Surname Ofczarek - Meaning and Origin

Ofczarek: What does the surname Ofczarek mean?

The last name Ofczarek is of Polish origin and belongs to a subset of the larger Slavic language group, meaning it is a surname shared by many people in Eastern European countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It is derived from the Polish word ‘ofc’, which translates to ‘guard’, leading one to believe that the surname originated from a profession of guardianship in its ancestor’s homeland.

In Polish heritage and culture, family names performed the same function that a crest does in heraldry, signifying a unique noble family but also identifiying a common ancestor from whom all the current bearers of the name are directly descended. In the case of the Ofczarek surname, it is believed that ancestors of the name returned after a period of departure due to war and that the ‘guard’ aspect of the name represented a personal guard or a guardian of an ancient Polish castle or home.

The most notable bearer of the Ofczarek surname today is Actors Tolga Ofczarek, an Austrian actor of Polish origin. Over his long career, he has appeared in a variety of television shows, movies, and stage productions, always delivering strong characters and impeccably timed delivery. His performances have earned him great praise and recognition, cementing his position as one of the most talented and long-standing actors of his generation.

Overall, the surname Ofczarek carries with it a certain sense of mystery and strong lineage. Its ancient roots and reliable symbolism represent an illustrious past and serve to remind the current members of the family that their history comes with responsibilities and obligations, but also the privilege of a great legacy.

Ofczarek: Where does the name Ofczarek come from?

The last name Ofczarek is most commonly found in Poland, but has spread out to other regions as Poles have migrated around the world in search of better lives. Historically, Ofczarek is a patronymic surname, deriving from the given name of one’s father, in this case “Ofczar,” and translating roughly to “son of Ofczar.” The earliest written record of the family is a 1386 reference to Mateusz Ofczar, found in the lawyer book of the Skierniewice area.

More recently, the name Ofczarek is most prevalent in Poland, South Africa, and the United States. The Polish population with the surname Ofczarek is estimated at around 600, primarily residing in the southeastern part of the country. In South Africa, the name is most common in the western coastal province of the Western Cape and the surrounding provinces. Furthermore, this surname is found in the United States, primarily in the states of California, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Washington across the Midwest and East Coast.

With their successes in Poland and further abroad, many branches of the Ofczarek family have been afforded immense status and recognition. For instance, Agnieszka Ofczarek is a well-known Polish actress who works in theatre, television, and film. Meanwhile, in South Africa, Stephan Ofczarek is a decorated athlete who has won several South African champion records and medals in the freestyle relays swimming events.

All in all, the surname Ofczarek is most popular in Poland, South Africa, and the United States. It carries immense pride for its bearers, especially considering the historical record of the family and the modern successes of some of its members. Today, the name Ofczarek is carried by many different people across the world.

Variations of the surname Ofczarek

The surname Ofczarek is typically associated with Slavic origins, and it has several variations, spellings and surnames with the same origin.

The most common spelling for the surname is Ofczarek, although it can also be spelled Ofczark, Ofczarcz and Ofczar. In Czech language, the name can be spelled as Ofčárek, Ofčář or Ofčářek. Variants of the name in other Slavic languages include Oftasar in Ukrainian, Oftsar in Belarusian and Ofcaar in Russian.

The surname has a variety of other spellings and surnames stemming from the same origin, the most common of which are Oftczerk, Offczerk and Ofczerk. Additionally, variants of the name in other languages include Ofczor in Polish, Ofcsár in Hungarian and Ofčer in Slovakian.

Other names of the same origin include Ofcza, Ofczai and Ofczay. Similarly, other variants of the name can also include Ofchart, Ofcars and Ofchar.

Lastly, surnames with the same origin include Ofszar, Oftszar in Slovakian, Oftschark in Ukrainian and Backofszerk in Hungarian.

Famous people with the name Ofczarek

• Jürgen Ofczarek: Austrian actor, well known for playing Konstantin in The White Ribbon
• Therese Ofczarek: Austrian diplomat who served as the Austrian ambassador to Bulgaria
• Klaudia Ofczarek: Austrian film and television actress
• Josef Ofczarek: Grammy Award-winning Austrian bass and contrabass baritone
• Martha Ofczarek: Austrian actress
• Hans Ofczarek: Austrian actor and film director
• Erich Ofczarek: Austrian politician and Member of the European Parliament
• Robert Ofczarek: Austrian actor
• Andreas Ofczarek: Austrian painter and sculptor
• Stefan Ofczarek: Austrian filmmaker, actor and author.

Other surnames

Ofczarczik