Surname Mickevicius - Meaning and Origin
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Mickevicius: What does the surname Mickevicius mean?
The last name Mickevicius originates from the Lithuanian language and is derived from “Mickiewicz.” The Mickiewicz surname comes from a personal name which was popular during the 15th century, known as Michael. This name is derived from the Hebrew name of “Mikah,” which translates to “Who is like God.” The suffix "-evici" is a patronymic, which usually happens when two names are linked together. The suffix consists of a male name and the suffix "-ev Ale.” This combined form means “son of Michael.”
Therefore, the last name Mickevicius is assigned to someone who is a “son of Michael” or someone descended from a Michael. During the 19th century, many people adopted this surname in Lithuania, and when they immigrated to other countries it was either spelled differently or changed to be easier for other cultures to pronounce. Even today there are still many variations of the surname Mickevicius, such as Mitkevičius or Mickiewicz.
The Mickevicius surname is associated with a family of Slavic descent. As a result, many people who carry this last name now live in Eastern Europe and the United States. The meaning behind this surname continues to remind people of the Bible story it is derived from, where “Michael” was praised for his strength and bravery. The surname also proves to be a simple reminder that its bearer is a part of the ancient tradition of honoring one’s family roots.
Order DNA origin analysisMickevicius: Where does the name Mickevicius come from?
The last name Mickevicius is most commonly found in Lithuania, a Baltic country on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the most populous of the three Baltic states, with nearly 2.9 million inhabitants. The name Mickevicius is most often seen among the Lithuanian population, suggesting that it likely has its origins in Lithuania.
The earliest recorded reference to this family name dates back to the 16th century, when a man named Jonas Mickevicius was recorded in a written document from Lithuania. Since then, the surname has been seen in church books, newspapers and other archival records.
Today, the Mickevicius surname is the 1740th most common surname in the world. In Lithuania, it is most widespread in the Counties of Šiauliai, Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, according to data from the Lithuanian Census of 2011-2012.
Outside of Lithuania, the last name Mickevicius is also found in Latvia, Poland and Belarus. It is not overly common in the United States, but a small number of people bearing the name have been recorded in the US Census. In Canada, the last name is most often found in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Overall, the last name Mickevicius is most commonly associated with Lithuania and countries in the Baltic region. It does, however, also appear in other parts of Europe, North America and beyond.
Variations of the surname Mickevicius
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Mickevicius originate from a Lithuanian name Mickiewicz. Examples of Lithuanian surnames used for members of the same family include Mickevicius, Mickiewicz, Mickevičius, Mickievičius, and Mikievičius.
Mickevicius is a typical Lithuanian surname and, when Anglicized, sounds as if it begins with the letter ‘M’. However, in its Lithuanian spelling, it actually begins with the letter ‘Mik’. This is an example of one of the many distinguishing features that Lithuanian has in comparison with other languages, particularly English.
The variant Mickiewicz is also derived from Mickevicius. It is a Polish surname, stemming from the common Baltic roots of the surnames it serves to represent. This variant is much more commonly known outside of Lithuania, due to immigration and emigration of many between Europe and Lithuania in the past centuries.
The Mickevicius surname is also used as a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the name of one's father. This means it is passed down from one generation to the next, and can vary a lot with suffixes and prefixes. The patronymic versions of Mickevicius can include various combinations like: Mikkeviciene, Mikkevicia, Makkevici, and Miškevcius.
In many cases of Lithuanian surnames, due to the language’s many dialects, there can be various alternative spellings from the same original name. For example, Mickevicius can also be spelled Mikiakovičiūtė or Mikievičiūtė.
In total, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Mickevicius: Mickiewicz, Mickevicius, Mickevičius, Mickievičius, Mikievičius, Mikkeviciene, Mikkevicia, Makkevici, Miškevcius, Mikiakovičiūtė, and Mikievičiūtė.
Famous people with the name Mickevicius
- Vincas Mickevicius: He was a Lithuanian architect and a fighter for social justice, most famous for his involvement in the 1905 revolution.
- Adomas Mickevicius: He was a Lithuanian poet closely linked to the Romanticism movement, responsible for many of the nation's most enduring folk-songs and tunes.
- Marija Mickevicius: She was a prima ballerina at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater in Vilnius, becoming a major voice in the country's post-Soviet liberation.
- Kazys Mickevicius: He was a Lithuanian politician and lawyer, as well as the leader of the Lithuanian National Salvation Committee after the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
- Vytautas Mickevicius: He is a Lithuanian actor who has appeared in more than 20 films, and is known for his roles in "The Other Dream Team" and "Lust for Life".
- Laurynas Mickevicius: He is a Lithuanian chess Grandmaster who has competed both nationally and internationally, and was the winner of the 2012 Lithuanian Chess Championship.
- Juozas Mickevicius: He was a Lithuanian politician who served as the country's Prime Minister between 1925 and 1926.
- Ona Mickevicius: She is a Lithuanian fashion designer from Vilnius, who has been awarded the Golden Cross of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
- Alfonsas Mickevicius: He is a Lithuanian basketball player currently playing for BC Vytautas in the NKL.
- Osvaldas Mickevicius: He is a Lithuanian ice-hockey player who is under contract with Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League.