Wenceslaus

Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are German: Wenzel, Polish: Wacław, Więcesław, Wieńczysław, Spanish: Wenceslao, Portuguese: Venceslau, Russian: Vyacheslav, Croatian: Vjenceslav, Lithuanian: Venckus among others. It is an archaic Polish male given name descending from the Polish word Węzel/Wenzel, Latinised as Wenceslaus spelling for Czech rulers called Vaclav. It is a very old Lechitic word and name also used in other West Slavic languages such as Czech Slavic dithematic name (of two lexemes), derived from the Slavic words veli/vyache/więce/više ("great(er), large(r)"), and slava ("glory, fame"), both very common in Slavic names. It roughly means "greater glory". Latinised name Wenceslaus corresponds to several West Slavic, Lechitic given names, such as Wieceslaw, Wiecejslav, Wieńczysław/Vienceslav, Vjenceslav, Wenzel, Węzel, Wacław/Vaclav and a few more.

People named Wenceslaus or spelling variations thereof include:

Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935 or 929), saint and subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas"
Wenceslaus II, Duke of Bohemia (died 1192)
Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (c. 1205–1253), King of Bohemia
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (1271–1305), King of Bohemia and Poland
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia (1289–1306), King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland
Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (1361–1419), King of Bohemia, and German King
Wenceslaus I of Legnica (c. 1318–1364)
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg (1337–1383), the first Duke
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378), born Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677), Bohemian etcher
Wenceslaus Hanka (1791–1861), Bohemian philologist
Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819–1909), Faroese minister and linguist
Venceslau Brás (1868–1966), 9th President of Brazil
Vjenceslav Richter (1917–2002), Croatian architect
Vjenceslav Novak (1859–1905), Croatian writer

See also