Surname Woitowitsch - Meaning and Origin
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Woitowitsch: What does the surname Woitowitsch mean?
The last name Woitowitsch is believed to be of German origin, from the old city of Breslau, Silesia (now Wroclaw, Poland). In German, Woitowitsch or Woitowitz translates to “son of the wolf”, with the “Woit” prefix coming from Wulf, meaning “wolf” and the “witz” suffix meaning “son of”.
The wolf, an animal revered for its intelligence, strength and cunning, has long been a popular symbol throughout Germanic culture and folklore. It has been used as a symbol of power, courage and protection throughout Germanic history and to this day is featured in many German crests and coats of arms.
In German culture, the wolf is an enduring symbol, its appearance representing strength, protection and bravery. It is believed that the family name Woitowitsch, which translates to “son of the wolf”, is reflective of these qualities.
Those who bear the last name Woitowitsch today can be proud of their Germanic ancestry and the honour of having such an iconic creature as their crest. It is a name rooted in ancient history and brings with it the legacy of a strong and proud family.
Order DNA origin analysisWoitowitsch: Where does the name Woitowitsch come from?
The last name Woitowitsch is not a particularly common surname and it is not widely distributed across the globe. It is most commonly found in the south-western regions of Germany, particularly among the areas which were previously part of Prussia. Here, the surname can be found in states such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony.
The historical data suggests that the surname originated in Prussia in the mid-1800s, and became established in the region as Prussian immigrants moved west and spread across the country. Over time, the Woitowitsch family became intermingled with local communities and their name became more widely known in certain areas.
Currently, the Woitowitsch family name is alive and well in the region. Many descendants of the original Prussian immigrants with the same surname can still be found in the same areas in Germany. The largest concentrations of the Woitowitsch surname are found in the metropolitan areas of Stuttgart, Munich, and Berlin.
Outside of Germany, the Woitowitsch name has spread a bit further, with some members of the family moving to the United States and other countries. But, the name remains relatively rare across regions outside of its original homeland.
Variations of the surname Woitowitsch
The surname Woitowitsch, is a variant form of Voitowicz, and is most common in Slavic countries. It is an occupational surname which originally marked someone who was related to or worked in fields.
The name Voitowicz can also be found spelled as Voitovich, Voytovitch, Woytovich, Voytovich, Vojtovic, Woitowicz, Vijtovits, Viytowich, Fetovich and Fyotovych.
Variants of the name from other languages include Wojtowicz (Polish) and Vojtovičs (Latvian). The name may also have been adopted by Jews, who may have given it a different spelling, such as Voytovitz, Voytoft and Voytowitz or Voytovitsky.
In some cases, the surname may have been changed over time from Voitowicz to a different spelling, like Vyatkowich, as many immigrants Americanized their last name when they first migrated to the United States. Variants of this surname can also be found spelled as Wujtowicz, Wyotowicz, Wojtowycz and Wietowicz.
Ultimately, the surname Woitowitsch is a variant of the original surname Voitowicz and the spelling may have changed over time as families migrated and moved to different regions. Although the spelling has changed, the name remains the same.
Famous people with the name Woitowitsch
- Adalbert von Woitowitsch: Austrian diplomat
- Friedrich von Woitowitsch: Prussian army officer
- Karl von Woitowitsch: Russian Imperial officer
- Mikhail Ivanovich Woitowitsch: Russian politician
- Sergei Woitowitsch: Russian scientist
- Wladimir Woitowitsch: Russian architect
- Yury Woitowitsch: Russian soldier
- Oleg Woitowitsch: Ukrainian military engineer
- Joris Woitowitsch: Dutch experimental filmmaker and documentarist
- Sascha Woitowitsch: German musician and author
- Silvana Woitowitsch: Spanish actress
- Alexander Woitowitsch: Swiss entrepreneur
- Peter Woitowitsch: Austrian sculptor
- Johannes Woitowitsch: Austrian author