Kohouteks

Kohouteks is a Czech surname derived from the word kohout, meaning rooster, with the diminutive suffix -ek. The formation suggests a nickname-based origin and is most common in the Czech Republic and among people of Czech heritage abroad. As a family name, Kohouteks appears in various historical and contemporary records in Central Europe.

The most widely known bearer of the name is Luboš Kohoutek, a Czech astronomer who discovered the comet C/1973 E1 in 1973. The comet, commonly referred to as Kohoutek, gained international attention during its 1973–1974 apparition and linked the surname to astronomy for many observers.

Beyond Luboš Kohoutek, the surname is carried by other individuals in the Czech Republic and among diaspora communities, spanning fields such as science and the arts. These bearers are generally less prominent on the international stage, and detailed biographical information may be more dispersed across languages and regional sources.

In cultural and historical contexts, Kohouteks may appear in genealogical, academic, or literary references as part of Czech surname traditions. The name’s association with the Kohoutek comet remains its most enduring international link, illustrating how a family name can become connected to a celestial object through a single discovery.