Surname Kusnierkiewicz - Meaning and Origin
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Kusnierkiewicz: What does the surname Kusnierkiewicz mean?
The last name Kusnierkiewicz is a Polish surname that is derived from the word “kusnierz,” meaning “shoemaker.” This occupational surname likely designated a family line of skilled shoemakers and cobblers stretching back through multiple generations. Historically, shoemaking was an essential trade for farmers in rural Poland, allowing them to repair the leather soles and straps of shoes and boots during the harsh winter months when little else could be produced. It is most likely that the Kusnierkiewicz surname originated with and was passed down through rural farming families in Poland who were still practicing this trade.
Given the Polish origins of this surname, it is likely that the family was highly rooted in adhering to traditional cultural practices, such as paying deference to the Catholic Church and honoring the hardworking avocation of agriculture. The Kusnierkiewicz name would have been passed down through the generations and likely enabled the family to stand out in their community. Given the close proximity of other European nations, the Kusnierkiewicz line may have also moved abroad over the centuries, expanding to other countries in search of better economic opportunities.
In modern times, the Kusnierkiewicz surname continues to exist worldwide and is likely just as embedded in traditional Polish culture as it was centuries ago. Those who embody this surname carry with them a proud tradition and an important piece of Poland's heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKusnierkiewicz: Where does the name Kusnierkiewicz come from?
The last name Kusnierkiewicz is most commonly found today in Poland, where it is the seventh most common surname. Kusnierkiewicz is derived from the Polish word kusy, meaning "soft," and from the suffix "-owicz," which indicates ancestry or father's name.
In historical records, the last name has been found in many forms. One of the oldest is Kusinski, which dates back to the year 1472. It was first recorded in the village of Kusyn in Lesser Poland, and the name became most popular after a group of settlers from this village migrated to another area in the early 17th century. From there, the name spread to other parts of Poland and other countries within the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, such as Belarus and Ukraine.
In Poland, the name Kusnierkiewicz is most common in the central and southern parts of the country. Specifically, it is especially popular in the Lublin Voivodeship, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, and in the Masovian Voivodeship. It is also found in the cities of Lublin, Krakow, and Warsaw. Some emigrants from Poland also brought the name to the United States and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making it a common surname in places such as New York and Chicago.
In recent years, the name Kusnierkiewicz has also spread to other parts of Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In some cases, the name has been Anglicized or changed slightly, such as to Kusneyer, Kusnyer, or Kusner. Nevertheless, the name remains most common in its native Poland.
Variations of the surname Kusnierkiewicz
The variant, spellings and surnames for the Kusnierkiewicz surname include Kosturtsevich, Kosturchak, Kudurtsevich, Kusnierchak, Kuznarchak, Kusnarcik, Kuznar, Kuzmichyk, Kuzmarchuk, Kuzminiak and Kuzmiak.
Kusnierkiewicz is a surname of Polish origin. Derived from the root word kostur – ‘lance’ and czyk which in Polish means ‘son of’, it literally translates to mean ‘son of lance’. It is a patronymic surname that includes the additions of -sky, -ski, -kiewicz or -yz.
Other spellings of the surname Kusnierkiewicz are Kuzník, Koścurtsevich, Kuzniarczyk, Kosturtsevik, Kosciurtsevich, Kosturtsevich, and Kuznarski. It is also grammatically correct to use Kusnierkiewicz in both singular and plural forms; Kusnierkiewicze, Kusnierkiewiczowie, and Kusnierkiewiczowy.
Variant spellings are primarily used in North American countries to document and trace the genealogy of the Kusnierkiewicz surname. These variants include Kusinsky, Konzinski, Conway, Kucinski, Konesky, Konzinsky, Kusinicz, Kosmicki, Kosecki, Kusturic, Kuznric, Kuzimar, Kusturice, Kuzmar, Kuzmarski, Kuznic, Kuznicky, Kuzminski, Kustorich and even Kusnerowicz.
Kusnierkiewicz is commonly found in many Polish villages. Records in the Central Civil Registration indicate many of these villages were first settled by members of the Kusnierkiewicz family. Small towns in Poland also have a high concentration of the Kusnierkiewicz surname. The majority of Poles with this surname originally settled in the provinces of Galicia (south-eastern Poland).
Famous people with the name Kusnierkiewicz
- Jakub Kusnierkiewicz: professional footballer, playing for the polish club Jagiellonia Białystok
- Monika Kusnierkiewicz: a jazz, soul and pop singer and composer
- Michał Kusnierkiewicz: professional basketball player
- Agata Kusnierkiewicz:an opera singer, musical theater and vocal jazz performer
- Michał Kusnierkiewicz:professional rally driver
- Anna Kusnierkiewicz: a theater director and playwright
- Tomasz Kusnierkiewicz: a senior associate at the Institute for Human Rights
- Korneliusz Kusnierkiewicz: a classical music composer
- Janusz Kusnierkiewicz: a fencer
- Filip Kusnierkiewicz: a Polish novelist and journalist