Surname Michelko - Meaning and Origin
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Michelko: What does the surname Michelko mean?
The last name Michelko is a patronymic surname that originated from Czech lands. It is derived from the female personal name Michala, meaning “close to God” or “God's gift”. The name itself is a form of the Hebrew name Michaela, one of many variants of the name meaning "who is like God". It is believed that it was first used as a surname in Medieval Czechoslovakia, sometime before 1200. This last name is found primarily among those of Czech descent.
Today, the family name Michelko is found throughout the world. In Europe, it is most common in the Czech Republic, out of which over 5,000 activities bear this name. It is also found in Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, France, Russia and the United States.
Given the origin of Michelko, it is important to understand the culture of those who bear it. It reflects a rich history of the Czech people who have a long, proud heritage. This surname brings a sense of pride and heritage to those who bear it and is a reminder of their origins.
Order DNA origin analysisMichelko: Where does the name Michelko come from?
The last name Michelko is most commonly found in Poland today. It originated in the region of Silesia, within Poland, in the medieval era. In the late 19th century the region of Silesia was part of Germany, and many members of the Michelko family emigrated to Germany during that time.
In modern times, the surname Michelko is found primarily in Poland, where it makes up 0.001% of the population (18,000 Polish citizens as of 2020). It is most commonly found in the south-western regions of Poland, particularly in the Upper Silesia, Lodz, Łódź, and Masovian Voivodeships (provinces) where it is most strongly represented.
The name Michelko can also be found distributed around the world in countries with high levels of Polish immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Israel, and Ireland. According to Ancestry.com, there are around 4,400 people with this surname in the United States.
The name can also be spelled as Michalko, Michałek, Michalek, Mitchelko, or Mychelko in alternate spellings.
A person with this name can trace their family history to the Silesian region of Poland, and possibly Germany as well, if the family immigrated from there in times past.
Variations of the surname Michelko
The surname Michelko is of Slavic origin. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name “Michał”. Variants of the surname Michelko include Michalko, Michaelsky, Mikhailkov, Mikhailko, Mihalko, Mihalik, and Mihalikov.
The spelling of Michelko is also found in other Slavic countries with slight variations, such as Mihalko in Bulgaria, Mihaljević in Serbia, and Mihalicki in Ukraine. The variants of Michelko can also be found in other cultures, such as Miklesco, Mikelson and Mikely in Poland; Mickel and Bacon in France; Mikelic in Slovenia; and Mickelson in Norway.
Since the naming conventions of different countries vary, there are also many different surnames that derive from the same root. These include; Michalkiewicz, Michalak, Michalko, Michieli, Michielin, Michelotti, Michonneau, Miholčin, Miceli, and Michalenko.
When immigrants from different countries and cultures adopted new surnames upon arriving in the United States, forms of Michelko included Mickel, Mickle, Michaelson, and Michael.
In all, the surname Michelko and its variations are commonly found in Slavic countries, but have spread to other cultures and nations due to immigration and other forms of movement. Although some of the variants may not be immediately recognizable, they are all derived from the same root, and it is possible to trace them back to their source.
Famous people with the name Michelko
- Joe Michelko (Former Goalkeeper for Bray Wanderers in the FAI League of Ireland)
- Mikolaj "Nikolai" Michelko (Polish Weightlifter from the 1960s)
- Harold Michelko (German Footballer, Played for Hamburg and the German National Team in the 1980s and 1990s)
- Mark Michelko (American Physician, Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Liliane Michelko (French Politician, Member of the National Assembly of France from 1981 to 1988 and 1993 to 1997)
- Francine Michelko (Canadian Activist, Helped to Found Equality Now Canada and Served as President from 1987 to 1989)
- Viktor Michelko (Belarusian Musician, Member of the Rock Band Lyapis Trubetskoy)
- Grigory Michelko (Russian Artist, Famous for His Landscape Paintings and His Concepts of Color Theory)
- Sergei Michelko (Soviet Physicist, Known for His Contributions to Nuclear Physics and Quantum Mechanics)
- Zinaida Michelko (Ukranian Journalist and Editor, Awarded the Order of Princess Olga and the Order of Courage in 2006 for Her Work)