Surname Sikora - Meaning and Origin
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Sikora: What does the surname Sikora mean?
The last name Sikora is of Polish and Czech origin and is derived from the word sikor, which loosely translates to mean finch or titmouse. The name is believed to be an occupational name, given to people who captured or traded birds, particularly finches, during the medieval era. Variations of the name in other languages include Szikora in Hungarian, Szikora in Slovak, Sikoř in Czech, Sykovor in Russian, and Sikorski in German.
The name is also found as a Jewish surname, believed to be derived from Vilkomir, a small town in Belarus. During the 1800s, many Jews living in this region were forced to take on last names in order to conform to the Polish residence certificates. Those living in Vilkomir often adopted the name Sikora or Szikora.
Today, the name is still common in many Eastern European countries and can also be found in Canada, the United States and other countries around the world, indicating its spread throughout the diaspora of Jewish immigrants. Although the name Sikora is not as common today as it was in the past, it still retains its historical significance and stands testament to the diversity of different cultures that make up our world today.
Order DNA origin analysisSikora: Where does the name Sikora come from?
The last name Sikora is most commonly found in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a very popular surname in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, and there are also sizeable populations in Germany, northern Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The name likely originated in one of these countries, though no one is certain which.
In Poland, the name is most commonly found in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the country, and it is also popular in the Silesian region that lies along the border with the Czech Republic and Germany. In Slovakia, it is most popular in the eastern regions near the border of Ukraine and Hungary. It is also common in the western Czech Republic and parts of the German states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Brandenburg.
In the United States, the name is less common than in its likely regions of origin. The vast majority of those bearing the name live in states with largePolish populations, or those with substantial numbers of Eastern European heritage, such as Illinois, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. It is particularly important among first and second generation Polish immigrants in the United States.
Variations of the surname Sikora
The surname Sikora is largely found in Central and Eastern Europe, where it is spelled in multiple ways. It is an habitational name which originated from the Sikava river in Slovakia, among other rivers in the area.
The most common versions of the surname are Sikora and Sikorra, although variants such as Sikory and Sikorro are also found. Less common spellings of the name are Szikora and Szikorra.
Other regional and language-specific variants of the surname include Šikorová, Sikorec, Sikora, Sykora, and Šikora in Czech, and Szikora, Szikorai, and Sikorai in Hungarian. Additionally, other Baltic states like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia also use the surname Sikora, spelled as Szikora, Śikora, and Šikora.
The spelling of the surname can also be based on its phonetic sound. In Slovak, Pfikora is pronounced similarly to Sikora, and some holders of the surname spell their last name as Pfikora, rather than Sikora. Similarly, the surname Paśko is a phonetic variation of the name Sikora, which appears in Serbia, Bulgaria, and Croatia.
In the United States, Sikora is derived from the Polish spelling of the name, Szikora. Related surnames in the United States include Sykora, Szikora, Sikorski, Sikorra, Schikora, and Schikorek.
Other derivatives of the name are Sikorska, Sikorka, Sykorek, Sikorski, and Sikora.
Famous people with the name Sikora
- Mary Sikora, Canadian actor, writer and director
- Joseph Sikora, American actor
- Peter Sikora, Australian comedian and musician
- Robert Sikora, American television actor
- Arkadiusz Sikora, Polish footballer
- Wojciech Sikora, Polish film director
- Maria Sikora, British-Polish songwriter
- Szymon Sikora, prost studies professor
- Karolina Sikora, Polish singer
- Michael Sikora, German mountain climber and alpine guide