Surname Wojzechowski - Meaning and Origin
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Wojzechowski: What does the surname Wojzechowski mean?
The last name Wojzechowski (also spelled Wojciechowski) is a common Polish surname derived from a personal name, Wojciech. The name itself is derived from the ancient Polish words "wit" ("glory," "reputation") and "czic" ("to make famous," "to remember"). Together, these two words come together to convey the meaning "to make famous in glory."
In 1900, Wojzechowski was one of the most common surnames in Poland, with more than 11,000 people carrying it. During this time, Wojciech (Wojzech) was the sixth most common male first name in Poland. As a result, Wojzechowski was used not just as a surname, but as a patronymic as well. In many cases, Polish people would add the suffix "-owski" after the first name of their father, thus creating Wojzechowski as a patronymic.
Today, Wojzechowski is still a popular name in Poland and across Europe, as well as in the Polish diaspora, a term used to refer to people of Polish ancestry who have emigrated and settled in another country. It’s also seen among non-Poles, likely as a result of immigration and marriage or simply cultural adoption.
The surname Wojzechowski evokes a sense of both tradition and prosperity. It’s a reminder of the past and the legacy of Polish ancestors who strived to make a name and a life for themselves.
Order DNA origin analysisWojzechowski: Where does the name Wojzechowski come from?
The last name Wojzechowski is most commonly found today in Central Europe, specifically within Poland. This is due to the fact that the surname has its roots in the Slavic language, which is still common in this region. Over the past decades, people with this last name have spread to other regions of Europe and beyond, ranging from the US to Canada, and even to Australia.
Within Poland, it is not a particularly common surname, with estimates of around 100 people total bearing it. The demographic spread is also quite concentrated in the southeastern region of the country, with most Wojzechowskis living in Lubelskie, Świętokrzyskie and Podkarpackie provinces.
In terms of the US, there are a few thousand people with this surname, concentrated in particular states like Illinois and Wisconsin. The first immigrants with the surname appear to have come from Poland in the early 1900's and have since spread out to other areas of the country.
I addition to the US, there are about 7,000 people with this last name in Canada, mainly in Ontario and British Columbia. There are also small pockets of Wojzechowskis in Australia and New Zealand.
Overall, this surname is closely associated with the Central European region of the world, but pockets of Wojzechowskis can be found throughout the world, showing the global dispersal of this Polish surname.
Variations of the surname Wojzechowski
The surname Wojzechowski appears to originate from the Polish language, with the same spelling. Variants of the surname Wojzechowski include: Wojciechowski, Wojcik, Wojcikowski, Voychowsky, Voychowski, Voytek, Voitek, and Voytech.
Wojzechowski may be used as a given name as well as a surname. Wojzhech is the first name corresponding to this surname. Other variation may include, Wojceh, Woyzhech, Wojzhech, and Wojzhek.
Surnames of similar origins include: Woicichowski, Woicikowski, Wojcek, Wojcicki, and Voychisko. These surnames all have similar spellings, yet the difference lies in where each of them originated.
Woicichowski is derived from the same root as Wojzechowski, but is from a different geographical area. Woicikowski is a variation of the spelling, which originates from areas south-west of Poland. Wojcek and Wojcik are derived from the same root, and have the same meaning, however Wojcek is a more contemporary spelling. Wojicki and Voychisko are derived from the same root, yet Voychisko originated from eastern areas of the country.
Overall, the surname Wojzechowski can appear in a wide variety of forms and is common throughout East, South-West, and Central Europe, in particular Poland. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin have been shaped by centuries of social, religious, political, and geographical changes.
Famous people with the name Wojzechowski
- Joe Wojciechowski: American composer, actor and writer
- Marian Wojciechowski: Polish painter
- Bob Wojciechowski: American TV producer and writer
- Henryk Wojciechowski: Polish chess grandmaster
- Stan Wojciechowski: American football player
- Jacek Wojciechowski: Polish politician and lawyer
- Tedd Wojciechowski: American Major League Baseball player
- Barbara Wojciechowska: Polish actress and theatre director
- Aleks Wojciechowski: Polish nobleman
- Pawel Wojciechowski: Polish cyclist and member of the 2016 Summer Olympics team
- Joanna Wojciechowska: Polish singer
- Krystyna Wojciechowska: Polish operatic soprano
- Jakob Wojciechowski: Polish film director, producer and writer
- Marius Wojciechowski: Polish archer
- Monika Wojciechowska: Polish figure skater
- Zbigniew Wojciechowski: Polish composer
- Anna Wojciechowska: Polish journalist and editor
- Piotr Wojciechowski: Polish born Irish chess Grandmaster
- Ireneusz Wojciechowski: Polish Olympic rower
- Barbara Wojciechowska-Baran: Polish teacher and activist