Živković

Živković (sometimes transliterated Zivkovic, Serbian Cyrillic: Живковић, pronounced [ʒǐːʋkoʋitɕ]) is a Croatian and Serbian surname, being the most common surname in the Šibenik-Knin County and among the most frequent in two other Croatian counties. It is derived from the given name Živko with the patronymic suffix -vić, meaning "son of Živko".

Etymology

The root of the surname lies in the South Slavic word živ meaning "alive, living". The given name Živko is a common Slavic name, often formed from the same root, and the suffix -vić indicates a patronymic relationship. Thus, Živković literally denotes "descendant of Živko". This type of surname formation is typical throughout the Balkans and Slavic countries.

Distribution

While the surname is found in both Croatia and Serbia, in Croatia it is particularly concentrated in the Šibenik-Knin County, where it holds the top frequency. The name is also relatively prolific in other parts of the region, reflecting historical patterns of settlement and naming conventions.

Notable Bearers

Numerous individuals have borne the surname Živković, spanning various fields such as sports, music, and military. Notable athletes include Croatian footballer Aleksandar Živković (born 1912) and Serbian footballer Aleksandar Živković (born 1977), Danish footballer Bora Zivkovic (born 1974), Croatian footballer Boris Živković (born 1975), Croatian basset player Borna Živković, Serbian footballer Bratislav Živković (born 1970), Serbian mercenary Bratislav Živković (1975–2025), American tennis player Denis Zivkovic (born 1987), Serbian composer Đuro Živković (born 1975), and Serbian footballer Andrija Živković (born 1996).

Related Names

The base of this surname is Živko, a masculine given name that serves as a first name or component of other compound names.

• Meaning: Son of Živko; from živ (living)
• Origin: South Slavic (Croatian, Serbian)
• Type: Patronymic surname
• Usage Regions: Croatia, Serbia, and diaspora
• Transliteration: Also Zivkovic or Живковић