Zlatić

Zlatić is a South Slavic surname, predominantly found in Croatia and Serbia. It is derived from the word "zlato," meaning "gold." The suffix "-ić" is a common diminutive suffix in South Slavic languages, indicating origin, affiliation, or descent. Thus, Zlatić roughly translates to "son of Zlato" or "descendant of Zlato," where Zlato could be a given name or a nickname referring to someone with golden hair, a golden complexion, or a generally esteemed person considered "golden." The surname is indicative of patronymic naming conventions. The prevalence of the name suggests a distributed origin, likely arising independently in multiple locations where the root word "zlato" and the suffix "-ić" were common.