Surname Tkach - Meaning and Origin
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Tkach: What does the surname Tkach mean?
The last name Tkach is derived from Slavic origins and can be found in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, especially in Ukraine. Historically, this surname was used to identify people who were of Ukrainian descent, often those belonging to certain families or professions. The same name can also be seen in Russia and Belarus, and is sometimes spelled as Tkachi or Tkatchuk.
The root of the name Tkach is likely to be Tkachuk, which is a Slavic occupational surname used to identify a shoe-maker. This indicates that many people with this last name had ancestors whose primary occupation was cobbling shoes. Alternatively, the name might have been used to denote a family or descendant of an individual bearing the name.
The meaning behind the name Tkach is not fully known, though there are various theories. The most popular is that it originated from the term “tkachi”, which is a Ukrainian word for “artisan” or “craftsman”. It could be derived from the Proto-Slavic word “tkati” for “to make” or “to fabricate”. However, it is also possible that the name has religious origins, coming from the Ukrainian word “tkachiv” which translates to “quarter-sailor” or “sail guard”.
Regardless of the exact origin of the name, Tkach remains a common name in parts of Eastern Europe, especially amongst Ukrainians. It is a testament to the colorful cultural history of the region, and an indication of how interconnected Europe was even in the distant past.
Order DNA origin analysisTkach: Where does the name Tkach come from?
The last name Tkach is relatively uncommon today. It is most common in all of the post-Soviet nations, particularly in Ukraine and Russia. In Ukraine, Tkach is the 39th most common last name. It is also somewhat common in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Latvia.
In the United States, Tkach is an uncommon last name. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2018, it was one of the least common surnames in the United States, ranking #13,528. However, there are still some places in the United States where the name is more common. The states with the greatest concentration of people with this name are New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
Aside from the post-Soviet nations and the United States, the last name Tkach is also somewhat common in Norway. Norway is home to the largest concentration of people with this surname, with the city of Oslo having the highest concentration.
Overall, the last name Tkach is more common in post-Soviet nations than anywhere else, though it is also found in relatively small concentrations throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Tkach
The surname Tkach is an occupational surname of Ukrainian origin, meaning ‘blacksmith’ in the Ukrainian language. It is believed to have first been adopted as a surname by a blacksmith in the Ukraine in the 1400s. The surname is most commonly found amongst Eastern Europeans, particularly Ukrainians, Poles, Belarussians and Russians.
Variants of the surname Tkach include Tkachuk, Tkaczyk, Tkacz and Tkatch. Spellings of the surname Tkach may typically vary depending on the region or country it is found. Variations of the surname may include Tkachuk, Tikachuk, Teckach, Tekach, Tikach, Teckachuk, Techeck, Techeckuk, Tekekkuch, Kuch and Kuchuk.
Surnames of similar origin may include Kew, Kuch, Kuchuk, Koval, Kovalchuk and Kovalko. These surnames all have the same meaning of ‘blacksmith’ in Eastern European languages.
Despite the presence of various different spellings and variants of the surname Tkach, Ukrainians may be familiar with recognising them all and tracing them back to the same surname of Tkach. In most cases, the variations can be traced back to a single surname which has evolved over time and geography.
Famous people with the name Tkach
- Oleg Tkach: professional volleyball player from Ukraine
- Ihor Tkach: famous Ukrainian coach, football manager and author
- Vitaliy Tkach: singer, songwriter and arranger who is the leader of the popular Ukrainian band Okean Elzy
- Andriy Tkach: professional Ukrainian football player
- Yuriy Tkach: a Ukrainian film and television director
- Anatoliy Tkach: Ukrainian cinematographer, professor and public figure
- Anatoliy Tkachuk: former Soviet and Ukrainian footballer
- Oleksandr Tkach: Ukrainian rower
- Pavlo Tkach: Ukrainian specialist in labor economics
- Olena Tkach: former Ukrainian alpine skier
- Ivan Tkach: Ukrainian singer and composer
- Inna Tkach: Ukrainian singer and one of the few female drummers in the world
- Taras Tkach: Ukrainian classical pianist and composer
- Mykhailo Tkach: Ukrainian versatile artist