Surname Katschinsky - Meaning and Origin

Katschinsky: What does the surname Katschinsky mean?

The last name Katschinsky is of German and Polish origin. It is generally thought to be derived from the word ‘katschen’, meaning ‘to chop’, giving the surname the meaning ‘chopperman’. In German, the prefix ‘Katz-‘ also means ‘cat’ so the name has sometimes taken on the meaning of ‘catman’.

The Katschinsky family likely immigrated to other areas of Europe, such as Russia, during the 19th century. This is why the name may have many spelling variations as it became corrupted during its travels. Katchensky, Katczinsky, Kaczynsky, and Kachinsky are some of the more common variants of the name.

The famous German architect, Hugo Katschinsky, is possibly the most well-known bearer of this name. Katschinsky helped to design important landmarks in Berlin, such as the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Katschinsky surname can be an interesting one to trace for its European roots and history of travel. For individuals bearing the name, it can serve as a reminder of the hardworking perseverance and fortitude of their ancestors.

Katschinsky: Where does the name Katschinsky come from?

The last name Katschinsky is most commonly found in Germany and the Czech Republic today. It is a patronymic last name, derived from the given name “Katsch”. According to BehindTheName.com it is of ‘East Slavic origin’, derived from the word ‘kazak’ which means ‘Cossack’.

The name is most common in Austria, with the most frequent locations including Vienna, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Styria. In addition, there is a heavy concentration of Katschinskys in the German states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. It is also quite common in Bohemia, today known as the Czech Republic.

The Katschinsky family immigrated to the US in the early 20th century. Its members were primarily Jewish and experienced a great degree of hardship in their homeland prior to leaving. The expansion of the Katschinsky family in the United States was largely concentrated in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

The family’s migration is representative of a larger trend of East European immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the Katschinsky name is primarily found in the US and Central/Eastern Europe. However, it’s possible that there are individual and extended families living elsewhere in Europe and perhaps beyond.

Variations of the surname Katschinsky

The surname Katschinsky is of German origin and can be spelt in many variations, including Katschinskij, Katchinski, Katchinsky, Katchinskij, Katchinskoy, Kachinsky, Kachinski, Kachinskoy, Katschinska and Katchinska. It derived from the German word 'Katscha', which was a medieval nickname for someone with noticeably curly hair, as the word Katscha is derived from the Middle High German 'Kose', which means 'curly'. It is likely that the name referred to an individual who was kooky, interesting, or otherwise distinct because of their curly hair.

The surname is common among those of Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Jewish and Azerbaijani ancestry. In Russia, the hypothesis behind the name is linked to the term “katscha” – a house. The surname Katschinsky was attributed to those who drew their ancestry from a family that must have lived in a certain locality for many generations.

The most common variations of the surname can also be found amongst German immigrants to the United States, with spellings such as "Katschinski", "Katchinsky", and "Katchinski". American documentation however more often than not the spelling stands as "Katschinsky".

Famous people with the name Katschinsky

• Hedda Katschinsky (1901–1971), German politician and first female member of the Prussian House of Representatives
• Franz Katschinsky (born 1964), German slalom canoeist who competed in the early to mid-1990s
• Heinz Katschinsky (1907–1993), German-Kurdish cabaret artist and actor
• Wilhelm Katschinsky (1874–1938), German architect and artist
• Roman Katschinsky (1899–1971), German field hockey player
• Marek Katschinsky (born 1994), Polish footballer
• Harold Katschinsky (1922–1979), American minor league baseball player
• Tanja Katschinsky (born 1994), German cyclist
• Richard Katschinsky (born 1979), German long-distance runner
• Olaf Jurgen Katschinsky (born 1937), German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1950s and early 1960s

Other surnames

Katschinski