Surname Mazur - Meaning and Origin
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Mazur: What does the surname Mazur mean?
The last name Mazur is a toponymic surname, meaning that it is derived from a geographical feature. It is most likely of Slavic origin, and variations of the name, like Mažur and Mažurov, are found in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
The name Mazur likely comes from the word mazur, which means "person from Masovia," a historical region located in what is currently the eastern part of Central Poland. Masovia was a prominent principality of the Kingdom of Poland in the Middle Ages, and its inhabitants were known as Mazurzy. This term may have been used to denote people from this region in general, and later became associated with the specific surname.
In some cases, Mazur may serve as a habitational surname, and could refer to people who initially came from an area named Mazur, such as the Mazury region of Poland. Alternatively, it may be an occupational surname, derived from the Polish word mazurek, which means "dance musician," and referred to people who took part in traditional Polish folk dances.
Overall, the last name Mazur is a meaningful surname, referring to geographical origin, and with possible references to dance or music. Not only does it reference both the people and the land, but it indicates an important part of Polish history.
Order DNA origin analysisMazur: Where does the name Mazur come from?
Today, the last name Mazur is most common throughout Eastern and Central Europe, particularly in the countries of Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. It is particularly popular in Poland, where it is the 97th most popular surname, according to the country’s registry bureau’s data.
The roots of the last name Mazur date back to the Middle Ages, when it appeared in various forms such as Major, Mazor, Mazourek, and Mazurek. These versions of Mazur may have originated in the region of Mazovia, an area in eastern Poland comprising present-day Warsaw, Siedlce, Radom, and Płock. It is believed the name derives from the Roman-era word maior, which famously means ‘the major one’.
The popularity of the Mazur family name is also evident in the United States, with Mazur as the 14,885th most popular surname in the nation. In the 1700s, various immigrants with the Mazur surname arrived in the US mainly from the areas of Poland and Ukraine. More recently, the number of Americans with the Mazur name has continued to increase, according to census records.
Despite originating in Eastern and Central Europe, the Mazur name is today also present in various other countries around the world, such as Canada, Israel, Argentina, and Brazil. The growth of the Mazur family in these countries further highlights the reach of this famous lineage across the world.
Variations of the surname Mazur
The surname Mazur is of Polish origin and is the 4th most common name in the country. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Mazurek, Maczura, Maczurak, Maczurek, Makzura, Mecur, Mecura, Mezurek, Możur, Możurek and Mozurak.
Mazur is derived from the Polish word 'mazur' which means 'dancer' and is believed to have originated as a nickname for a lively dancer or an occupational name for a dancer. Throughout the centuries, the spelling, origins and variants of the name has evolved, leading to its numerous versions.
The Maczura, Makzura, Maczurek and Możur variants of Mazur typically refer to those found in Silesia, which spans the present-day Polish provinces of Opole, Sląsk, and parts of the western Czech Republic.
The Mecur, Mecura, Mezurek and Mozurak variants refer to those found in the Pomerania region, which is located in northwestern Poland.
The spelling of Mazur is found to be Mazer primarily in Polish Jewish records, while Mazurovsky is prominent in Russia and other Russian-speaking countries.
Some other variants of the Mazur surname include Masur, Masurkiewicz, Mazoski and Mazurski.
Famous people with the name Mazur
- Esther Mazur: an Israeli singer and actress.
- Starker Leopold Mazur: a novelist, playwright, and shorts story writer.
- Natasha Mazur: a prominent architect designing homes and commercial spaces.
- Tadeusz Mazur: a Polish military commander who served in World War II.
- Jan Mazur: a Polish-American electrical engineer, professor, and inventor.
- Kornelimn Mazur: a Polish painter and graphic designer based in Berlin.
- Eugeniusz Mazur: a Polish classical musician, organist, and conductor.
- Stanisław Mazur: a Polish officer, diplomat, and later, politician.
- Jerzy Mazur: a Polish author, poet, and translator who is best known for his works on Polish history.
- Emma Mazur: an American contemporary artist and photographer.