Surname Markowitsch - Meaning and Origin

Markowitsch: What does the surname Markowitsch mean?

The last name Markowitsch is of German origin and is derived from the term 'markgenosse' or 'markgraf', which refer respectively to someone who is a companion and an associate of a count, or a margrave. In Old German, 'mark' refers to an area of land or property which has been bestowed upon an individual, thus the use of ‘genosse’ and ‘graf’ to refer to someone who was associated with such a mark.

Markowitsch is typically a surname from areas within Germany, and is derived from what was known as the Higher Masters of the Teutonic Order, which was a Christian and military order created by Germany's ruling House of Hohenstaufen in the 12th-century. The Teutonic Masters, or Knights, played a significant role during the Middle Ages for their skill in warfare, granting them a high status within titles across Europe, and ultimately forged the surname for those who would have associated with them.

At present, parts of Europe sees a strong population of individuals living with the Markowitsch name. It is strongly believed to hold meaning and a proud strength of character as reflecting the proud heritage in honour of the German Knights of the Teutonic Order.

Markowitsch: Where does the name Markowitsch come from?

The last name Markowitsch is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Germany. In Austria, Markowitsch is a rare last name and is found mainly in areas surrounding Vienna, with a few families being located in other parts of the country. In Czech Republic, Markowitsch is most commonly encountered in the Moravian region of the country. In Hungary, the name is found in the northeastern counties of Zemplén and Heves, as well as the cities of Debrecen and Szeged. In Poland, the surname is present in the provinces of Kraków and Małopolska, as well as in the areas of Bydgoszcz, Łódź, and Wrocław. In Romania, the name is mostly found in the counties of Timiș, Arad, and Hunedoara, while in Germany, the surname is present in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.

Although the last name Markowitsch is quite rare, it is still occasionally encountered among European immigrants in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While the original spelling may have been altered to Markovic or Marcovic, among other forms, the family ties remain. The majority of Markowitsch families in these countries are of Austrian and Hungarian descent, suggesting that the surname is extremely rare outside of Central and Eastern Europe.

Variations of the surname Markowitsch

Markowitsch (or Markovits, Markovitz, Markovic, Markovitch, Markovich, Markovitch, Markovitsch, Markowitz, Marcowicz, Marcowitz, Mroczewicz, Mroczewitz, Mroczewicz) is a surname of Slavic origin, derived from the personal name Mārkov or Mārko, itself originating from the given name Marko. Marko (Mara or Maruška in the Serbian language) is a masculine given name of Slavic origin, common among the South Slavic peoples, particularly in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia. It is also popular among other Slavic countries, namely Poland, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, as well as areas of Germany and Austria with Slavic populations, such as the Oberpfalz.

Markowitsch is derived from the word 'Marko' with the suffix 'witsch' or 'witz', a Germanized version of the Slavic suffix 'vits', meaning 'son of'. Thus, Markowitsch signifies 'son of Marko'. This surname was often used to denote families who had a member with the given name of Marko, and was later passed down as a patronymic surname.

In some variations, 'v' can be replaced by 'w'. For instance, Markowitz or Markowitz is an alternative spelling of the surname meaning the same thing. Additionally, Markovic is another variant of Markowitsch which is derived from the given name Marko and the Slavic suffix 'ovic', indicating 'son of'.

The surname has also been Germanized in other ways. For example, Mroczewicz and Mroczewitz are derived from the Polish term for 'dark', mroczny, signifying 'son of the dark one'. Marcowicz and Marcowitz are also derived from 'marek', the Polish version of Marko, while Markovitch is the Russian variant of the surname.

Famous people with the name Markowitsch

• Johannes Markowitsch: Austrian politician.
• Christopher Markowitsch: German neuroscience professor and doctor.
• Patrik Markowitsch: Swedish cinematographer.
• Adam Markowitsch: German lutenist.
• Fredrik Markowitsch: Swedish athlete.
• Peter Markowitsch: Austrian vintner.
• Aglaia Markowitsch: Greek actress.
• Heber Markowitsch: Brazilian banker.
• Stephan Markowitsch: German sculptor.
• Hans-Gert Markowitsch: German zoologist.
• Karl-Emil Markowitsch: Austrian wine expert.
• Door Caroline Markowitsch: Austrian photographer.
• Dorste Markowitsch: German architect.
• Ewald Markowitsch: German singer-songwriter.
• Andy Markowitsch: American musician.
• Amélie Markowitsch: French writer.
• Ingolf Markowitsch: Austrian astronomer.
• Eva Markowitsch: German-Swiss actress.
• Robert Markowitsch: Austrian actor.
• Robert Markowitsch: German gastronome.

Other surnames

Markowitz