Surname Wodarka - Meaning and Origin
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Wodarka: What does the surname Wodarka mean?
The last name Wodarka is thought to be a toponymic surname derived from the Slavic word “woda”, which means “water” or “stream”. It is believed to have originated from those who lived near a body of water, such as a river, lake, or seashore.
This name is found primarily among the Slavic populations of eastern Europe, where its roots can be traced back to the 10th century. According to one tradition, the surname derives from the Old Polish last name “Wodruska”, which may have referred to an individual who lived near a river or stream.
The Wodarkas were believed to be providers of water to their local communities, and have a long history of being fishermen, boat builders, and farmers. Many families were recipients of land grants and were able to put their skills to work by tilling the soil and cultivating crops.
Ultimately, the Wodarka surname reflects the people's connection to the waterways that sustained them and played a central role in their lives. No matter where the Wodarkas are today, their history and close ties to the water remain with them for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisWodarka: Where does the name Wodarka come from?
The surname Wodarka is most commonly found across Central and Eastern Europe, especially in countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is believed to have originated with Old Germanic roots, most likely from an occupation such as a weaver. It may also have been derived from the Germanic given name Wolf, meaning ‘wolf’.
The surname has spread across the United States, Canada, and Australia with immigrants. As of the 2000 US Census, the Wodarka surname was found mostly in the Midwest of the US, in states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa. Notably, the Wodarka surname was most common in Michigan, with 11 recorded instances in the 2000 US Census.
Today, it is estimated that there are about 1,000 people with the Wodarka surname living in the US, with around 4,300 people having the same surname worldwide. There have also been a few changes in spelling over the years, with variants such as Wolarka, Wudarka, and Wudark having been found as well.
Variations of the surname Wodarka
The surname Wodarka is derived from the Slavic name 'Vodarka', which is a compound name derived from the Slavic words ‘вода’ meaning 'water' and ‘рука’ meaning 'hand'. Variants of the surname Wodarka include Wodark, Vodarka, Vodarke, Vodarkev, Vodarkovsky, and Vodarkov.
In Poland, the Wodarka surname can often be found spelt Vodarka, Voradarke and Vodarke. In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, the spelling Vodarkovskaya and Vodarkovski is commonly used.
In the United States, the Wodarka surname can be seen in its original variant, Wodark, or its Americanized spelling, Woodark. In Germany, the surname Wodarka can be found spelled as Wodarke.
The surname Wodarka may also be found with other variations, such as Wodarczak, Vodarczyk, Vodarcevic and Vodarcevicza. In Slovakia, Vodarcev and Vodarčíková are common spellings.
Other surnames derived from the same origin as the Wodarka surname include Водаркова (Vodarkova) in Russia and Відарків (Vidarki) in Ukraine.
Overall, the surname Wodarka and its variants are found throughout the Slavic region and beyond.
Famous people with the name Wodarka
- Zbigniew Wodarka: Polish football player and coach
- Andrzej Wodarka: Polish Acting Senator
- Monika Wodarka: Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Warsaw
- Marek Wodarka: Polish sprinters specializing in the 100 meters
- Magdalena Wodarka-Hajduk: Polish Olympic cross-country skier
- Erwin Wodarka: Polish lawyer, professor and politician
- Alex Wodarka: American competitive swimmer
- Sophie Wodarka: American artist and actor
- Matthias Wodarka: Austrian biathlete
- Julian Wodarka: German football coach and former player