Surname Stankiewic - Meaning and Origin
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Stankiewic: What does the surname Stankiewic mean?
The last name Stankiewic is of Polish origin and is derived from the Slavic word 'stanki' which roughly translates to 'the master of the house'. It is believed to have first been used as a surname by peasants of nobility in Poland in the 14th century.
The name has a slightly negative connotation as the word 'stanki' often referred to a brutal master of a household who had a temper and would often resort to physical punishment of those under his rule.
Over time, the Stankiewic surname evolved and changed to include different spelling variations, such as Stankewicz, Stankiewitz, Stanchewicz, and Stanchowic.
Today, Stankiewic is a fairly common surname in modern-day Poland, in particular in the regions of Łódź, Poznań, Warszawa, and Lublin. It is also found in other countries with a sizable Polish diaspora, such as the United States, Australia, and Germany.
The last name Stankiewic is symbolic of a proud Polish heritage and is steeped in a rich history. It pays homage to those brave individuals who challenged authority and took a stance against those in charge. It is a reminder to look beyond differences and to embrace our shared history.
Order DNA origin analysisStankiewic: Where does the name Stankiewic come from?
The last name Stankiewic is a common Polish surname and is still common today in areas of Poland, especially western/Central Poland near Greater Poland and Silesia as well as areas of northern Slovakia.
The surname is associated with the Polish nobility and has been found in Polish records since the 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the name Stankiewicz, which means "son of Stanislaw" or “son of one who reigns”.
The Stankiewicz family insignia is a gold griffin with a red tongue and ducal crown. Members of the Stankiewicz family traditionally held the prominent Italian title of Conte, or count, and the Polish title of Potemski, Pozoj, or Palatine.
Today, Stankiewicz is one of the eight most common surnames in Poland with more than 75,000 people bearing the name in the country. It also appears in areas of Poland with large concentrations of Polish immigrants throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada, as well as in Brazil, Australia, and other parts of the world.
The surname is also common in other Slavic countries, such as Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, some Stankiewicz families have changed their names to Stanke (which is derived from Stankiewicz) in Ukrainian contexts.
Variations of the surname Stankiewic
Stankiewic is a Polish surname which can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. In common Polish orthography, it can be spelled as Stankiewicz or Stankiewitz. Other variants and spelling forms of the name have developed over centuries due to regional language variations and immigration patterns. Those variants include Stankevich, Stankovitch, Stankovic, Stankavich, Stankevitch, Stankivic, Stankevits, Stankevish, Stenkovich, and Stanikovitch.
The surname is derived from the word “stank” which means “a marsh or swamp”, implying that the original owners of the name came from marshy or swampy areas. It can also come from the root name stanko which originated from a Slavic word meaning “large” or “mighty”.
Variants of the name are found not only in Poland, but also in countries such as Belarussia, Croatia, Germany, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. In some countries, the name's variants have been further adapted into other spellings, such as Stancik in Croatia and Stankewicz in Germany.
Despite the various spelling forms, the surnames all share the same meaning and root name, and often descend from a common ancestor. It appears that the original Stankiewic family stem from Poland and migrated to other countries in search of better opportunities and a more prosperous life. It is likely that, if you trace your family tree, you will find commonalities among the various spellings of the surname.
Famous people with the name Stankiewic
- Sara Stankiewicz, Polish hurdler who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Zbigniew Stankiewicz, Polish poet, writer, and publicist
- Rafał Stankiewicz, a Polish ice hockey defenceman
- Don Stankiewicz, Canadian football player and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
- John Stankiewicz, American pulmonologist and intensivist
- Szymon Stankiewicz, a Polish Army general in World War II
- Anna Stankiewicz, Polish dressage rider who won a gold medal in team dressage at the 2010 World Equestrian Games
- Sinbad Stankiewic, an American musician and songwriter
- Stanisław Stankiewicz, a Polish-born American photographer and filmmaker
- Jacek Stankiewic, Polish association football player