Meaning & History
Antunović is a Croatian and Serbian patronymic surname, meaning "son of Antun." The suffix -vić is a common Slavic patronymic marker equivalent to "-son" or "-ovich." The root name Antun is the Croatian form of the Latin name Anthony, which ultimately derives from the Roman family name Antonius, of Etruscan origin. Through Antun, the surname Antunović shares a linguistic heritage with many other Slavic patronymics based on the same root, such as the Serbian Antonić̌, as well as Bulgarian Antov, Macedonian Andonov, and Russian Antonov — all formed from local variants of Anthony.
The surname is most common in Croatia, particularly in the Dalmatian hinterland and among the Croatian diaspora. Its bearers include notable figures in sports, politics, and culture. In football, Adrian Antunović (born 1989) played for several Croatian clubs, and Saša Antunović (born 1974) represented Serbia as a midfielder. In water polo, Duško Antunović (1947–2012) was a celebrated Croatian player who competed at the Olympics. From the political sphere, Željka Antunović (born 1955) served as the Croatian Minister of Defence, making history as one of the few women to hold that post in the region. Another figure, Ivan Antunović (1815–1888), was a Croatian Catholic bishop and writer who championed the Bunjevci community in Hungary.
Surnames ending in -vić are widespread across the South Slavic languages, and Antunović exemplifies the pattern of turning a given name into a family name by adding a patronymic suffix. The name thus connects its bearers to the legacy of the Roman Antonii and the Christian Saint Anthony the Great, though through the specific Croatian linguistic lens of Antun.
- Meaning: "son of Antun" (Croatian form of Anthony)
- Origin: South Slavic (Croatian and Serbian)
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage Regions: Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Antunović