This is the dictionary of some Czech agricultural surnames and terms to help you understand the meaning behind them.
Agricultural surnames belong to the apellatives group of surnames that refer to one’s profession or place in society (see more in Guide to Czech Surnames). These surnames can help with the search for family history as they tell us the profession or even what the bearer of the surname used to own and whether the family was rather poor or wealthy.
Agricultural Surnames and Terms
This article is both about the surnames as well as about other farming and agricultural terms that can help you in search of your ancestry. The reason for this is that not all of the terms became surnames but a separate article would just double most of the information. If you’re at the beginning of the search for your family history, you might want to read Beginner’s Guide to Finding Ancestors in Czech Republic.
Baráčník – owner of a small house (cottage), no ownership of land except maybe a small garden with the house; in German-written registers Häusler
Chalupník, Chalupář – owner of a smaller house (cottage – chalupa) and a smaller piece of land; differs depending on the time period, generally, between 3,42 and 8,55 hectares; in German-written registers Häusler, Kleinbauer, Kothsaß, Beisaß, Söldner
Čtvrtláník – sometimes thought to be synonymous with Chalupník, owner of 1/4 of lán of a field. Depending on the region, a lán could be anywhere between 7,7 and 27,9 hectares; also 1/4láník; in German-written registers Viertler, Viertlerhufner
Domkař, Domkář – owner of a small house (cottage), no ownership of land except maybe a small garden with the house; in German-written registers Häusler
Dvořák – this surname has two origins: 1. Owner of a large piece of land (dvůr is a small garden historically used for animals, nowadays a backyard), 2. member of the royal court; in German-written registers Hofbauer, Bauer
Familiant – person with a hereditary right to rent royal land
Hospodář – owner of hospodářství, generally, a house and a piece of land
Láníček – diminutive form of Láník
Láník – owner of a lán of land, a lán could be anywhere between 7,7 and 27,9 hectares; sometimes considered synonymous to Sedlák; in German-written registers Lähner
Nádeníček – diminutive form of Nádeník
Nádeník – laborer without any property, usually living on a farm owned by a farm owner (sedlák) or royalty; in German-written registers Tagarbeiter, Taglohner
Oráč – ploughman; in German-written registers Plüger
Podruh – tenant in the farm owner’s house; in German-written registers Höffer, Inmann
Podsedek – owner of a cottage (Chalupník) on a land of a farm owner (Sedlák); in German-written registers Podsedker
Pololáník – owner of 1/2 of lán of a field. Depending on the region, a lán could be anywhere between 7,7 and 27,9 hectares; also 1/2láník; in German-written registers Halbhufner , Halbbauer, Halblähner
Rolník – farmer, a person who works on a farm (not referring to ownership); in German-written registers Ackermann
Sedlák – the wealthiest of the farmers, owner of a farm; in German-written registers Hofbauer, Bauer, Anbauer for farmers with smaller land
Sedláček – diminutive form of Sedlák, originally a son whose father gave him the farm early to protect him from mandatory military service
Vinař – viticultor, wine merchant (also surnames Vinárek, Vinářek, Vinařský, Vinařický); in German-written registers Weinbauer
Voráč – synonymous with Oráč
Voráček – diminutive form of Voráč
Zeman – lower royalty with a coat of arms, free owner of a farm, property and personal freedom, registered in land tables
Zemědělec – farmer, a person who works on a farm (not referring to ownership); in German-written registers Landwirt
