungarian forces in Prague.
The surname Soukup has been passed down from generation to generation, though it is also seen in other countries as a result of migration and immigration. In the United States, the name Soukup is most often found among Czech-American families, as immigrants brought the name with them when they began new lives in America. Today, the Soukup surname is most commonly associated with the Czech Republic in Europe, while the United States is home to many Czech-Americans with the last name Soukup.
Order DNA origin analysisSoukup: Where does the name Soukup come from?
The last name Soukup is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. It is also found in Germany, Austria, United States, Canada, Hungary, and other countries around the world.
The surname first appears in Europe in the late Middle Ages, and is derived from the Middle High German word "suche" (soukup in modern day Czech) which translates to "axe." It is thought to have been an occupational name for someone who made or used axes. In the Czech Republic, the name is among the top 20 most common surnames.
The United States is home to more people with the surname Soukup than anywhere else in the world aside from the Czech Republic, with around 8,000 individuals living there with the name. The largest concentrations are found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. The Ojibwe people of the Minnesotan lakes region were among those with Soukup roots.
Other countries with sizeable numbers of people bearing the Soukup last name are Canada, Australia, and other European countries. While the last name continues to be popular in its nations of origin, it also has a considerable presence in the wider world, a testament to the diaspora that saw thousands of families with the surname leave home in search of a better life.
Variations of the surname Soukup
Soukup is a Czech surname originating from the word Souk, which is derived from the Middle High German word zeuch and means “little one”. This surname is spelled “Soukup” in the Czech language but may alternate in spelling depending on the country and language.
Variants of Soukup include Sookup, Souckup, Souckoup, Suckup, Sockup, Sokup, and Souck.
In Australia, the name Soukup may appear in some documents and records with an altered spelling, such as Soubeup, Souvup, Souvoup, Soumup, or Souroup.
In Germany, the name may be spelled Sawchuk, Souchek, Szawczyk, Soukek or Souk.
In the United States, some common spellings include Soukup, Sockup, Souckup, and Suokup.
In Poland, Soukup can be spelled Sawczuk, Sawczu, Sawka, and Szawka.
In Slovakia, the surname may be found spelled Soucka, Soukova, Souckova, or Zoucka.
In Hungary, it may be spelled Szokup or Szokupy.
Common surnames with a similar origin to Soukup include Sook, Soucek, Soukal, Sokol, Sokolov, Soukalova, Sokola, Soural, Sourek, and Zouhar.
Famous people with the name Soukup
- František Soukup, Czech skier and Olympic medalist
- Jiří Soukup, Czech ice hockey player
- Michal Soukup, Czech politician
- Silvia Soukupová, Slovak author and playwright
- Tony Soukup, American NASCAR driver
- Zdeněk Soukup, Czech director and screenwriter
- Karel Soukup, Czech composer
- David Soukup, American baseball player
- Jakub Soukup, Czech ice hockey player
- Marianne Soukup, American judge