Hejduk (surname)

Hejduk is a surname of Czech origin. It is derived from the Czech word "hajduk," which historically referred to a type of infantry soldier or mercenary, often associated with service in Eastern European armies, particularly in the 16th-18th centuries. The term also came to be associated with bandits or outlaws operating in wooded or mountainous areas. Therefore, the surname likely originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who was a soldier, a haiduk, or resembled one.

The surname is relatively common in the Czech Republic and can also be found in other countries with historical ties to the region.