Surname Valko - Meaning and Origin

Valko: What does the surname Valko mean?

Valko is a surname of Slavic origin and it carries different meanings based on cultural and geographical variations. In general, it is derived from the Slavic word 'Vlk', which means 'wolf'. This could imply that the ancestors of the bearer of the name might have been associated with strength, tenacity, and survival skills, traits often symbolized by wolves. In the Slovak and Czech language, 'Valko' can also translate to 'the white', possibly alluding to purity, cleanliness, or innocence. It can also refer to someone from a place named 'Valko' or 'Valkovo' in Eastern Europe. Like many surnames, Valko can be a patronymic, toponymic, or descriptive surname which helps trace family lineage, place of origin, or descriptive characteristic of the first to bear the name. Also, as Slavic names often have variations, Valko can be related to other surnames such as Valkov, Valkova, or Valkovic. Furthermore, surnames can evolve over time, introducing variations due to dialect, immigration, or anglicization processes. Therefore, the actual meaning could differ in specific contexts.

Valko: Where does the name Valko come from?

The last name Valko is primarily found in Central and Eastern Europe, mainly concentrated in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Poland. It is also common in Hungary, Russia, Albania and parts of Ukraine. In Ukraine, this surname is often spelled as Valkiv or Valkovich.

In Slovakia, much of the population with the Valko surname is concentrated in the Presov and Kosice regions. There, the earliest recorded examples of the Valko family are from the 15th century. The name originated as an occupational last name for people who worked in music, most likely fiddle players.

As of 2019, the surrounding countries continue to hold the highest concentration of Valko descendants. In Poland, the family accounts for 0.00051% of the population. The same surname also has a presence in Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, the first Valko family showed up in the mid-1800s in Ontario.

Most Valkos today live in the same region of Europe from which the surname originated. However, the family has spread globally and, according to some sources, there may be more than 11,000 Valkos currently living in North America alone.

Variations of the surname Valko

The surname Valko is an Eastern European surname which has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most popular spelling and variant is ‘Valko’, and this is how the surname is commonly referred to in Eastern European countries. It is sometimes seen as 'Valdko', 'Valkov', 'Valckovius', 'Vaulko' or 'Walko'.

The spelling 'Valko' is mainly used in the Slavic countries Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Macedonia; while 'Valkov' is the form primarily used in Russia.

The spelling 'Valckovius' is used in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, while 'Vaulko' is the Italian spelling and 'Walcko' is used in the German language.

The surnames of the same origin are Walczak, Walczky, Valchář, Volkov, Volšanski, and Valčík.

There are also variants of Valko which are used in the Hungarian language, such as 'Volk', 'Valkay', 'Valcsik' and 'Valkyon'.

Overall, Valko has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin in different languages and cultures, making it a very diverse surname that can even see changes from region to region.

Famous people with the name Valko

• Matt Valko: former NCAA lacrosse player, best known for winning the 2001 Tewaaraton Award.
• Tug Valko: Canadian professional ice hockey player who played one season in the NHL for the Atlanta Flames.
• Dustin Valko: professional snowboarder and competitor in the 2009 X-Games.
• Jared Valko: former NBA player from the University of Virginia, drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1998.
• Prof. Robert Valko: German-British historian who lectured at the University of Cambridge and held the position of Vice Chancellor of Hertfordshire University.
• Slavoš Valko: Slovak jurist, economist, lawyer and professor at the Slovak University of Technology.
• Juraj Valko: bobsledder from Slovakia who competed in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games.
• Milan Valko: Czech actor and director who was nominated for best actor in the 2011 Czech Lion Awards.
• Mojmír Valko: Slovak journalist, essayist and literary critic, journalist of the national newspaper "SME".
• Adam Valko: former Czech professional football player.
• Rebecca Valko: American artist who has exhibited her work internationally.
• Richard Valko: American entrepreneur and financier.
• Roman Valko: Ukrainian physicist and academic, director of the Institute of Physics at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
• Kim Valko: American novelist, writer of psychological thrillers and crime fiction.
• Darius Valko: Lithuanian kickboxer.
• Jan Valko: Slovak contemporary artist.
• Jan Valko: Czech Jesuit priest and educator.
• Luboš Valko: Slovak sculptor and professor at Bratislava's Academy of Fine Arts.
• Hatem Valko: Tunisian historian and professor at the University of Tunis.
• Vanda Valko: Canadian actress and author, best known for her roles in the CBC television series 'Da Vinci's Inquest' and 'Wind at My Back'.

Other surnames

ValkeborchValkenbergValkenberghValkenborchValkenborgValkenborghValkenburgValkenburghValkonenValkuchak