What's in a Prague street name

Vítovcova was named in 1973.

From 1927 to 1935, the street was called U rybníka, after a nearby and erstwhile pond.

From 1935 to 1973, it was called V Hodkovičkách, which presumably caused confusion, as it’s not directly connected to the other street in the area called that. More on that name when we get on to Hodkovičky (which is our next district after another two weeks of Braník streets).

Alois Jirásek – he who is the man behind the story behind most of the streets around here – published a novel in 1883 called V cizích službách (In Foreign Service), which includes a character called Vítovec.

It’s set in the 1500s, and doesn’t sound too jolly: it discusses the unhappy fate of the descendants of the Táborites (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/01/13/prague-3-day-124-taboritska/), reduced to the status of mercenaries serving foreign interests.