Surname Witschorek - Meaning and Origin

Witschorek: What does the surname Witschorek mean?

The last name Witschorek is of German origin, originating from the Upper Silesia area of Germany. It is derived from the German phrase "Witsch", which means "little village", and "Rek" meaning "bank" or "banker".

Historically, Witschorek was an occupational surname adopted by those originally in the banking profession. It was often taken on by members of a family who took up a job in the banks of Upper Silesia. The name was also associated with those working in the mines of Silesia, who often made their living from the banks of the region’s rivers.

In modern times, this surname is less connected to its original profession. Nevertheless, the surname can still trace its origin to the banking industry and to those who worked in the mines of Upper Silesia.

Today, Witschorek remains a relatively common German surname, most often found in the Upper Silesia region of Germany and throughout Europe. The spelling has changed in some areas, however, with either an 'f' replacing the 'sch' sound, or the 'k' changing to a 'ck', such as 'Witscherck' or 'Witschef'.

Witschorek: Where does the name Witschorek come from?

The last name Witschorek is historically common in parts of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Today, the surname is most prevalent in the Czech Republic, with more than 4,500 people bearing that name. It is widely spread throughout the country, with the highest populations in Prague and other large cities in the Czech Republic.

The name first appears in records from the 1600s in Müllerhöhe, Austria, a small town in the former Duchy of Bohemia. It is believed to be derived from the words vitia (forage) and roeks (hoarding). In the German language, the suffix “-orak” is sometimes added to a root word to differentiate an action or distinctive quality, accounting for the unique spelling of Witschorek.

The surname is also found in smaller numbers in Germany and Austria, where it is believed to have been brought by German immigrants. In Germany, Witschorek is most common in the city of Berlin. It is also found in smaller numbers in the United States and other countries, primarily around German-speaking communities.

The Witschorek family crest is a lion with its right paw raised, a symbol of strength, courage, and protection. Throughout the centuries, it has served to unite the Witschorek family, making it a symbol of pride to generations of the name-bearer.

Variations of the surname Witschorek

The surname Witschorek is of German origin and is derived from the word "wische" meaning to wipe or brush. It is most commonly found in the Silesian region of Germany and is also spelled as Wischoreck, Witschoreck, Wischrock, Witschrock, Wischrockova, and Witschrockova.

The spelling variations of the surname Witschorek are most likely due to regional dialect and language changes over time. The pronunciation and spelling of the name may have become garbled due to pronunciation in a different language or dialect. It is possible that additional spellings may be found as more people with the surname emigrate from one country to another.

The surnames associated with the origin of the surname Witschorek are Wischoreck, Wischrock, Witschrock, Wischrockova, and Witschrockova. All of these surnames have close similarities in the spelling and may be seen as alternate spellings with a variety of spellings being used by different families.

In other regions, Witschorek may be written as Whitisorek, Whitchorek, Wicherk, Witschar, Wycherok, Witcherk, or Witschrock. As more people of German origin move to other countries, the spelling variations have become more commonplace. In some countries, such as the United States, the spelling may be slightly altered to fit the linguistic patterns of the nation.

The surname Witschorek is found throughout Germany, though it originated in Silesia. The surname can also be found in Australia, Canada, and the United States due to immigration from Germany. Common variations of the name and any associated alternate spellings can most likely be found in these countries as well.

Famous people with the name Witschorek

• Matthias Witschorek: German handball player who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and won gold in the Handball at the 1999 World Men's Handball Championship.
• David Witschorek: German sprint canoer who competed in the mid-1900s.
• Ingrid Witschorek: German sprinter who won a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay at the World Student Games in 1989.
• Eberhard Witschorek: Former director of the Institute for Quality Assurance in the Private and Public-Sector of the Austrian Society for Quality.
• Guntram Witschorek: German musician and songwriter, best known for scoring films such as “An East German Love Story” and “Das Wunder von Bern”.
• Martin Witschorek: Former German beach volleyball player who won several National Championships.
• Heiner Witschorek: Former professional footballer from Germany who played for clubs such as Dynamo Dresden and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.
• Jean Witschorek: French-Cameroonian professional basketball player who played for clubs such as AS Monaco and S^te Leon Bouraye.
• Verena Witschorek: German speed skater, competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, representing her home country Germany.
• Markus Witschorek: German rower who won a bronze medal in the 1994 World Rowing Championships.

Other surnames

Witschorke