Surname Sikorski - Meaning and Origin

Sikorski: What does the surname Sikorski mean?

The last name Sikorski is derived from the Polish adjective "sikorski," which means "hawk" or "falcon-like." This surname is relatively common in Poland and is believed to have originated in the pre-Christian era as a symbol of power and strength.

The surname is most commonly associated with a Polish aristocratic military family. The most famous members of the family were acclaimed military leaders, like the General Władysław Sikorski, considered by many to be a hero of WWII, and the General Ryszard Kukliński, who was one of the key figures in the Solidarity movement during the Soviet era.

The origins of the name are still unclear, but there are a few interesting theories. One of them suggests that the surname came from the use of the symbol of a bird of prey by a particular noble family of the 14th century, from which the Sikorski clan could have descended.

Others believe that Sikorski may have originated from the word “sikora” which is a Polish word for a long-haired bird.

The surname Sikorski has been around for centuries in Poland, but is not as common in other parts of the world. Those who bear the name are said to be strong-willed and proud, with a deep commitment to their heritage. They often remain loyal to their families and take pride in their accomplishments.

Sikorski: Where does the name Sikorski come from?

The last name Sikorski is most commonly found in Poland, where it is the twenty-third most frequent family name. Around a quarter of a million Poles have the last name Sikorski. The Polish spelling of the name is "Sikorski," and historically was a toponymic name derived from places called Sikory, various locations today dispersed throughout the country.

It is also widely spread in other countries of Eastern Central Europe, like Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Ukraine, usually spelled with the same spelling as in Poland or with variants like SIKORSKY or Zykov.

In the United States, the surname Sikorski is not very common. According to the 2000 Census, only 465 residents in the US have the last name Sikorski, located mostly in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Maryland. This could be due to the vast immigration of Poles to America during the 20th century, as Polish surnames were often Anglicized, and Sikorski may have experienced this name-change on the way to the US.

Outside of Eastern Central Europe and the United States, the surname Sikorski is relatively uncommon. For example, in England there are only 129 citizens known to have the last name Sikorski.

Despite its low presence in certain areas of the globe, the surname Sikorski has a long and enduring history, with plenty of information on its usage and origins throughout the centuries. In Poland, it is still a popular family name, and in other countries there are pockets of Americans and Europeans who bear it with pride.

Variations of the surname Sikorski

The surname Sikorski is derived from the historic city of Surochów in Western Ukraine. It is a patronymic name of Polish origin, deriving from the given name ‘Sikora’ which is the Polish nickname for the name ‘Sebastian’. It is also sometimes spelled as Sikoński, Shkorsky or Skorsk, in both its Yiddish and Belarusian forms. Other variants of the surname include Sikorskaya, Sikorskiy, Sikorskaia, Sikorskii, Sjkorsky, Sk lengths of Skorz and Shkorsky.

Surnames that may have descended from the original Sikorski surname include Sikora, Skora, Sackor, Skarka, Skarsa, Sikuch, Sikucha, Siakucha, Szkarka, and Szykarka. The Polish nickname for the given name ‘Sebastian’ is Szczepan, and its related surnames include Szczepanski, Szczpanski, and Augustyniak, while its Yiddish form is Schepsnik and its related surnames include Scheps, Shaps, Shepsnik, an Shapsnik.

The surname is also found in versions for both Polish and Belarusian language speakers in the form of Kiminski. The Belarusian form of the original surname is Kymonič and its related surnames include Kimoniki, Kymonski, and Kimonik. The surname could also be found in the form of Zikorski in both Serbo-Croatian and Ukrainian.

The Sikorski surname is a common Polish surname, with it originally signifying people from the city of Surochów. Over the years the surname has grown and evolved creating many different variants and spellings of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Sikorski

• Władysław Sikorski: He was a Polish soldier and statesman of World War I who was a Prime Minister of the Polish Republic from 1922-1923. He served as the Chief of State of Poland from December 1922 until his death in a plane crash in 1943.
• Lech Sikorski: He was a Polish military leader and political leader who served as Prime Minister of Poland from March 1990 to April 1992.
• Romuald Sikorski: He was a Polish Navy admiral who fought during the Second World War, and served as the commander of the Polish Navy from 1947 to 1952.
• Ryszard Sikorski: He is the current politician, journalist, and Member of the European Parliament from Poland. Sikorski was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007-2014.
• Jerzy Sikorski: He was a Polish politician and general who served as the Minister of Transportation and Communications in the government of Edward Gierek from 1966 to 1972, and the Minister of National Defense from 1972 to 1974.
• Stanisław Sikorski: He was a Polish engineer, diplomat, and ornithologist who served as the Minister of Trade and Industry from 1934 to 1938.
• Szymon Sikorski: He was a Polish economist, geographer, military historian, and politician who held the office of Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland from 1937-1939.
• Witold Sikorski: He was a Polish aircraft designer and engineer who designed several planes for the Polish Air Force during the years of 1933-1939.

Other surnames

SikorskaSikorsky