Croatian surnames that originate from words denoting family relationships are fairly common, and very interesting to research.

Word stric (with the meaning uncle, or father’s brother) can be found as a root in surnames like Stričević which is fairly frequent in the region around the city of Split or Striček which can be found in Zagreb area. Along with stric, word strina (aunt) is also found as a root in Croatian surnames like Strinić, Strinko and Strinković.

Croatian language recognizes different words for father’s brother & his wife (stric, strina), mother’s brother & his wife (ujak, ujna), and mother’s sister and his husband (tetka or teta, tetak or tetac). From those words the following surnames were created: Ujčić, Ujaković, Ujević, Tečec, Tetec, Tetkić and Tetković.

Another word which denotes family relationship that is fairly common motivator for creation of surnames in Croatia is the word brat with the meaning brother. Another similar words are bratanac, bratanić and bratić with the meaning son of an aunt and uncle. The following surnames are thus motivated: Bratanić from the island of Hvar, Bratanović in Northeast part of Croatia, Bratičić in Istria, Bratičević in Dubrovnik region, and rather widespread surname Bratić. Other such surnames are Bratko, Bratković, Bratoš, Bratović, Bratuša.

Words svekar and svekrva (father-in-law, mother-in-law) were motivators for creation of the surname Svekrić, and nevjesta (son’s or brother’s wife) is in the root of Croatian surnames Nevestić, Nevistić and Nevjestić.

Croatians also use the following words which denote family relationship for deriving family names: djever (husband’s brother) in Deverić, šurjak (wife’s brother) in Šurjak, Šurko, Šurković, Šurić and Šurec, pastorak (spouse’s son from previous marriage) in Pastorčić and maćeha (stepmother) in Maćešić.

Source: book “Croatian surnames” by Petar Šimunović, Golden marketing, Zagreb, 2006

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