Surname Soyka - Meaning and Origin

Soyka: What does the surname Soyka mean?

The last name Soyka is a Polish surname derived from the Slavic word 'soyka' meaning 'frightening, terrible, powerful'. This is likely a reference to a powerful warrior-like individual, since the word was also used to refer to an ancient Slavic god of war.

The surname is quite common in Poland and is found in other countries as well, such as Slovakia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of the former Soviet Union. It is also sometimes spelled as Sojka or Soyko.

The origin of the surname Soyka points to a particular social group or clan that had a reputation for being warriors or strong fighters. This tradition may have been passed down from father to son for many generations.

In some cases, Soyka may also refer to a trade, such as tinsmithing or blacksmithing, that a family was involved in for several generations.

In recent times, the last name Soyka has become more widely distributed as people moved out of Eastern Europe due to the large number of immigrants. People have changed the spelling of their names in other countries, but the meaning has remained the same.

Today, the name Soyka can be seen in many parts of the world, including the US, Australia, and Canada. It is often seen in new forms such as Sojka or Soyko. The original meaning may even have been forgotten, given the change in spelling.

Soyka: Where does the name Soyka come from?

The last name Soyka is commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. The surname is mainly concentrated around Poland, Ukraine, and Slovakia. According to World Names Public Profiler, the name is most popular in Poland, with over 120,000 people bearing the name. It ranks among the top 200 surnames in the country.

In Ukraine, Soyka is also quite popular. As of 2013, it ranked 41st among the most common surnames there. Over 28,000 people carried the name. However, it is much less widespread in Slovakia, with about 3,028 people bearing the name.

Soyka is also scattered throughout other parts of Europe, including Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia. It is also present in Canada and the United States, with about 1,400 people having the name in the US alone.

The common origin of the Soyka surname is from the Slavic word “sojka”, which means “hawk”. Thus, it is usually assumed that the original bearer of the name was a hawk-keeper or hawk breeder.

Variations of the surname Soyka

The surname Soyka is of Czech and Slovak origin. The original form of the surname is "sojka" which is a diminutive of the given name "Sok", which is derived from the Slavic word for a hawk, "sokol". The surname Soyka is also found in Poland and other Slavic countries, where it is spelled as Sojka, Soyka, Soika, Sojko, Sojkowski and Sojka.

In the Czech Republic, the spelling of the surname Soyka is often shortened to the form “ソーク”. In addition, the surname is also found in Austria and Germany as “Soyka”. In Poland the surname is sometimes spelled as Sojka and Sojko.

In Austria and Germany the surname can also be spelled as “Soyster”, while in some instances it is also spelled as Söyster. In the United States the surname is often rendered as Soyster or sometimes Soyk.

The surname Soyka may also have Hungarian and Romanian roots, where it is spelled as Szőke, Soika, and Szoke respectively. The spelling may also be found in Moldova and Romania as Sojea or Sohea.

The surname Soyka may also have Croatian roots, where it is spelled as Sojka or Soyka. There are also Belgian and Dutch variations of the surname which are spelled as Soijka or Soeijka respectively.

In conclusion, the surname Soyka is of Czech and Slovak origin and is found in a variety of different spellings, including but not limited to Sojka, Soyka, Sojko, Sojkowski, Soyster, Soyk, Szőke, Soika, Szoke, Sojea, Sohaja, Sojka, Soyka, Soijka, and Soeijka. These different spellings may have roots in Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, Moldovan, Romanian, Austrian, German, Croatian, Belgian and Dutch ancestry.

Famous people with the name Soyka

• Dick Soyka: American voice actor and singer, active in the 1960s-1970s.
• Frank Soyka: American painter and illustrator, renowned for his realistic portrayals of cityscapes, rural landscapes and industrial scenes.
• Herman Soyka: American classical musician and composer who wrote a number of works in the 1940s and 1950s for both stage and the concert hall.
• Joe Soyka: American actor and voice actor, well known for his roles in the television series “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Murder, She Wrote”.
• Kay Soyka: American children's book author, best known for her 1989 book “Mrs. York’s Lane”
• Mary Jo Soyka: American swimming champion and Olympic medalist. She won two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• Paul Soyka: American composer, arranger, and conductor, writing and arranging for symphony orchestras and film. He also wrote educational material for several leading publishers.
• Serge Soyka: French photographer, well known for his animal and editorial photography, which have been featured in Time magazine, Sports Illustrated, and BBC Wildlife.
• Steve Soyka: American businessman, former CEO of the clothing company Gap Inc.
• Yvette Soyka: American poet and artist, renowned for her abstract “expressive-surroundings” style. Her painting artwork has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States and Europe.

Other surnames

SoykanSoyke