Surname Schliffkowitz - Meaning and Origin
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Schliffkowitz: What does the surname Schliffkowitz mean?
The last name Schliffkowitz is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word schliff, meaning “glimmering” or “shimmering.” The second part of the name, -kowitz, is the German version of the Slavic suffix -ovic or -ovich, meaning son of. Thus, the surname Schliffkowitz translates to the literal meaning of “son of the shimmering one.”
Schliffkowitz could have originated as a nickname given to a person who was particularly adept at making things sparkle or gleam. Alternatively, the name may be an attempted transliteration of a foreign word describing a sparkling object or gemstone, and thus may have been given to someone who was thought to possess the qualities associated with such an item.
The surname has been recorded in Germany as far back as the mid-1600s, where it is most common around the former Prussian provinces of Silesia and Pomerania. With the period of German migration to other parts of Europe during the 19th century, the name spread to Austria and other parts of Germany, and can now be found in the United States, Canada and parts of South America.
Schliffkowitz is an evocative surname that speaks to the qualities of allure and sparkle. As a reference to a foreign word, it pays tribute to a person's uniqueness while also tracing the family’s heritage beyond Germany. As the use of the suffix -kowitz implies, the name could also be a tribute to the progenitor of an extended family, and the legacy he left behind.
Order DNA origin analysisSchliffkowitz: Where does the name Schliffkowitz come from?
The last name Schliffkowitz is most commonly found in areas of Central and Eastern Europe such as the German-speaking countries, Austria and Switzerland. The name is also found in countries with large German emigrant populations including the United States, Canada, and Argentina.
The origins of the surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the Austrian-Bohemian border areas. It is an occupational name derived from the word “Schliff” which means “cutting” or “clipping”. The suffix ‘kowitz’ is thought to come from the german word ‘Kutsche’ meaning a libertarian.
Today, many Schliffkowitz families have preserved their heritage and remain within their native region. The highest concentration of the name can be found in the city of Vienna in Austria, where it is the 423rd most common name. The cities of Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney, and Toronto also have large populations of people with the last name Schliffkowitz. The name is much less common in the US and Canada but still many people can trace their heritage back to this surname.
Due to the close proximity of Central and Eastern Europe, the name is often seen combined with a wider range of surnames from the region. In the US and Canada, the full name is often shortened to just the Schliffkowitz surname.
Variations of the surname Schliffkowitz
Schliffkowitz is a surname originating from central and eastern Europe, with varied spellings and variants. It is derived from the German Schliff, meaning "edge" or "ridge". The suffix -kowitz is of Slavic origin and is a common suffix for surnames in Central and Eastern Europe.
The most common spelling of Schliffkowitz is Šlifković, especially in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. In Poland, it is commonly found as Szlifkowicz, Sklifkowicz, Szlifkowiec, Szlifkowicz, Szlifkowic and Szlifkovicz. Other spellings used in Poland include Szlifko, Szlifcowicz, Szlifkowic and Szlifcovich.
In Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the surname is spelled Šlifka. In Hungary, it is Szlifka. In Austria and Germany, Schliffkowitz is usually spelled Schlifkowitz, Schlifkowitz, Schleifkowitz, Schliefkowitz or Schlieffkowitz. In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, a variant of the surname Schliffkowitz is Schlifkowitz.
Variations of Schliffkowitz may also be found in France, where the surname is spelled Schliakoff, Sliakof or Schlyakoff; in Italy, where it is Schlakof and Scolyakoff; in Norway, where it is Skleifkowitz; and even in the United States or Canada, where it may be found as Schliffkowitz, Shlifkowitz, Shliffkowitz, Shelifkowitz, Schlefkowitz or Shlefkowitz.
Famous people with the name Schliffkowitz
- David Schliffkowitz: a prominent Swiss-German musician, composer, and conductor.
- Saskia Schliffkowitz: an award-winning German film producer and cinematographer.
- Konrad Schliffkowitz: a renowned Austrian mathematician and computer scientist.
- Sabina Schliffkowitz: a German-Japanese political scientist and lecturer at the University of Bonn.
- Peter Schliffkowitz: a German professional football player who formerly played for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Franz Schliffkowitz: a German historical figure known for his groundbreaking 18th century contributions to the natural sciences.
- Elisabeth Schliffkowitz: a German voice actress currently working mainly in the video-game industry.
- Christiane Schliffkowitz: a renowned German biochemist and molecular biologist.
- Uli Schliffkowitz: an Austrian composer and music producer.
- Johannes Schliffkowitz: a German scholar in the field of literature and education.