Surname Prokopowich - Meaning and Origin
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Prokopowich: What does the surname Prokopowich mean?
The last name Prokopowich is a patronymic name derived from a given name of a father or ancestor. The surname Prokopowich originated from a Slavic prefix "prok-," meaning "in favor of" or "for," and a suffix "-owich," which means "son of" or "descendant of." Prokopowich literally translates to ”son of Prokop,” with Prokop coming from the Greek name, Procopius, meaning “advancement.” An alternate spelling of the last name Prokopowich is Prokopovych.
Thought to have originated in the countries of Eastern Europe, the name Prokopowich and its variants were spread to the US by Slovak or Ukrainian immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is believed that Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants brought this surname to America when they settled in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to Eastern Europe, the surname Prokopowich could be found in Russia and the Ukraine.
Currently, there are an estimated 555 people in the United States who bear the last name Prokopowich. The highest population of Prokopowichs can be found in Pennsylvania, followed by New York, Ohio, Vermont, and New Jersey. The name is also found in Canada, Mexico, and other countries across the world.
Overall, the last name Prokopowich has a deep history and is believed to derive from a Greek word meaning “advancement.” It was likely brought to the United States by Eastern European immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries and is still common today.
Order DNA origin analysisProkopowich: Where does the name Prokopowich come from?
The last name Prokopowich is most common in Poland, where it is believed to have originated. There are estimated to be more than 3750 people with this surname living in the country today. The name is also found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe.
In the United States, Prokopowich is most common in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Within those states, it is most frequent in Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Cleveland. In Canada, Prokopowich is mainly located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
The origin of the last name Prokopowich is uncertain, although it is believed to be of Polish descent. It may refer to a person who is illegitimate, as the surname derives from the Polish words proka (meaning "bastard") and powic (meaning "head"). It is also possible that it was the name of someone living in a location known as Prokopow.
Despite not having a clear origin, the last name Prokopowich is still quite common in many parts of the world today. It is most frequent in its place of origin – Poland – but it is also found in the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe.
Variations of the surname Prokopowich
Prokopowich is a surname of Slavic origin. It is the anglicised version of the name Prokopovych, which is derived from the Old Slavic personal name Prokop meaning 'Prosperous'. It is an uncommon surname in the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States.
Variants of the surname Prokopowich include Prokopovich, Prokopovech, Prokopovuch, Procopovech, Procopovich, Procopovitch, and Procopowich. There is also the Polish variant Prokopowicz.
The spelling Prokopowich is seen in English record sources ranging from German immigration documents to English census enumerations. However, its variants are primarily found in native language records of people who originated in Slavic countries such as Ukraine and Russia but may have moved to other countries such as the United States.
Because the name is derived from an old personal name, there are other surnames derived from Prokop which may be seen alongside Prokopowich. Some of these include Prokopow, Prokopau, Prokopowicz, Prokopchyk, Prokopenko, Prokopchik, and Prokopenya.
The Prokopowich surname is a relatively rare one in English-speaking countries, but it is a useful reminder of the Slavic migration into the UK, United States, and other places in the world throughout history.
Famous people with the name Prokopowich
- Saško Prokopowich: professional basketball player from Montenegro
- David Prokopowich: Ukrainian-Canadian ice hockey goaltender
- Alexander Prokopowich: Russian footballer
- Mike Prokopowich: Canadian football defensive back
- Joseph Prokopowich: Ukrainian-Canadian ice hockey player
- Katie Prokopowich: manufactured artist from Cleveland
- Lydia Prokopowich: Canadian singer and songwriter
- Natalia Prokopowich: Russian rhythmic gymnast
- Tony Prokopowich: Canadian snowboarder
- Ivan Prokopowich: Ukrainian-born architect and painter