Surname Woiciech - Meaning and Origin
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Woiciech: What does the surname Woiciech mean?
The last name Woiciech (or Wojciech) is a very popular Polish surname which is derived from the personal name Wojciech. It is derived from the Slavic name Vladic, which is composed of two elements: "voj" meaning "army", and "slaveni" meaning "glory". The surname has a similar meaning of "leader of the army."
People bearing this name likely descended from the kings of the Piast dynasty, which was the first Christian dynasty in Poland, ruling from the 10th to the 14th century. Wojciech was the Polish form of the name Adalbert, which was a coronation name, one given to the first king of Poland in the 10th century.
The popularity of this surname is not only reflected in the large numbers of its bearers, but is also visible through various monuments and inscriptions around the country. For example, the Shrine of St. Wojciech, which is located in the city of Gniezno, Poland, is a place of pilgrimage which commemorates the legendary Duke Wojciech.
This surname is found all around the world, with those bearing it residing mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, and other European countries.
Regardless of where those with the surname Woiciech are located, they are all linked to the shared ancestry of the proud Polish people.
Order DNA origin analysisWoiciech: Where does the name Woiciech come from?
The last name Woiciech is of Polish origin and is most commonly found in Poland today. It is the 28th most common surname in the country, with an estimated 66,820 Poles bearing the name. It is derived from the given name Wojciech, which is the Polish form of a popular early medieval name consisting of two Indo-European elements—woj meaning “fighting, warlike, soldier-like” and ciech meaning “glory.”
The Woiciech family is often found in western parts of Poland, especially in the province of Greater Poland (also called Wielkopolska). In the town of Buk, located between Poznan and Gniezno, the surname is recorded in records as early as the 16th century. The Woiciech family has several branches which intermarried with other prominent noble families in the area, including the Baruch family.
In the US, the surname Woiciech is not particularly widespread. According to the 2010 US Census, there were a total of 398 people bearing the name. Similarly, in Canada, the name was recorded in the latest census with 71 people bearing the name.
One place the surname Woiciech is still common is in Australia. In the 2006 census, 1,272 people were registered as carrying the name. It was the 298th most prevalent surname in the country at the time.
Variations of the surname Woiciech
The surname Woiciech is a Polish and Slavic form of the German name Woyciech, which is derived from the Old High German name Voitech. It is a compound name consisting of two elements: “vog” or “vög” which means “man,” and “teic” or “teich” which means “people.” The literal meaning of the name is “protector of the people”. Variants of this surname include Wojciechowicz, Woiciechowicz, Wójciechowicz, Wojciechowycz, Vojciechowicz, Voiciechowicz, Wyjciechowicz, Vojtechowicz, Vogtechowicz and Vogtowicz.
Spellings of this surname include Wojciech, Woiciech, Vogt, Voigt, Vojciech, Vogtech, Wojciechowycz, Vogtowycz, Voiciechowycz, Vogtechowycz, Vogtowicz and Wyjciechowicz.
Surnames of similar origin to Woiciech include Vojdanych, Vojistych, Vojcinko, Vojkhovs’kyi, Vojt, Vojtech, Vojsko, Vojtek and Vojtkov. These names are derived from the same origin as Woiciech and have similar forms or meanings.
Overall, the surname Woiciech has many variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. These are derived from the Old High German name Voitech, and all mean “protector of the people”.
Famous people with the name Woiciech
- Kim Woiciech: A former professional ice hockey player who was a member of the Polish National Team and played for club teams in Poland, Finland, and Austria.
- Alex Woiciech: An American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who is a member of the band Lee Music.
- Matthew Woiciech: A Canadian lawyer and the former President of the Bar Association of Manitoba.
- John Babo Woiciech: An American actor and voice-over artist who has appeared in various TV shows and movies.
- Agnieszka Woiciech-Urbanowicz: A Polish politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2016.
- Barbara Woiciechowska: A Polish author, journalist, and editor who published books on travel as well as cook books.
- Szymon Woiciech: A Polish mathematician and cryptologist who made significant contributions to the field of cryptography.
- Zbigniew Woiciechowski: A Polish business executive who served as Chairman of the Management Board of the Polish car maker Fiat Auto Poland from August 2004 until April 2007.
- Ewa Woiciechowska: A Polish-born film director who has directed several feature films and documentary films.
- Antoni Woiciech: A Polish composer and conductor who focused on church music and contemporary art music.