'''Vacek''' (feminine '''Vacková''') is a Czech surname, also found in Slovakia. It is derived from the name "Václav" (in Latin, Wenceslaus), being a diminutive or nickname thereof, or denoting "son of Václav". Notable people include:
* Dan Vacek, American cannabis rights activist * Daniel Vacek, Czech tennis player * Edward Collins Vacek, SJ and professor of Catholic Studies at Loyola New Orleans * Jan Vacek, Czech tennis player * Jaroslav Vacek, Czech linguist * Jiří Vacek, Czech mystic, writer and translator of spiritual literature * Josef Vacek, Czech politician * Kamil Vacek, Czech footballer * Karel Vacek, Czech cyclist * Mathias Vacek (born 2002), Czech cyclist * Růžena Vacková, Czech art historian * Václav Vacek, Czech politician
There are many variants or derivatives of this surname: *Watzek - a Germanized spelling. *Watsek- an English spelling derived from the German spelling upon immigration to the United States. *Watzke - a Germanized derivation, dating back to the late Middle Ages. Other spellings such as Watsky, Watzky, Watski have been noted in various countries. *Vacke - a re-Czechized or Slovacized spelling of Watzke. *Watzka - a Germanized derivation, of some antiquity. *Vacka - a re-Czechized or Slovacized spelling of Watzka. *Watz - an aristocratic Austrian arms-bearing family, believed to be derived from Vacek/Watzek. *Wacke - a spelling found in Poland; it is also the archaic Czech spelling. *Wacyk/Vacyk - a Ukrainianized spelling found in Galicia. *Watsko/Watzko - a Ukrainian (Galician) derivative.<ref>From the genealogies of the Watzke and Watzka families. All of the reference books on Czech and German surnames, invariably attribute Watzke and Watzka as deriving from Vacek (Watzek)</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{surname}}
Category:Czech-language surnames