Sofia L. answered • 12/12/23
Masters in Czech, my native tongue, with 20 yrs of tutoring experience
The suffix "-ček" in Czech surnames doesn't serve the same function as the "-son" suffix in English. "-ček" is a diminutive suffix in Czech, often added to names to indicate familiarity, smallness, or endearment.
Czech surnames with "-ček" often originated from a person's occupation, physical attributes, or a place of origin, and the suffix was appended to create a diminutive or modified version of the original name.
For instance, the name "Novák" (meaning "newcomer" or "new man") might have variants like "Nováček," which could imply a smaller or younger version of the family or could have been used to differentiate between people with the same surname in a small community.
Unlike the "-son" suffix in English, which typically means "son of," the "-ček" suffix doesn't denote a familial relationship but rather a linguistic modification that might convey a sense of familiarity, affection, or smallness.
