Last Name Nedelco

Learn more about the origin of the last name Nedelco

The meaning and origin of the last name Nedelco

The surname Nedelco is of Slavic origin, specifically from Eastern Europe. It's derived from a given name, "Nedelya" or "Nedelja," which means "Sunday" in several Slavic languages. As a patronymic surname, it was often formed by adding the suffix "-ovich" or "-ovic" to the name of the father, making it Nedelcovich or Nedelcovic. Over time, these forms were shortened and anglicized to Nedelco in some families. The name's migration and adoption outside of Eastern Europe can be attributed to various historical events such as war, immigration, and colonization.

Geographical distribution of the last name Nedelco

The surname Nedelko is predominantly found in Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Bulgaria and Romania, where it originates from. The name has Slavic roots and is a variant of the name Nedelya, which means "Sunday" in Bulgarian. In Bulgaria, it is most common in the regions of Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna. In Romania, it can be found primarily in Moldova and Dobrogea regions. The diaspora of people with this surname can also be traced to other parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, due to historical migrations. Additionally, small communities bearing the name Nedelko can be found in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of immigration from Eastern Europe.

Variants and spellings of the last name Nedelco

The surname Nedelco can be found with various spelling variants and slight modifications due to transcription errors or regional dialects over time. Some common versions of this surname include Nedelko, Niedelco, Neidelco, Nedlko, and Nedilco. These variations stem from differences in pronunciation, orthographic changes, or family traditions. It is important to note that the correct spelling of a name can sometimes be challenging to determine due to historical factors such as illiteracy, lack of standardized spelling rules, and migration patterns. In genealogical research, it is common to encounter multiple spellings for the same surname within a family tree.

Famous people with the last name Nedelco

Notable individuals with the surname Nedelco include:

1. Ion Nedelcu (born 1964), a Romanian former football player who competed at two FIFA World Cups and one UEFA European Championship, winning Olympic gold in 1984. He later became a football coach.
2. Elena-Luminița Nedelcu (born 1973), a Romanian retired footballer and current manager of the Romania women's national football team. She played as a defender, making over 150 appearances for her country between 1989 and 2013.
3. Adrian Nedelcu (born 1991), a Romanian retired footballer who played primarily as a forward. He spent most of his professional career in Romania, playing for teams like Universitatea Craiova and Astra Giurgiu.
4. Andrei Nedelcu (born 1982), a Moldovan-American economist and former politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Economy and Infrastructure in Moldova from December 2016 to January 2019. He later moved to the United States, where he has continued his work in economics.

Genealogical research on the last name Nedelco

The Nedelco surname is of Slavic origin, primarily associated with Eastern European countries like Romania and Bulgaria, where it is derived from the given name Nedelko or Nedelkovich, which means "born on Monday" in Slavic languages. Variants such as Nedelkoff, Nedelcof, Nedelcoffer, and Nedelcovich are also found among diaspora communities.

The earliest known records of the Nedelco surname date back to the 18th century, with the majority of early bearers residing in the regions of Dobrudja (present-day Romania) and Macedonia (present-day North Macedonia). The family migrated across Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, establishing significant communities in countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the United States.

Notable individuals bearing the Nedelco surname include military officers, engineers, and scientists from various countries. Among them are Constantin Nedelcu, a Romanian aviation pioneer, and George Nedelcov, a distinguished scientist in the field of materials science.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "nedelco"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

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.
Last updated : 26 July 2025