Surname Niemeczek - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Niemeczek: What does the surname Niemeczek mean?
Niemeczek is a Polish surname derived from the words niemiec, meaning “German”, and the diminutive suffix -eczek, meaning “son of” or “little”. It is commonly believed that the name originated in the Middle Ages as a way to denote people of German descent or those having some relationship to them.
The most general meaning of Niemeczek is therefore “Little German”. This may have been used to describe offspring of German settlers in Poland, a son or grandson of German immigrants who were living in the region, or someone who was of German descent but born in Poland. It is also possible the name was used pejoratively to refer to people of German ancestry living in Poland during periods of strife or tension between the two countries.
Some ancient records suggest that the name Niemeczek may have been given to people of Slavic descent who were born in Germany, or to those living in the borderlands between the two countries. Those of non-German descent likely took on this surname to indicate their close ties or allegiance to the region.
Despite its roots, the name Niemeczek can now be found in many different countries around the world, including those in Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. As with other surnames, slight variations on the spelling, such as Nieśmięczyk, are also possible.
Order DNA origin analysisNiemeczek: Where does the name Niemeczek come from?
The last name Niemeczek is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. It is most frequent in Poland, where it is the 624th most common name, with an estimated 3,799 people with this surname living in the country. It is also fairly common in the Czech Republic (3,035 people with the name there) and Ukraine (2,238). Outside of Europe, Niemeczek is fairly rare but can be found in the United States, with an estimated 960 people bearing the name living there.
The etymology of the name is most likely derived from the Polish word niemiec, which means German. It may have been given to people who had once lived in Germany or had ancestry there, or as a derogatory term for someone of German heritage living within Poland.
In Poland, the Niemeczeks have its origins in several regions including the Lower Silesia and Prussia borderlands, as well as Poznan and Greater Poland. The name is much more rare in other parts of the country.
Many of the Niemeczeks today are descended from lesser noble families that began living in their current locations over 300 years ago. As a result, there are many variants of the name, including Niemeczuk, Niemeczky, Niemieczek, Niemieczik, and others.
Overall, the last name Niemeczek is most common in Poland, then the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The name extends around the world, although it is very rare in nations outside of Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Niemeczek
The surname Niemeczek (or Niemieczyk) is a topographic name for a person who lived near or at a German settlement. It is derived from the Polish word niemy, meaning, "mute" or "silent," and the suffix -eczek, which is a diminutive of –ek, and often placed on the end of a word to express endearment and familiarity.
The surname Niemeczek is believed to have originated in parts of central and eastern Europe, predominantly in Poland and Slovakia, with variations such as Niemczek, Niemiec, Niemec, Nemecek, Niemieczek, Nemec, Nemczyk, Nimczek, Nimce, Nemcek, Nymczyk, Nyemczek, Nemeczky and Nyemczik all being possible surname spellings.
Variants of Niemeczek include the German derivative Niemaku, as well as various forms of the surname spelled in Ukrainian and Russian, such as: Nyemcuk, Nyemtsuk, Nyemchyk, Nyemchyz, and Nyemchev.
In addition to the above spellings, there are other surnames of similar origins such as Niemeyer or Nemec (German), Nyemecz (Hungarian), Nyemecynek (Polish), Negemcev (Bulgarian) and Nimic (Romanian).
The surnames Niemeczek and Niemieczyk can also be found in the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and California.
Famous people with the name Niemeczek
- Kris Niemeczek: an entertainer, visual artist and classical composer from Los Angeles, California.
- Rachel Niemeczek: an American singer, songwriter and actor.
- Justyna Niemiec-Stawinoga: a Polish diplomat and political scientist.
- Bartosz Niemiec: a professional footballer who played for Wisła Kraków for the 2017/18 season.
- Jakub Niemiec: a Polish documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, best known for his 2014 film The Spring of Life.
- Sten Niemeczek: a Swedish musician and composer whose work spanned from jazz to pop and funk.
- Ireneusz Niemiec: a Polish boxer who won the European bronze medal in 1964.
- Rich Niemec: a former American major league baseball pitcher.
- Mateusz Niemiec: a Polish male volleyball player, a member of Poland men's national volleyball team and Italian club Azimut Modena.
- Jan Niemiec: a Polish chess Grandmaster.