Surname Ogorek - Meaning and Origin
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Ogorek: What does the surname Ogorek mean?
The last name Ogorek is a Slavic patronymic or occupational surname which originated in the regions of Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The surname Ogorek is derived from the personal name Ogor, which means "spearman" or "lance-bearer."
In the Middle Ages, this occupational name referred to a soldier who was in charge of the lances and spears of a particular army or military unit. People who took on this role were usually fighters for a noble family or clan.
The surname has various spelling variations with Ogorek being the most common. Other versions may include Ogorec, Ogork, Ogorka, Ogoreck, Ogorecz, Ogorko, Ogory, Ogure, Ourec, Oureck, Ourek, and Urec. All of the variants share the same meaning of "spearman."
The Ogorek surname can be seen in old manuscripts and census records across many central and eastern European countries. One of the earliest historical references to this surname dates back to 1671 in the register of the town of Ruttka in Slovakia.
Today, the surname Ogorek is still present in many countries across Europe, with the United States having the highest concentration of individuals with this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisOgorek: Where does the name Ogorek come from?
The last name Ogorek is most commonly found today in Eastern European countries, primarily in Poland and the Czech Republic.
In Poland, the surname Ogorek is recorded in historical archives primarily as a toponymic surname, derived from the Old Polish words ogor which means meadow and ek which means small, producing the literal translation "small meadow". This suggests that the surname likely indicated a person who lived near a small meadow or other small area of land. The name is recorded in Poland as far back as the 16th century, including in records from cities such as Kraków and Radom.
In the Czech Republic, the surname Ogorek is also predominantly toponymic. It is derived from the Old Czech words háj and ek, translated as "meadow small". Like in Poland, this suggests that the surname historically indicated a person living by a tiny meadow. The earliest records of the name in the Czech archives is 13th century, with many records from cities such as Prague and Tabor.
Today, the most common concentration of the Ogorek surname is in Poland, where it is recorded as being held by around 9,000 people as of the last census. Within Europe as a whole, the surname is relatively uncommon and is still predominantly found in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Variations of the surname Ogorek
The surname Ogorek is a Polish synonymous of the popular name “Gorecki”, expected to be derived from the Old Polish word "gore" meaning “staff” or “post” and refers to someone who has held an occupation of a postman.
Popular variants of the Ogorek surname in Poland include Ogórek, Ogork and Ogoreq. The ‘q’ ending is common in eastern Poland, Belarus and the Ukraine.
The most recent immigrants of Poland in the US and UK adopted the spellings Ogorek and Ogorak which are the anglicized forms of the surname. Variants in other countries include Ogorec (in Slovenia) and Горек (in Russia).
Surnames with the same origin include Goretzki, Goricke, Goricki, Gorycki and Gorak.
Surnames Ogorek, Ogork, Ogorec and their respective variants all refer to holders of the postman’s profession and evolved from the same cultural origin. Each of these surnames has its own unique original spelling, yet all share a common origin.
In some regions, Ogorek and similar surnames have become a family name; one example is the clan of Polish musicians who call themselves "Ogorek".
The surname is also found in German and American records as Ogram, Ogren and Aqugram.
Famous people with the name Ogorek
- Paul Ogorek: Legendary physical therapist and proponent of conservative treatment for physical ailments.
- Robert Ogorek: Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 114th district, serving from 1997 to 2018.
- Stuart Ogorek: American singer-songwriter, best known for his 2018 single "Trouble in Paradise."
- Mieczysław Ogorek: Former Polish-American tennis player who competed in the 1920s.
- Scarlett Ogorek: Co-creator of the popular YouTube gaming channel, “TheOgoreks".
- Konrad Ogorek: Polish historian and professor at the Jagiellonian University.
- Agata Ogorek: Professional glass artist and sculptor, best known for her colorful, abstract works.
- Sebastian Ogorek: Polish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Wisła Kraków.
- Kathleen Ogorek: Creator and curator of the TheOgoreks blog, which has become a source for art and fashion inspiration.
- Philip Ogorek: American game designer who is best known for his work on upcoming title “Heroes of Warcraft”.