Surname Schlik - Meaning and Origin
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Schlik: What does the surname Schlik mean?
The last name Schlik is a German surname originating from the northern parts of the country. It is thought to be derived from the Old German name "Schlick" or "schleic" which means 'ditch' or 'small stream'. This would indicate that the original bearer of the surname either lived near or was associated with such a body of water.
The surname Schlik likely would have been associated with people who were either farmers, fortune-tellers, fishers or millers. In German language, the 'k' at the end of the name is a diminutive suffix signifying a small person/entity, so the name could additionally indicate that the original bearer was a smaller size than other people with the same name.
The surname Schlik is not a particularly common one in modern times, but it is still scattered around the country, mainly in the northern and western regions.
The name is quite old, having been recorded as being used as early as the 15th century. Records[1] from a town register in Graz, Austria in 1429 indicate a person by the name of Willibald Schlik, who was likely the first recorded bearer of the surname.
[1] https://www.genealogy.net/personen/Schlik/
Order DNA origin analysisSchlik: Where does the name Schlik come from?
The Schlik surname is most common today in the Czech Republic and, to a lesser extent, in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the United States.
At last count, there were 600 people living in the Czech Republic carrying the Schlik name. In Germany, the name is most commonly found in Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Austrian records list between 100 and 200 people with the surname, with the majority living in Vienna.
In Poland, the surname is more rare, with fewer than 100 people listed. However, the surname is still common enough that a genealogical website dedicated to tracking the surname and its variations was launched in 2009.
In the United States, tens of thousands of people of Czech, German, and Austrian descent have adopted the Schlik surname over the centuries. It has also been spread through intermarriage and immigration — most notably in the 1800s when many Europeans drew a new life in the United States. Today, the surname is found primarily in the Midwest and East Coast states.
Variations of the surname Schlik
The Schlik surname is widely distributed in Europe and other countries around the world. There are a variety of variants and spellings of the same surname, which are used by different families who have suggestive ties to common ancestral roots.
Common variants of the Schlik surname include Schlick, Schlich, Schlick, Shlik, Shlicks, Schlickmann, Shlikman, Schluk, Schlock, Schlak, Shleck, Schleck, Schluct, Schlook, Scoleck, Schluk, and more.
In Germany, the Schlik spelling is more commonly used today, while the Schlick spelling is becoming less popular. Likewise, in other parts of Europe, people are continuing to use both Schlik and Schlick, as well as other variations, such as Shlik and Schluck.
In the United Kingdom, Anglicized versions of the Schlik name are most common, such as Shleek or Schlich, whereas in the United States, the Schlock spelling is most common.
The ancestral name of this surname, mostly, has traditionally indicated a topographic origin, that is, a place or region where families traditionally resided. It is important to note that the variants of the same surname are only a suggestion of ancestry and not a definitive indication. The surnames all trace their roots back to the same family, though each clan may have adapted and changed the surname according to their geographical and cultural context.
Famous people with the name Schlik
- Johann Schlich: Former Prime Minister of Electoral Hesse
- Miloš Schlichtl: Czech contact improvisation dancer and teacher
- Alex Schlichter: Former NFL player
- Eduard Schlichting: German oceanographer
- Kurt Schlichter: Retired Colonel of the US Army Reserve and current conservative author and columnist
- Peter Schlichting: 19th century German explorer
- August Schlichting: 19th century German explorer and botanist
- Margarete Schlichting-Hegewald: 19th and early 20th century writer and women's rights activist
- Wilhelm Schlichting: 19th century German artist
- Friedrich Schlichting: 19th century German lawyer
- Armin Schlichting: German field hockey player
- Bernd Schlichting: German sprint canoer
- Cecilie Schlichting: Danish artistic gymnast
- William Schlichting: American baseball player
- Johannes Schlichting: German classical composer