Dobrovský

Dobrovský is a Czech surname. The masculine form is Dobrovský; the feminine form is Dobrovská. Surnames with the suffix -ský are common in Czech and often indicate association with a place, lineage, or a personal name; the exact origin of this particular surname may be toponymic or patronymic, and it can appear in various historical spellings.

The most prominent bearer is Josef Dobrovský (1753–1829), a Bohemian philologist and linguist who played a central role in the Czech National Revival. He conducted scholarly studies of Slavic languages, produced critical editions of texts in Czech and Old Church Slavonic, and contributed to the early standardization of Czech language, spelling, and grammar. His work helped lay the groundwork for modern Czech linguistics and the academic study of Czech literature.

In later usage, the surname appears in genealogical and historical records among Czech families. It is relatively specialized in international contexts, with Josef being the best-known historical figure associated with the name.