Surname Melnick - Meaning and Origin
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Melnick: What does the surname Melnick mean?
The surname Melnick is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin and is a patronymic, meaning it comes from the first name of an ancestor which likely derived from the Hebrew male given name "Malka," meaning "king."
There are also other theories as to the origin of the Melnick surname, including that it is from the area of the Melinecka river in Silesia (Poland). There is also evidence of Gentiles who adopted the surname Melnick, based on the consonance of the initial letters with the recurring German name Melichar, which originated in Bohemia.
The Melnick last name may have originated from individual families who wanted to represent their clientele status, or because of an attributed profession or trade, such as blacksmith. In some cases, Melnick could be an adaption from the Slavic name Melnik.
The surname is most often found in Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Israel. This type of surname is considered rare in other regions, including the United States.
In the United States, the surname Melnick is commonly thought to be a Jewish surname, as many with the surname have a Jewish origin.
Order DNA origin analysisMelnick: Where does the name Melnick come from?
The last name Melnick is today commonly found mainly in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland, as well as other Eastern European countries. The surname isn’t found in great numbers in North America or Western Europe.
In Russia and Belarus, the surname is most often spelled as Mel’nikov or Mel’nikova. It is a patronymic form of the given name Mel. It is a variation of the Jewish surname Meltzer, which is derived from the Yiddish moltse, meaning “hammer”.
In Ukraine, the surname is also often spelled as Mel’nyk or Mel’nychenko. This surname is likely an adaptation from the word mel’nyk, which means a miller of grain, grains, or flour.
In Poland, the surname is likely an adaptation from the word mlecznik, which means a nutritionist or milk man.
The surname Melnick is also common in Lithuania, with the spelling Melnik as the most popular. The surname originated from the Lithuanian word melas, which can mean both “dark” and “milk”, and can refer to both color and occupation-related significance.
No matter what country the Melnick surname appears in, it typically has some common roots, often involving physical labour and food production. Today, many people with the surname are from families that have held this name for centuries, offering them a sense of belonging and a strong sense of identity.
Variations of the surname Melnick
The surname Melnick is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, which is derived from the Yiddish language. It is often spelled as Melnik, Melnicky, Melniker, Melnicer, Melnikoff and Melnikovsky. The surname is also occasionally found in Slavic cultures without Jewish roots, and is spelled as Melnyk, Melnych, Melnycky, Melnytschuk, Melnychuk, Melnytsya, Melnychenko and Melnytsia. There are several variants of these spellings depending on the language or dialect used.
The most common variations of the Melnick surname are Melnik and Melniker. These are the Yiddish spellings of the surname. The Melnicky Lyubomyr Melnikov was the mayor of Lviv in the early part of the 20th century, and there is still a street named after him in Lviv today.
The Polish variant of the surname Melnik is Melnyk. Variations of the spelling include Melnych, Melnycky, and Melnytschuk. These are often found in Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland.
The most common spelling of the surname in Russia is Melnikoff, but other variants are often found, such as Melnykoff, Melnicer, and Melnikovsky.
In the United States of America, the surname Melnick is spelled as Melnicky or Melnicer. The Melnicky John Melnick was a famous architect in the 1960s, and his genius can still be seen in buildings all over America.
The name Melnick or its variant spellings are quite common in different parts of the world, and it is likely that this surname originated many generations ago. Whether in Yiddish, Slavic, or North American forms, this is a family name that will continue to be popular for generations.
Famous people with the name Melnick
- Adam Melnick: American guitarist
- Daniel Melnick: American film producer
- Eddie Melnick: American comedic actor
- Garth Melnick: Canadian actor
- Harry Melnick: American bridge player
- Jillian Melnick: American singer, songwriter, and dancer
- Paul Melnick: American playwright
- Robert Melnick: American landscape architect
- Bob Melnick: Former General Manager of the American Hockey League
- Doug Melnick: American basketball coach
- Glenda Melnick: Chilean-American psychologist
- Julie Melnick: American actress and occasional model
- Luke Melnick: Australian actor
- Michael Melnick: American artist
- Randy Melnick: American financial adviser
- Steven Melnick: American football player
- Thomas Melnick: American sculptor.