Surname Wilik - Meaning and Origin
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Wilik: What does the surname Wilik mean?
The last name Wilik is believed to have multiple origins, including Finnish, Polish, Czech, and Ukrainian. By far the most common of these origins is Polish, given the prevalence of the surname within Poland and its diaspora.
In Poland, the name Wilik appears to be derived from the personal name Wilko or the root term “willik,” meaning “greedy” or “ravishing.” This likely developed from the Old Slavic name “vīliku” which was thought to have been derived from “vīl,” meaning “wolf.” Given the slightly negative connotations of the term, this possible origin appears to be related to the animal's renowned craving for food. Alternatively, it may have been derived from a Slavic loanword from the Latin famelicus, meaning “famished” or “greedy.”
The second most common origin of the Wilik name is Finnish. In Finland, it is likely derived from the common personal name Vilikki. In this instance, it is thought to have been derived from either the Finnish words “viljely,” meaning “agriculture,” or “vilkku,” meaning “shout” or “warn.”
Finally, the Czech and Ukrainian versions of the surname developed from the Slavic root word for “son-in-law.” In other words, whenever a man married into a family, he might adopt a variation of his father-in-law's name such as Wilik.
Overall, the surname Wilik likely has multiple origins, but is predominantly associated with the Polish language and culture. It is believed to have its origins in ancient Slavic, Latin, and Finnish languages, carrying connotations related to food, agriculture, and family ties.
Order DNA origin analysisWilik: Where does the name Wilik come from?
The last name Wilik is a patronymic Polish surname derived from a personal name and meaning "son of Will". It can be found in many countries throughout the world where Polish immigrants have settled, such as North America, South America, Australia, and parts of Europe. Today, the last name Wilik is most common in Poland, where it is ranked 134th in the national surname tally. According to the 2020 census, there are 1,794,265 people with the last name Wilik living in Poland.
The last name Wilik is also found in Canada, where 27,563 people have the last name. It is particularly common in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as a result of the Polish immigrants who settled in these provinces after World War II. Outside of Poland and Canada, the last name Wilik can be found throughout many of the countries in Europe, such as Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Romania, and France.
The last name Wilik is still a relatively common surname today, both in Europe and North America. Its prevalence is largely thanks to the many generations of immigrants who left their homeland and settled in other parts of the world, carrying their name with them. As the global population continues to grow and shift, it is likely that the last name Wilik will remain a part of many families' generational story.
Variations of the surname Wilik
The surname Wilik is derived from the first name William, which is derived from an Old German name ‘Willahelm’, meaning ‘resolute protector’. Over time, the surname has had many different variants and spellings throughout history, with the most common including Wilke, Wilcke, Wilken, Wilkens, Wilcos, Wilcks, Wilckens, Wilck, Wilek, Wilicke, Wylicke, Wilckqvist, Wylke, Wilkin, Wilkerson, Wilken, Wilkenson, and Wilkison.
More recently, some people have adopted the variant spelling Wilk, which has become quite popular. Additionally, some families have adopted the spelling Wilik as a unique variant of the surname, although this spelling is much rarer.
Other surnames with similar origins, but with slightly different spellings and pronunciations, include the Dutch Vilik, the Swedish Villk and the Estonian Vilt.
Additionally, some people with the Wilik surname may be descended from a form of the ethnic Lithuanian surname Vilkas, which is related to the words for ‘wolf’ in the Lithuanian language. This surname may be pronounced differently in different parts of the world, although the spelling is typically the same.
Overall, Wilik is an old family surname that has had many different variants throughout history, and many related surnames still exist today.
Famous people with the name Wilik
- Barford Wilik (attorney and advocate for consumer rights and safety).
- Joycelyn Wilik (founder and director of the LifeLaunchr organization).
- Hammerin' Hank Wilik (professional boxer).
- Winnie Wilik, known by her stage name Boxlakker (singer-songwriter and rapper).
- Todd Wilik (former police chief and violence prevention consultant).
- Erika Wilik (television journalist).
- L. Jay Wilik (former Secret Service agent and decorated veteran).
- Stacey Wilik (television producer and actress).
- Ruth Wilik (Olympic gold medal-winning beach volleyball player).
- Gene Wilik (orthopedic surgeon and medical researcher).