Surname Wiesniewski - Meaning and Origin
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Wiesniewski: What does the surname Wiesniewski mean?
The last name Wiesniewski is a Polish surname derived from the Polish word "wieś" which means "village". This term can refer to somebody from a particular village or to someone who acted as guardian of the village. Alternatively, it can be spelled as “Wiesniowski” or “Wysmiewski” and may also refer to a village renowned for its humor or mockery.
People with the surname Wiesniewski likely have an ancestral connection to Poland, or more generally, to Central and Eastern Europe. It is a very common surname in Poland and other European countries with similar cultures derived from Slavic sources.
The Wiesniewski surname is most commonly encountered in the southeastern areas of Poland, particularly the provinces of Podlasie and Checiny. The origin of the Wiesniewski surname is believed to have dates back to 900 AD. During the medieval period, it was quite common for families to take on surnames from their regions or localities.
The spelling variations of the name Wiesniewski suggest that early families with this name likely lived on the outskirts of villages and were responsible for overseeing local fortifications and defense. Over the centuries, Wiesniewski families have spread out across Europe and beyond and have made contributions to various cultures. In modern times, the Wiesniewski surname is still found in Poland, as well as in other European nations, the United States, Canada and Australia, among other places.
Order DNA origin analysisWiesniewski: Where does the name Wiesniewski come from?
The last name Wiesniewski is most common today in Poland. Historically it was a name given to a person from the village of Wiesno near Bielsk Podlaski, which is located in northeastern Poland, close to the Belarusian border.
A review of both Y-DNA and mtDNA genetic research by a group of researchers in 2012 found shared genetic similarities among individuals who had the surname Wiesniewski. They concluded that Wiesniewski was a very localized surname of Polish origin, stemming from the village of Wiesno, and was not found in other areas of Europe.
The surname is most common today in Poland, but a few Wiesniewskis have spread throughout Europe and beyond; this would include locations in Germany, the United Kingdom (London), Canada, Australia, United States (New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston) and South America.
A review of the name by Forebears.io indicates that there is a notable concentration of the surname presently located in eastern Poland (or “Masovian Voivodeship”), with around 9,500 people currently living with the last name Wiesniewski. To put that into perspective, that number is comparable to the total population of numerous towns and villages located in the western part of the country. Additionally, it is also one of the top 500 Polish surnames.
Variations of the surname Wiesniewski
The surname Wiesniewski is an old Polish topographic name, derived from 'Wies' meaning 'meadow'. The variants, spellings and surnames of this origin are as follows:
Wiesniewski (or Wejsniewski): the most common form of this surname, its spelling has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Wejsniewski (or Wesnevski): this is an old spelling which originated in northwestern Poland.
Visevski (or Visenski): this is an old spelling which originated in the eastern regions of Poland.
Wyszynski (or Vyszynski): this is another old spelling which originated in great Poland during the 16th century.
Vesnovski (or Wesnovski): this is an old spelling which originated in the northern regions of Poland during the 16th century.
Weisnievski (or Waisniewski): this is an old spelling which originated in the eastern regions of Poland during the 16th century.
Vysenski (or Wisenski): this is another old spelling which originated in the eastern regions of Poland during the 16th century.
Wieniewski (or Weiniewski): this is a more modern spelling which appears to have originated in the western regions of Poland during the 19th century.
Visenievski (or Wisenievski): this is a more modern spelling which appears to have originated in the eastern regions of Poland during the 19th century.
Wezniewski (or Wiezniewski): this is another modern spelling which appears to have originated in the western regions of Poland during the 19th century.
Weisniebwki (or Weisneiwski): This is a more modern spelling which appears to have originated in the eastern regions of Poland during the 19th century.
Famous people with the name Wiesniewski
- Jacob Wiesniewski: professional ice-hockey player, has played with several teams, including Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks.
- Lukasz Wiesniewski: professional footballer who has played for Nottingham Forest Football Club in England during the 2008-2009 season.
- Pawel Wiesniewski: professional mixed martial artist who held the International K-1 Championship title from 2011-2013.
- Rafal Wiesniewski: Polish high jumper who set the indoor Polish national record as a senior in 2013.
- Roman Wiesniewski: Polish field hockey player who has competed for the national team since 2006.
- Henryk Wiesniewski: Polish conductor, composer, and musicologist, he is best known for his recording of the music of Chopin.
- Alicja Wiesniewski: Polish sculptor, she studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and frequently exhibited her work in Poland and abroad.
- Jozef Wiesniewski: Polish painter, draftsman, poster-maker, and teacher, his works have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions, including the “Day of Polish Painters” in Łódź in 1988.
- Eugeniusz Wiesniewski: Polish businessman and senator, he was the founder of the shipping company Polska Żegluga Morska, the first Polish shipping company.
- Wojciech Wiesniewski: Polish football coach and goalkeeper, he has been the assistant coach of the Poland national team since 2009.