Surname Kramarek - Meaning and Origin
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Kramarek: What does the surname Kramarek mean?
The surname Kramarek is of Polish origin, and is thought to have arisen from the personal name Kramerek, which was derived from the Old Polish word ‘kramarz’, meaning ‘shopkeeper’. It is likely that the initial bearers of the name were retail business owners, or peddlers.
Kramarek is also a Slavic patronymic surname, meaning 'son of Kramerek', with variations such as Kremarz, Kramarz and Kramerek. The prefix ‘Kra’ is thought to originate from the Polish word ‘kram’, meaning ‘shop’ or ‘place of business’.
The Kramarek surname may have been adopted by a member of a family who owned a shop and passed it on to successive generations, or to identify someone of the same family working in a retail shop owned by another family. It may also have been adopted by a former employee of a shopkeeper.
Kramarek is still a quite rare surname in the modern era. It is most commonly found in Poland, and also in countries with large Polish diasporas such as the United States, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. With its meaning of ‘shopkeeper’, Kramarek is a unique and interesting surname with a fascinating historical origin.
Order DNA origin analysisKramarek: Where does the name Kramarek come from?
The last name Kramarek is not an especially common name today. It is most commonly associated with two separate countries – Poland and Slovakia.
In Poland the name originated from the Polish word for ‘miller’. It was first found in a small village in the Tatra Mountains that dates back to the 14th century. From here, the name spread to other regions of Poland becoming popular in rural areas. Today, the surname Kramarek is still used in the mountains of Poland, especially in the southern and western regions.
In the Slovak Republic, Kramarek is an occupational name, derived from the Czech word meaning ‘shopkeeper’. The surname is believed to have been given to a person involved in the sale of goods or services. The name is still used in Slovakia, primarily in the region of Carpathian Ruthenia.
The name Kramarek is also found in other countries, although the name could be derived from other sources. It has been recorded in Scotland, the United States, and even in some parts of England. This suggests the surname could have been brought to these countries by immigrants from Poland or Slovakia.
Overall, the last name Kramarek is considered fairly uncommon today, with most occurrences found in Poland and Slovakia. Since the name originated in these countries, it’s likely that’s where it remains most concentrated.
Variations of the surname Kramarek
The surname Kramarek can take many forms, including spelling variants, alternate surnames, and foreign-language cognates. Kramarek is a Czech and Slovak name derived from the word krám, meaning “shop”, and is generally found in areas of Central Europe where those languages are commonly spoken.
Kramarek is typically spelled in the United States as Kramerak, Kramarak, Kramarik, Kramerik, Kramark, or Kramarko. In some cases, a spelling variant with a final -s (Kramareks, Kramaraks, Kramariks, Krameriks, Kramarks, or Kramarkos) may be used.
Alternate surnames derived from the same root word likely vary from region to region. In some cases, the spelling may be changed to reflect a local language or pronunciation; for example, Kramarzyk is sometimes heard in the areas of Poland and Belarus where the name is found most frequently. Similarly, Kramerka, Kramrolka, and Kramrouka are believed to be related cognates widespread throughout Eastern Europe.
In Germany, a variant spelling, Kramerich, is used. In other regions within Europe, the Kramarek family may have taken on other alternate surnames, such as Kramarakovich, Kramarovsky, Krämer, Kramrev, Kramorneysky, Kramarytsky, Krameris, Kramaras, Kramarts, Kruger, Krämar, and Krämerr.
The surname Kramarek is also known around the world in many other variants and spellings. In countries such as France, Spain or Italy, the Kramarek family may have adopted local variants such as Kramareck, Kramerico, Kramaric, Kramarchek, Kramarcek, Kramsick, Kramerich, Kramerik, Kramarsic, Krameraski, and Kramarson. Around Eastern Europe, foreign-language cognates such as Kramarkov, Kramarkow, Kramarev, Karmarev, Kramarof, Kramariof, Kramaresh, Kramsorof, or Kramsarov may be seen.
Famous people with the name Kramarek
- John Kramarek: American baseball coach and former player
- Václav Kramárek: Czech tennis player
- John Kramarek: musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Australia
- Jiří Kramárek: Czech ice hockey player
- Esteban Kramar: Argentine actor, television presenter, musician and host
- Vladimír Kramárek: Slovak writer and politician
- Ján Kramárek: Slovak film and theatre director
- Barbara Kramarek: American artist and sculptor
- Leif Kramarek: Swedish singer and actor
- Alena Kramárek: Czech film actress