Chovanec is a Czech and Slovak surname. The word chovanec is an archaic term for 'adoptee'. Notable people with the surname include:Ján Chovanec, Slovak footballer Jozef Chovanec, Czech-Slovak footballer and manager Marián Chovanec, Slovak bishop Milan Chovanec, Czech politician Patrick Chovanec, American economist Zdeněk Chovanec, Czech-Venezuelan racing driver