Surname Schwientek - Meaning and Origin
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Schwientek: What does the surname Schwientek mean?
The last name Schwientek is of German origin and derived from the words "Schwien," meaning "swine," and "teck," meaning "dealer" or "merchant." The name likely refers to a person who was a professional in the swine trade, either buying and selling swine or raising them for slaughter or breeding. The literal meaning of the name would be "swine dealer" or "swine merchant."
The name may have originated in the mid-1600s, when people commonly took their surnames from their occupations. At the time, raising and selling swine was a valuable and necessary economic activity, so it was not uncommon for a person to take and use the surname Schwientek to indicate their occupation.
More recently, the surname Schwientek has evolved to become a family name, meaning that it has been passed down from one generation to the next. For those with this last name, their ancestors likely were a part of the swine industry and the name continues to be a reminder of that particular heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwientek: Where does the name Schwientek come from?
The last name Schwientek is commonly found in Germany and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It is mostly found in the modern-day states of Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and some parts of South America, also have some people with this last name.
The Schwientek name originated in Germany. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Schwiento. This name may have had an occupational origin, indicating that the original bearer was someone who was involved in the trade of spices. The name also may have derived from being an inhabitant of Schwiento, a now invalid place name which may have been based on the old German word “swint” meaning ‘bright'.
The Schwientek surname is found mainly in Northwestern Germany, in the historic regions of Prussia, Pomerania, East Prussia, West Prussia, Silesia, and the Rhineland, and in the adjacent states of Poland, Czech Republic, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
Schwienteks began emigrating to America during the mid-1800s and have since relocated to over 75 countries worldwide. While the aforementioned regions carry the highest concentration of people with this last name, there are also notable numbers of Schweinteks living in France, Brazil, Chile, and various nations in the Middle East and Far East.
Variations of the surname Schwientek
The surname Schwientek is derived from the Germanic personal name Schwint with the suffix ‘ek’ added at the end. It is thought to be of Slavic origin, as it has been found in various regions of Eastern Europe. It is a relatively uncommon name, so there are not many variants or spellings of Schwientek.
Variants of the Schwientek surname include Schwintek, Schwintek, Schwintke, Schwientke, and Schwientka. These variants all stem from the same surname, with subtle differences in spelling. Spellings could include Schwienteck, Schwinteck, Schwentek and Schwendek, although these may be less common.
The Schwientek surname is also known to have been spelled differently in various regions of Eastern Europe, such as Schwentek in Poland, Shvintek in Ukraine, and Svintok in Slovakia. It can also be found spelled as Schwinter, Schwintzer, Schwnetzer and Schwinek among other variants, as well as Schwentker in Romania, Shvinskyi in Ukraine, and Schvinger in Lithuania. Other surnames that may be related to Schwientek include Swientek, Szwentek, and Schvejtek.
Overall, despite the slight variations, all of these spellings and surnames are thought to have originated from the same Schwientek source.
Famous people with the name Schwientek
- Joe Schwientek: Former American football quarterback who played in the NFL from 1973 to 1977 for the Baltimore Colts, Saints, and Bills.
- Yvonne Schwientek: German artistic swimmer who won a bronze medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
- Mark Schwientek: Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 51st Assembly District from 2007 to 2019.
- Alexander Schwientek: German actor and film director best known for films such as Don't Trust the Devil (2002) and Der Tod in den Wolken (2006).
- Paul Schwientek: German-American aerospace engineer and astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist in 1999.
- Jackson Schwientek: American professional soccer player who plays for Lansing Ignite in the USL League One.
- Edward Schwientek: Artist and sculptor living and working in the Midwest.
- Daryl Schwientek: American-born soccer goalkeeper currently playing for German amateur side SV Elversberg.
- John Schwientek: American political consultant and former president of Atlas Strategies.
- Stephen Schwientek: Former United States Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia from 2002 to 2005.