Surname Waitkus - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Waitkus: What does the surname Waitkus mean?
The surname Waitkus is of Lithuanian origin, indicating that the family is of Lithuanian descent. The name is derived from the Lithuanian word "vieta," meaning "place" or "location," and is typically associated with being a surname that has a geographic origin. The Waitkus family likely resided in a specific area for a long period of time before migrating or spreading out.
Today, the surname is more common in the United States than in Lithuania. They are mainly found in the states of New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The Waitkus family in the United States is known for their hardworking nature and dedication to their communities.
The last name has been in existence since at least the 1600s. During the Lithuanian Revolution of 1655, Joseph Waitkus served as a captain in the Lithuanian forces, fighting against the Swedish forces that were trying to take control of the region.
The Waitkus family has achieved many accomplishments over the years. Among the biggest achievements is when the business mogul, Frank Waitkus, became the first Lithuanian-American to own a major league baseball team when he acquired the San Diego Padres in 1970.
The Waitkus family name can still be found today in the United States. Members of the family continue to prove themselves to be successful individuals who take pride in their Lithuanian heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWaitkus: Where does the name Waitkus come from?
The last name Waitkus is most commonly associated with the United States today. Its prevalence in the US is likely attributable to its nineteenth century immigration patterns. The earliest known arrival of a Waitkus ancestor in the US is listed as Jozef Waitkus from Lithuania, who arrived in the US in 1894 and settled in Wisconsin. Other Waitkus ancestors came to the US in the early 20th century, primarily to Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois.
As of the most recent US Census, the vast majority of people with the name Waitkus are concentrated in the Midwest and on the East Coast of the US with the most prevalent concentrations in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois. Most Waitkuses currently living in the US may have descendants from one or more of the first few waves of Waitkuses who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Outside the US, Waitkus is most likely to be found in countries within Eastern Europe, primarily Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. This is due to many Waitkuses emigrating from Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, the last name Waitkus is most frequently found in the US today.
Variations of the surname Waitkus
Waitkus is a surname of Lithuanian origin. Common variants of this surname include Weitkus and Vaitkus, as well as the Polish variant Waicik. Other variations on the surname include Vaitkute, Weitkute, Vaitkauskas, and Weitkauskas.
Waitkus, and its variants, is derived from the Lithuanian "vaitas," which means "wait." The name was used to denote a person who was known for being patient or one who waited a long time. It could also have referred to someone who served or worked for a superior.
With the arrival of more standardized spelling, many variants of the Waitkus surname have died out or have been combined into one spelling. For example, the Polish variant Waicik has been largely dropped in favor of Waitkus. Some people with the last name Waitkus may also have been known to spell their name as Weitkus, Waikus or Waicik in some documents.
Other surnames of a similar origin to the Waitkus surname include Vaitkus, Waikus, Waicik and Vaitkauskas. These surnames may have originated from a different spelling of the same Lithuanian origin word.
Today, many people with the Waitkus surname can be found in Lithuania, Poland, the United States and Canada. The variant spellings are also still in use in some countries, depending on local tradition.
Famous people with the name Waitkus
- Mark Waitkus: the former Executive Director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, who also served as a Special Assistant to William J. Clinton.
- Angelo Waitkus: a former professional baseball second baseman who played Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs from 1948–1954 and then for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Joseph Michael Waitkus: a historian and archeologist, known for his work with ancient Roman monuments which included the strength of the Coliseum and the Pantheon.
- Augustus Waitkus: a Lithuanian-American sculptor who made numerous pieces for the preservation of Lithuanian heritage.
- Alice Waitkus: one of the first Women Airforce Service Pilots, an all-female aviation group that flew non-combat missions for the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II.
- Albert L. Waitkus: a Republican who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1923-1928.
- Vidas Waitkus: a Lithuanian-American artist, known for his pastel paintings of Beatles songs.
- Margaret Waitkus: the first female Assistant Secretary of the US Army, and the first female three-star General in the branch.
- Algirdas Waitkus: a Lithuanian marathon runner who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics, and won the Lithuanian title in the men's marathon in 1970.
- John Waitkus: the editor-in-chief of the Portsmouth Herald newspaper in New Hampshire until his death in 2009.