Černý

Černý is a Czech surname meaning "black." It is derived from the Czech adjective černý ("black"), originally a nickname for someone with dark hair, dark complexion, or a somber disposition. As a hereditary surname, it belongs to a common Slavic pattern of color-based surnames. Cognate surnames in other Slavic languages include Čierny (Slovak), Czarny (Polish), and Chyorny (Russian). The feminine form is Černá, and derived variants include Černík and the feminine Černíková.

Notable Bearers

The surname Černý is common in the Czech Republic and among Czech diaspora. Notable bearers include:

• Petr Černý (born 1972), Czech volleyball player
• David Černý (born 1967), Czech sculptor
• Jaroslav Černý (born 1960), Czech footballer
• Pavel Černý (born 1962), Czech footballer
• Václav Černý (1904–1982), Czech missionary and evangelist
• Jan Černý (born 1995), Czech kickboxer

Distribution

Černý is one of the most common surnames in the Czech Republic. According to available data, it ranks among the top surnames by frequency. The surname and its variants are also found in other Central European countries, particularly Slovakia (Čierny), and among descendants of Czech immigrants worldwide. The Slovak feminine forms Čierna and Čierniková correspond to the Czech patterns. In Serbian the cognate surname Crnčević derives from crn ("black"), showing the same semantic origin.

• Meaning: "black" (Czech)
• Origin: Czech, from a nickname for someone with dark features or mood
• Type: Surname
• Variants: Černík, Čierny, Čierna, Čiernik, Čierniková, Crnčević, Czerny
• Regions: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Russia