Gretzky (surname)

Gretzky is a surname of Belarusian origin, derived from the word greka, meaning "buckwheat" or someone who sells buckwheat. It is most notably associated with the Canadian ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky, widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time. The surname is relatively uncommon, primarily found in families with Eastern European ancestry. The pronunciation generally follows the phonetic spelling. The surname's prominence is almost entirely attributable to Wayne Gretzky's fame and achievements in professional ice hockey.