Surname Woitkowitz - Meaning and Origin
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Woitkowitz: What does the surname Woitkowitz mean?
The last name Woitkowitz is an anglicized version of the German surname Weitzkowitz. This surname was derived from the name of a place, most likely a small village in Bohemia located in what is now the Czech Republic. The name of the place is derived from two elements: "wicz" and "watz," which are German words for "village" and "water," respectively. Therefore, the name Woitkowitz can roughly be translated as "village by the water."
The origins of the Woitkowitz surname are believed to date back to the medieval era in what was then the Holy Roman Empire, where surnames began to be adopted as hereditary identifiers in the 13th century. Throughout the years the surname has spread across Europe (primarily German-speaking countries) and even beyond, being found in various forms in such places as the United States, Brazil, Australia, and Canada.
Due to migratory patterns, the Woitkowitz surname may be found among ethnic Germans, Czechs, Poles, and Jews, among others. It has been used by well-known figures such as World War II-era Austrian chess master Richard Weitzkowitz, and ancient Italian rabbinical scholar Abramo Weitzkowitz.
The name Woitkowitz is an interesting part of European and Jewish history, and can be used to trace one's family tree through the centuries. Its meaning provides insight into the history and lifestyle of the people who used it as a unique identifier, a village by the water.
Order DNA origin analysisWoitkowitz: Where does the name Woitkowitz come from?
The Woitkowitz surname is still found today in many countries throughout the world. It is most common in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. It is also found in small numbers in countries such as Germany, France, Austria and Hungary.
In the United States, the surname Woitkowitz is most frequently encountered among individuals who emigrated from Eastern Europe, often during the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The 1910 US Census, for example, reveals that by the turn of the century, Woitkowitz had become well known surname in New York City, with over two hundred individuals registered with the name. It is also found in various other states, such as Louisiana, Texas and California.
Although the surname Woitkowitz is not particularly well-known in the US today, it continues to exist as an uncommon name among multiple contexts. It can be found in newspaper headlines, Arkansas obituaries and other public records. A recent search of the United States Social Security database reveals at least 88 people with this surname as of 2018. Further research reveals that the Woitkowitz name is still a part of the American landscape, scattered throughout various parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Woitkowitz
The Woitkowitz surname is believed to originate from what is now known as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is an ethnic name, usually belonging to Jews of Czechoslovakian or Ashkenazi descent.
The variants of the Woitkowitz surname include Woitkowicz, Voitkovich, Voytkovich, Vowkowicz, Woitkowich,Voytkowich, Voitkovich, Voitkovitzky, Voitkowicz, Woitkowiczky, Woitkovitzky, Woitkovitzky, Vaitkovich and Voitkov.
Historically, people with this surname used a variety of spellings depending on the language they spoke. Depending on where their family was from, the name could be spelled differently to reflect the local language. In the past, it could have been spelled Vaitkowicz, Vaitkovitzky, Vaitkovitz, Vowkowicz, Voytkovich, Voytkowich and Voitkov.
Today, many Woitkowitz family members have adapted their spelling of the surname to the various regions in which they now live. Most family members will use a more Western or Anglicised spelling such as Woitkowicz, Woitkowitzky, Woitkowich, Voytkovich, Voitkovitzky or Voitkowicz. Others may have opted to use a hyphenated name combining the Czech spelling with the Anglicized spelling, such as Woitkowicz-Voitkov.
Famous people with the name Woitkowitz
- Richard Woitkowitz: former mayor of Latrobe, Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Griffith Energy Advisory Board.
- Rebecca Woitkowitz: CEO and founder of Watchful Software, a digital privacy company, and a professional speaker.
- Daniel Woitkowitz: British-born architect and founder of Woitkowitz Design Studio.
- Gabriel Woitkowitz: former Executive Director of the National Council for Civil Liberties in the UK.
- Mayer Woitkowitz: Vienna-born film director and screenwriter, known for The Scarlet Letter, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Garden of Eden.
- Kayla Woitkowitz: American ballerina and founder of the Woitkowitz Ballet Company.
- Abigail Woitkowitz: American jazz drummer and vocalist, known for her collaborations with Kissy Simmons and Amy Winehouse.
- Lavender Woitkowitz: Brazilian artist, writer, and playwright, best known for her critically acclaimed novels, The Rainbow Fairy and The Golden Lady.
- Jake Woitkowitz: American actor, best known for his roles in the television series The Good Wife and Elementary.
- Micki Woitkowitz: American folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and a voting member of the Country Music Association.