Surname Wojtanek - Meaning and Origin

Wojtanek: What does the surname Wojtanek mean?

The last name Wojtanek is a patronymic name originating from the Polish language. The root name is Wojtan, which is a pet form of the given name Wojciech, which is derived from the Slavic elements voj (military) and tęż (strong).

The Wojtanek family name is most likely associated with the regions of Poland, Prussia and Austria-Hungary from which many of the Polish immigrants to North America originated. In the 19th century, many Poles of the Wojtanek surname settled in Silesia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary, among other parts.

Throughout the centuries, the Wojtanek surname has developed several spellings through immigration and the cultural exchange among different countries and regions, such as Wojtaneck, Wojtanecki, Wojtanke and Wojtanek. It is important to note that while the spelling may have changed, the origin of the name has remained unchanged.

Today, the Wojtanek family name is mostly associated with those of Polish descent, but it is not uncommon to find Wojtanek households in other parts of the world, most notably in North America. It is also carried by those of other ethnic backgrounds who have adopted the name after marrying a member of the Wojtanek family.

Wojtanek: Where does the name Wojtanek come from?

The last name Wojtanek is most commonly found in countries that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This includes countries presently located in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Austria, Poland, The Czech Republic, and Slovakia. As a result, there are large Wojtanek populations located in cities such as Vienna, Krakow, Prague and Bratislava. Wojtanek is also fairly common within the United States, particularly among the large population of Central and Eastern European immigrants that settled in enclaves of major cities throughout the Northeast, Midwest and South. For example, there are many Wojtanek families present throughout Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, New York City and Baltimore. There are many Wojtanek families also settled in Detroit and throughout other major cities in the United States. Although There are fewer Wojtanek families in other parts of the United States, there are also several small Wojtanek populations settled in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Variations of the surname Wojtanek

The surname Wojtanek is of Slavic origin, coming from the root word 'wójt' meaning leader or commander. It is seen in various spelling variants and surname derivations in languages such as Polish, Slovakian, Czech, and Ukrainian.

In Polish, surname Wojtanek is most common, with variants including Wojtańek, Wójtanek, Voitenko, Woytchenko, Wojtyna, and Vojtko, among others. Many of these reflect regional variations in phonetic spelling, as the spelling of surnames was not always standardized or consistent prior to twentieth-century record keeping.

In Slovakian, the variants include Wojtanecký and Vojtecký, as well as Wojtko and Wojtov. Czech variants of the surname take various forms of Wojtků or Vojtko, depending on regional phonetics.

In Ukrainian, the surname takes the similar form of Wojtko, Vojtko, Vojtovych or Voytovych, and similarly includes various regional spelling variations. Derivations of the surname include Wojtowicz, Voytovych and Wojtecky, among others.

Famous people with the name Wojtanek

• Matt Wojtanek: American film director, editor, and character animator
• Joe Wojtanek: Photographer and former Photo Editor for the Associated Press
• Irene Wojtanek: Polish gold medal-winning Olympian gymnast
• Michael Wojtanek: American composer and English professor
• Katherina Wojtanek: Czech long-distance runner who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics
• Roman Wojtanek: Retired football player from Slovakia
• Ján Wojtanek: Slovak football manager and former football player
• Beata Wojtanek: Czech professional discus thrower
• Lejla Wojtanek: Bosnian classical pianist
• Peter Wojtanek: Austrian composer and former President of the International Confederation for Music Education.

Other surnames

Wojtan