Surname Schliewka - Meaning and Origin
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Schliewka: What does the surname Schliewka mean?
The last name Schliewka is derived from the German words ‘schliefe’ and ‘Kah’ which mean ‘lock’ and ‘Slope’. It is considered to be a topographic name which was originally given to a family who lived in a place that was close to a hill that had a slope.
The name is also believed to be derived from Schliewa, a river located in North Central Europe. It runs between Germany and Poland and is now known as the River Oder.
It is believed that the name, Schliewka, originally represented a family who lived in a place on the banks of the River Oder and were possibly into trading or boatbuilding.
Much later, during the Middle Ages, Schliewka became connected with trade, specifically the hunting and trading of hares and other small game. The hunters who supplied the trade were called ‘schliewker’, which eventually became the modern version of the surname, Schliewka.
Schliewka is a rare name and today, it is mainly found in Poland. It is not known exactly where the family originated from and the exact meaning of the name is also unclear. However, it is thought to be derived from the German words, ‘schliefe’ and ‘kah’, which mean ‘lock’ and ‘slope’.
Order DNA origin analysisSchliewka: Where does the name Schliewka come from?
The last name Schliewka is most commonly found in parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland. It is rarely found in other parts of the world, although there are scattered examples of Schliewka households in other parts of Europe, the United States, and Canada.
In Poland, the name is associated with the region of Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk). It was present in the region from at least the 15th century, when records of the name start to appear in the historical record. In the 18th century, many Schliewkas spread out from Lower Silesia, settling in the Greater Polish region. During the 19th century, many of them emigrated to the United States.
Ancestry.com lists more than 1,570 individuals with the Schliewka surname currently living in the United States; most are descendants of the 19th-century immigrants. Those with the last name are most likely concentrated in areas that experienced large-scale Polish immigration in the 1800s, including New England, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The California city of San Francisco is another area with a significant population of Schliewkas.
In addition to the United States, there are also moderate numbers of Schliewkas in Canada, particularly in Ontario, where ancestry records report 308 individuals.
In conclusion, the last name Schliewka is primarily concentrated in Poland, with relatively small numbers in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Schliewka
Schliewka is a surname of German origin. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Schleweka, Shlewka, Schlieka, Shlieka, Schlieweke, Schlieke, Schleweke, Schliewke, Shleweke, Schliewehka, Schlieehka, Shlieehka, Schlewehka, Shlewehka, Schliewigka, Schlieigka, Shlieigka, Schleweigka, and Shleweigka.
The history of the Schliewka surname dates back centuries. It was believed to have originated in the 1600s, in Germany, when the Schliewka family settled in the Thuringian forest. The family name Schliewka likely derives from the word Schliewe, which means a narrow valley or ravine; this is fitting as the Thuringian forest is an area of Central Germany known for its deep valleys and winding rivers.
The Schliewka surname can be found scattered throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. It is also believed to have spread to the United States and other countries, often via emigration, as many members of the Schliewka family left their homeland in search of new opportunities. In the United States, many Schliewka families settled in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
Today, the surname Schliewka is still found among families throughout Germany, the United States, and other countries. As generations pass, the spelling of the surname has changed, resulting in various variant spellings, including those listed above. The unique spelling of acronyms of the surname Schliewka continues to make it a distinct family name.
Famous people with the name Schliewka
- Heinz Schliewka (1909–1987), German equestrian and Olympic gold medalist
- Sophie Schliewka (1890–1958), German peace activist and librarian
- Erich Schliewka (1898–1961), German general during World War II
- Bruno Schliewka (1863–1914), German naturalist and explorer
- Alexander Schliewka (1857–1933), German painter
- Ladislaus Schliewka (1866–1922), Austrian Musician and Composer
- Friedrich Schliewka (1879–1952), Austrian classical archaeologist
- Georg Schliewka (1926–1993), German historian
- Helga Schliewka (1920–2012), German dancer and choreographer
- Willi Schliewka (1909–1993), German WW2 Luftwaffe fighter pilot