Family name origins & meanings
- Czech : from a pet form of the personal name Václav, Old Czech Vęceslav (cognate with Polish Więcesław, Latinized as Wenceslas). It is composed of the Old Slavic elements viece ‘greater’ + slav ‘glory’. It was borne by a 10th-century duke of Bohemia who fought against a revival of paganism in his territory, and after his death became patron saint of Bohemia.