What is the origin of the last name Jurcevic?

The surname Jurcevic is of Slavic origin, specifically Croatian. It derives from various toponyms (place names) in Croatia. The name could have been originally given to someone who lived near a place named "Jurjevica," which means the place of St. George in the Croatian language. The ending "-evic" is a common patronymic suffix indicating 'son of' in Slavic names.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Jurcevic

The meaning and origin of the last name Jurcevic

The surname Jurcevic is of Slavic origin, specifically Croatian, derived from various place names or personal names within the region. The name can be traced back to several possible origins:

1. It could be a locative surname, originating from a place named Jurcina (meaning "belonging to Jurco" in Slavic languages), which is found in Croatia.
2. It may also have emerged as a patronymic name, derived from the male given name Jurko or its shortened form Jurica, meaning 'Young George' in Croatian.
3. In some cases, it could be related to the Slavic personal name "Jurij" (George), with a diminutive suffix "-ević."

Over time, variations in spelling and pronunciation have occurred due to factors such as migration, transcription errors, and regional dialects. These variations include Jurčević, Jurcevich, Jurcsic, Jurčić, etc. The surname Jurcevic is most prevalent among Croatian communities, both in the homeland and among diaspora populations around the world.

Geographical distribution of the last name Jurcevic

The surname Jurcevic is primarily found in Croatia, particularly in regions such as Dalmatia, Lika-Senj, and Gorski Kotar, where it has historically been associated with the Serb minority living in those areas. The name also appears in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, due to historical migrations and population movements within the Balkans. It is less common but still found in other parts of Europe, particularly in countries with a significant number of immigrants from the former Yugoslavia, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada. The distribution of the surname Jurcevic reflects the historical and cultural dynamics within the Balkan region, as well as migration patterns of Croatian Serbs throughout the 20th century.

Variants and spellings of the last name Jurcevic

The surname Jurcevic has several variations and spellings due to differences in transliteration and regional pronunciations. Some common variations include Jurčević, Jurečević, Jurčevićh, and Jurićević. These variations stem from the same Slavic root, with the prefix "Jur" denoting a man named George or Georgios, while "-cevic" is a patronymic indicating that the original bearer's son was named George. Another variation, Jurković, arises when the suffix "-ovic" is used instead of "-evic", which is common in some regions and languages. It is essential to note that these variations can be found among individuals of Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Montenegrin descent.

Famous people with the last name Jurcevic

Notable individuals with the surname Jurcevic include:

1. Milorad Jurcevic (born 1964), a Serbian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Serbia from 2008 to 2012. He was the leader of the Democratic Party and played a significant role in Serbia's European integration process during his tenure.

2. Slobodan Jurcevic (born 1971), a Bosnian-Herzegovinian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He had a successful career, playing for clubs such as NK Dinamo Zagreb and FC Barcelona, and represented the Yugoslavia national team in several international competitions.

3. Tin Jurcevic (born 1998), a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for FC Slovan Liberec in the Czech First League. He has also played for the Croatian U-21 national team.

4. Zoran Jurcevic (born 1973), a Serbian football manager and former player, best known for his time as a player at Partizan Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia's SuperLiga. He later coached several clubs across Europe, including AEK Athens FC in Greece.

Genealogical research on the last name Jurcevic

The surname Jurcevic originates from Croatia and is a variant of Juric, which is derived from the personal name Jurij or Georgii, common Slavic names derived from George. The Jurcevics are believed to have resided in regions such as Dalmatia and Lika, now part of modern-day Croatia, for centuries. In the Middle Ages, they were primarily peasants and artisans, but some branches of the family rose to prominence during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The name is also found in other parts of Eastern Europe due to migration and displacement throughout history. Notable individuals with the surname Jurcevic include Franjo Jurcevic, a Croatian writer and ethnographer, and Marijan Jurcevic, a Croatian football player. The Jurcevics are part of the larger family tree that includes other Slavic surnames ending in "-evic" or "-ević," which indicate a derivative form of traditional Slavic names.

Last name distribution maps

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NomOrigine Team
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NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

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