Surname Wiczok - Meaning and Origin
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Wiczok: What does the surname Wiczok mean?
The surname Wiczok is of Polish origin and is believed to have first appeared in the Mazovia Region of what was then Poland. As such, the surname probably has roots in the Old Polish language, though its exact origin is uncertain. The possible meanings of Wiczok could refer to a small village or a small port, or it may be derived from the word wicher, meaning ‘wind.’
The globetrotting nature of the Polish people has meant that the surname of Wiczok is scattered throughout Europe and the United States. Despite these migrations, the surname was able to maintain its popularity in Poland, arriving in the USA relatively recently in the 1970s. The surnames of Wiczek and Wicczok are also common in a few countries.
Today, Wiczok is used as both a first and last name, and can refer to both genders. Throughout the centuries, the consistent presence of Wiczok has meant that the surname is very recognisable, and is often linked with Polish identity. A person with the surname Wiczok might be seen as having a strong sense of identity and belonging to their Polish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisWiczok: Where does the name Wiczok come from?
The surname Wiczok is found primarily in Central Europe, although it does occur in small numbers elsewhere. It is most commonly found in countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic.
The nameOrigins.org website has records in over 14 countries, indicating that the name is likely of Slavic and Germanic origin.
In Poland, records of the surname date back to the 16th century, when family members of the Szlachta (a feudal class of the Polish nobility) used the surname Wiczok. It is also possible that the name originated with German settlers in Polish territories, as some of these settlers adopted the name.
The surname is still quite common in the Eastern part of Germany today. Additionally, many Poles who emigrated to the United States and other countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries often took the surname Wiczok with them.
In Canada, the largest numbers of individuals with the surname Wiczok can be found in Ontario and Alberta, with some also resident in Quebec and British Columbia. In the United States, Wiczoks can be found in states with large Polish-American populations, including Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Overall, this surname is most common today in Central and Eastern Europe, and in areas of the world where individuals of Polish and Czech ancestry settled.
Variations of the surname Wiczok
The surname Wiczok is a Polish surname, and there is a variety of variants and spellings of the same origin. Some examples of these variants and their spellings include Wiczok, Wiczek, Wyczek, Wyczok, as well as Wiczowski and Wyczenski. It is also common to see the family name modified to forms such as Wiczyk, Wyczik, Wyczynski, and Wyczekowski. In addition, there is also Wiczorek, Wiczack, Wiczinska, and Wiczkiewicz.
The root of this surname comes from the Slavic word “wicz” which means “task” or “care”. The suffix -ek, -ok, and -kowski that follow it indicate ownership, so the surname translates roughly to “the one who cares” or “the one who has charge of”. Thus, likely the surname Wiczok indicated an ancestral role in the family such as a of monitor of the finances, which often fell to the male in the family.
The variants seen today likely arose from the fact that after the Christianization of Poland in the 10th century, scribes recording names in official documents had to translate vernacular Polish names which were not originally written in Latin. This led to names being spelled differently, and new form of a surname was born.
In modern times, the surname Wiczok is found primarily in Poland, but it is not uncommon to find variants around the world today. For example, a search of it in an American census can produce spellings such as Wiczek, Wysocki and Wiczewsky. In addition, it can also found in other Slavic nations like the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Belarus.
Famous people with the name Wiczok
- Eric Wiczok: a Canadian actor and writer best known for his role in the 2012 horror movie The Cabin in the Woods.
- Bart Wiczok: a Polish politician and former senator of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
- Matt Wiczok: a former professional cyclist and winner of the Tour of Flanders in 1997.
- Hugo Wiczok: a German architect active in the Modernist and Bauhaus movements.
- John Wiczok: an American architect who designed notable landmarks including the Seventh and Eighth Regimental Armories in New York City.
- Joszef Wiczok: a Polish writer and journalist, author of numerous short stories, plays, and novellas.
- Miroslaw Wiczok: a Polish football player who played for clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Legia Warsaw.
- Dominik Wiczok: an award-winning Polish film director and screenwriter best known for his film Amnesia.
- Zbigniew Wiczok: a Polish composer and conductor.
- Bogumil Wiczok: a Polish psychiatrist and psychotherapist who wrote extensively on psychotherapy and child psychology.