Surname Schimczik - Meaning and Origin
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Schimczik: What does the surname Schimczik mean?
The last name Schimczik is of German origin, predating the current German political borders, and was primarily found in areas of Prussia and Silesia. It is believed to have been derived from the word "schimme", which was a colloquial term used to describe a bad smell, and "zik", a suffix to express the idea of little. Thus, the combined form Schimczik literally translates to “a little bad smell” or “a faint stench”.
The surname Schimczik appears to have been derived from an occupational name, referring to someone who was likely a tanner by trade. While tanning bird and animal hides to produce leather for various clothing and accessory items smelled unpleasant, it was an important occupation in these communities, and tanning businesses were no doubt run by families who bore the Schimczik surname.
The Schimczik name is particularly common in counties in northern Germany and northern Bavaria, in the region near the Oder River and the Skoda Mountains which border modern day Czech Republic. It is possible that the name evolved as a result of migration across these borders over the centuries. For example, during the reign of King Frederick the Great (1740–1786), many families moved from Prussia to join the growing German population living in Bohemia.
In more recent times, Schimczik is a relatively rare name. However, there are still many people who bear the Schimczik surname, living and working around the world. Each of them is a living part of a centuries-old tradition, bearing testament to a proud history of an occupation that, while likely unpleasant, was also clearly valued in the communities which those families lived in at the time.
Order DNA origin analysisSchimczik: Where does the name Schimczik come from?
The last name Schimczik is a relatively rare surname, but can be found in several countries around the world. It originated in Germany and can be found in areas with German heritage such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, Schimczik is most commonly found in the states of Texas, California, Oregon, and Washington. It is especially concentrated in Texas, where there are more than one hundred people of this surname living in the state.
In Canada, the last name Schimczik can mostly be found in the province of British Columbia and in Ontario. In Australia, it is most commonly found in Victoria, and in New Zealand, most people with this surname live in Auckland.
This last name likely has several possible origins, and many of its variants – such as Schimaczek and Schimczynski – are also found in different countries. It is difficult to pinpoint where the surname most commonly is found because it is so rare and widespread, but it can be found on numerous city directories and telephone directories.
Variations of the surname Schimczik
The surname Schimczik has various spellings and variants. Some of the most commonly used spellings and variants are Schimchik, Shymchik, Shymshik, Schmichik and Schimschik.
In some cases, the surname Schimczik is also seen spelled as Symychak, Shymychak, Symchik, Schymik, Shymbik, Shymtsyak and Shymtshak.
The Schimczik surname is of Polish and Czech origin. It is a derivative of the Polish word "szczątek" which means "remains". It is also the Czech word "šimčík" which means "one who plays a flute".
The various spelling and variants of the surname Schimczik can be further broken down into surnames of the same origin. For example, the variants Shymbik, Shymtshak and Shymtsyak could all be variants of the Slavic surname Shimbokov, which means "trail-maker" or "path follower".
Variants of the Germanic surname Schimczyk include Schimchik, Schmichik and Schimschik. This was a surname based on the words "simir" or "shimeir" which means "skin". This surname likely originated from the occupation of a tanner or leather-worker.
The Polish surname Symychak comes from the noun "cymbał", which means a "small bowl" or "dish". It may have been an occupational surname for a potter.
Finally, the Croatian surnames Shymychak and Symchik come from the word "simbola", which means "a type of dance or song". This name likely referred to someone who was an entertainer or singer.
Famous people with the name Schimczik
- A.J. Schimczik, American musician and producer
- Peter Schimczik, German footballer
- Rudolf Schimczik, Czechoslovakian Olympic hockey player
- Renata Schimczik, Polish volleyball player
- Michael Schimczik, American singer-songwriter
- John Schimczik, Australian rugby league player
- Frank Schimczik, German professional ice hockey player
- Lorraine Schimczik, Canadian provincial politician
- Alfred Schimczik, German politician
- Jadwiga Schimczik, Polish sculptor