Surname Blaszczak - Meaning and Origin
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Blaszczak: What does the surname Blaszczak mean?
The surname Blaszczak is a Polish name derived from the word 'blaszka' which means 'small shield'. It is believed that the original bearer of the name was a professional soldier or a member of a noble family who had adopted a crest or representation of a small shield as their emblem.
The surname is found primarily in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, with the most notable concentration occurring in Poland. There are also records of the name appearing sporadically in Germany, Canada, and the United States.
The coat of arms typically associated with the Blaszczak surname is a silver shield featuring a red chevron with three green crosses. This symbol is known as the Casimir Bindiger Shield, which was originally adopted by the noble Brehziche family in the fifteenth century.
Due to the fact that the surname Blaszczak has been found in numerous regions throughout Europe it is likely that the origin of the name can be traced back to a medieval migration from Poland to other parts of the continent.
The name is believed to have been derived from the ancient words “blaszka” (“small shield”) and “czyk” (“son of”). Thus, the name translates to mean “son of a small shield”, which references the small shield often worn by professional soldiers and members of noble families in the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisBlaszczak: Where does the name Blaszczak come from?
The surname Blaszczak is a Polish family name that is most prevalent in the eastern European country of Poland. It is also commonly found in many Polish-speaking regions throughout Europe and North America.
The surname Blaszczak is derived from the old Polish word "blaszka," which translates to mean "small shield." This surname is also often spelled "Blaszczyk" or "Blaszka." In its earlier iterations, the name was often associated with people who lived in the regions of Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, and Silesia.
In terms of its frequency, the surname Blaszczak ranking 7874th in popularity among the more than 146,000 last names recorded in Poland in 2015. It is generally most common in the larger cities including Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Płock, Przemyśl, and Rzeszów.
Aside from Poland, the surname Blaszczak has also spread throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
In the U.S., it is most common in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana. In Canada, it is most abundant in Alberta, Ontario, and Manitoba. Likewise, in the UK, its highest concentration is in the London, Buckinghamshire, and Yorkshire regions. In Australia, those with the Blaszczak surname can mostly be found in the eastern state of New South Wales.
Despite its diminutive presence, the Blaszczak surname survives and even thrives in many parts of the world. It is a reminder of a rich Polish heritage that is still beloved by those that carry the name.
Variations of the surname Blaszczak
The surname Blaszczak is commonly spelled ‘Blaszczak’ but also has a number of alternative spellings and variants. These include Blaszczyk, Blaszczynski, Blaszcka, Blazecka, Blazsca, Blazscak, Blazscka, and Blashca. Each of these variations denotes the same surname, but appear differently when written in their native languages of Polish and may also have been altered or adapted by individuals moving to a new country.
The variants of the surname Blaszczak also extend to associated surnames and clan names known as patronymics. These classic Slavic surnames were often found amongst the Polish people and were based on the family name of the father or an ancestor. Some patronymics associated with the surname Blaszczak are Blazicki, Blazik, Blazynski, and Blazecki.
In addition to the changes in spelling and adaptations of the surname, some Blaszczak families may have changed or ‘anglicized’ their surname completely over time in order to better fit into their new society. These alternative surnames may include Blaschak, Blashack, Blasheck, Blazek, Byzewski and Blyshak among others. All of these variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are connected to the Blaszczak surname lineage, which makes tracing your family history much easier and more interesting.
Famous people with the name Blaszczak
- Paul Blaszczak: He is a Polish-born American composer, orchestrator, and conductor who has written for film, television, opera, ballet, concert music, and video game music.
- Wieslaw Blaszczak: He is a Polish politician of national and international stature. He served as Minister of Interior and Administration of Poland from 2002 to 2005, before becoming the Polish ambassador to the United Nations from 2006 to 2008.
- Jacek Blaszczak: He is the Governor of the National Bank of Poland since 2018. Blaszczak had previously held several positions at the National Bank of Poland since 1991 and was a professor of banking and economics at the University of Economy in Bydgoszcz since 1998.
- Piotr Blaszczak: He is a Polish video game composer and sound designer for video games, mostly known as the composer of titles such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, State of Decay 2 and Metro Exodus.
- Krzysztof Blaszczak: He is a Polish politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Administration in the government of Donald Tusk from 2007 to 2011.
- Mariusz Blaszczak: He is a former Special Forces soldier best known as Poland's Minister of National Defense since 18 December 2018.
- Anna Blaszczak: She is a Polish theater, television, and film actress. She is best known for her role as Irena Zalewska in the television series Rodzina Zalewskich.
- Mariusz Blaszczak-Hetmanowicz: He is a Polish entrepreneur and a former mayor of Dabrowa Gornicza in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland. He held the position of mayor from 2010 to 2018.