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Novak

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For other uses, see Novak (disambiguation).
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Novak (in Serbo-Croatian and Slovene; Cyrillic: Новак) and Novák (in Hungarian, Czech and Slovak; feminine: Nováková) is a surname and masculine given name, derived from the Slavic word for 'new' (e.g. Czech: nový, Serbo-Croatian: nov / нов), which usually translates as 'novice', 'new man', 'newcomer'.

In most languages, the stress on the first syllable. The main exceptions are Slovene, which places the stress on the last syllable and Hungarian, which stresses the "á".

It is the most common surname in the Czech Republic,[1][2] and Slovenia,[3] and the sixth most common in Croatia. It is also found in Romania and Moldova, in the Novac form, and among Ashkenazi Jews in various forms depending on their country of origin.[4]

Spelling

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The surname is usually spelled Novak (Cyrillic: Новак) in Serbo-Croatian and Slovene, and Novák in Czech, Slovak and Hungarian. The Polish counterpart is Nowak.

In specific countries

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Czech Republic and Slovakia

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Novák is widespread in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In both countries, the feminine form is Nováková. It is the most common surname in the Czech Republic.[1][2]

Slovenia

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Novak is the most common surname in Slovenia with more than 11,000 sharing it.[3] There are however significant variations between regions: it is very common in central Slovenia (in the regions around Ljubljana and Celje), as well as in parts of southern Slovenia and eastern Slovenia (Lower Carniola, Prekmurje). It is much less common in northern and western Slovenia; in the Goriška region on the border with Italy, it is quite rare.[citation needed]

Other countries

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In Croatia, Novak is the sixth most common surname.[5]

In Serbia and Montenegro, Novak is given name.

Surname bearers

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Arts

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Sports

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Other

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Given name bearers

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Fictional people

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  • Allie Novak, character from the Australian drama series Wentworth
  • Arpad Novack, from Illatszertár (Parfumerie), the Hungarian play used as inspiration for The Shop Around the Corner
  • Barbara Novak, in the movie Down with Love played by Renée Zellweger
  • Billy Novak, in the Amazon television series The Collection
  • Bobby Novak, from the American television series Pearson
  • Casey Novak, in Law & Order: SVU
  • Dazzle Novak, in the television series Moonbeam City
  • Holland and Dewey Novak, characters in the television series Eureka Seven
  • James Novak, a character on the television series Scandal
  • Jessica Novak, eponymous character of American drama television series
  • Jimmy Novak, his wife Amelia and his daughter Claire Novak, from the television series Supernatural
  • John Novak, protagonist of the television show Mr. Novak
  • Klara Novak, a character on The Shop Around the Corner, played by Margaret Sullavan
  • Lindsey Novak, recurring character in the Stargate Atlantis television series
  • Oscar Novak, main character of the romantic comedy film Three to Tango.
  • Pat Novak, in The Novak Element in the movie RoboCop
  • Pat Novak, played by Jack Webb in the old-time radio program Pat Novak, for Hire
  • Sydney Novak, played by Sophia Lillis in the Netflix series I Am Not Okay With This
  • Trishka Novak, character in the 2011 video game Bulletstorm
  • Zig Novak, character on television series Degrassi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Mužská příjmení - občané ČR a cizí státní příslušníci - 20 nejčetnějších". Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  2. ^ a b "Ženská přijmení - občanky ČR a cizí státní příslušnice - 20 nejčetnějších". Archived from the original on 2012-03-19. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  3. ^ a b "Database of first names and family names". Demography and Social Studies. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. 1 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  4. ^ Laurence Urdang. The Last Word: The English Language: Opinions and Prejudices. OmniData. 2008. p. 228.
  5. ^ "Most frequent surnames, 2011 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
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