Surname Schliek - Meaning and Origin
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Schliek: What does the surname Schliek mean?
The last name Schliek has German origins and is derived from the Middle High German word Schlick, which means mud. It is a common occupational surname for someone who worked in the mud or mired soil, typically a common smith, farmer, river worker, or fish trader in the river mud flats.
In the Middle High German period (1050 - 1350), the Schliek family lived in northwest Northern Germany and East Frisia, in a region once known as “Westerland”. The principality was located along the East Frisian banks of the Ems River in the Nordsee (North Sea) region. The local profession of the Schlieks during this period would have been Dutch settlement, meaning they were involved with trade and the growth of the Dutch economy.
The Schliek family symbol is a red escutcheon that consists of a heron with its wings spread. This symbol of the heron is believed to have been used to represent the family's occupation in navigating and gathering items from the river banks, and their affinity with the natural world.
Today, the Schliek family is a tight knit community that is still located in Germany and North America. Throughout the world, the Schliek surname still represents a symbol of hard work and dedication to the natural world.
Order DNA origin analysisSchliek: Where does the name Schliek come from?
The last name Schliek is most commonly found in the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as well as in some parts of the former Yugoslavia. German citizens of this heritage can often trace their family back to areas around the Rhine. It is thought that many of the early Schlieks may have originated in the Netherlands and later migrated to Germany in search of work.
In the United States, records show that there are people with Schliek as a name mainly concentrated in the western part of the country. California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho have higher numbers of Schliek households than the national average. It’s also likely that Schlieks in the country are descended from German immigrants in the 19th century who traveled to the U.S. on boats bound for the port of New York.
Online genealogical databases and surname maps indicate that the last name Schliek may be of Middle Low German origin. This is a language used to describe the regions of northern West Germany in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its form is close to modern Dutch. The name Schliek may have referred to someone who was solved or sly.
Schliek is a rare name and is not commonly found in society today. However, those who carry this name often trace their roots back to the central European countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Schliek
The surname Schliek is a German, Dutch, and Ashkenazi Jewish name that first originated in the Middle Ages. It is most commonly found in Europe, especially in Germany, Netherlands, and Austria. There are various spellings and variants of the name Schliek, including Schlick, Schlesch, Schleich, Schlich, Schlicht, and Schliack.
In German, the surname is a topographic name for someone who lived near a slippery or marshy place, from the Middle High German word ‘slick’, meaning ‘slippery’ or ‘slimy’. It is also thought to have derived from an ornamental name derived from Germanic elements ‘slind’ meaning ‘soft’, ‘subtle’ or ‘smooth’ and ‘ric’, meaning ‘power’ or ‘ruler’.
The Dutch version of the name, ‘Schleink’, is believed to be related to the German version Schlick and can be traced back to Middle Low German origin. The Dutch version translates to ‘having smooth soil’.
The surname Schliek is also associated with Ashkenazi Jewish families and may derive from the Hebrew word ‘slicha’, meaning ‘blessed’. This version of the name is found predominantly in South Central and Eastern Europe.
In conclusion, the surname Schliek has various spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. The spelling of the name depends largely on the country of origin, but most commonly includes Schliek/Schlick, Schlesch, Schleich, Schlich, Schlicht, Schliack, Schleink, and finally, Slicha.
Famous people with the name Schliek
- Gustav Schliek (1850: 1918) was a German economist and social theorist who is known for his contributions to the German Social Democratic Party.
- Robert Schliek (1923: 1992) was an American author and film director, best known for his 1970 film “Wake Me When the War Is Over”.
- Vivian Schliek (1905: 1970) was an American librarian who established the first prison library system in the United States.
- Charles Schliek (1888: 1966) was a German general and the Chief of Staff of the German Army from 1940 to 1945.
- Conrad Schliek (1895: 1982) was a German painter of the Expressionist Movement.
- Pam Schliek (1965: 2013) was an American photographer and author known for her work documenting the punk rock movement in the United States during the 1980s.
- Bernd Schliek (1934: 2012) was a German chess master and tournament director.
- Ulla Schliek (1939: 2020) was a German politician, member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, and mayor of Gotha from 1987 to 1994.
- Cat Schliek (1976: present) is an Australian artist specializing in illustration, painting, and photography.
- Ted Schliek (1933: 2002) was a Canadian athlete, specializing in the 400m and 800m races and a four-time Olympian.