Surname Woschniak - Meaning and Origin

Woschniak: What does the surname Woschniak mean?

The surname Woschniak is a German patronymic surname derived from the Jewish given name "Woz" or "Wozzeck". This surname is likely related to the Jewish given names “Vov” or “Vovcik”, which are derived from the Hebrew word "Vov" meaning "wolf". This surname has been found in documents dating as far back as 1530, when records show a Hans Woschniak and a Peter Woschniak living in Bohmte, Lower Saxony, Germany.

The Woschniak family is among the many German families with Jewish roots who left their homes in search of a better life during the 19th century. During the mid-1800s, many Woschniak families migrated to the United States, where they eventually settled in various cities across the country.

Today, the surname Woschniak is still found in various regions all over the world. This surname often associated with wealth, intelligence, ambition, and independence. Despite their Jewish and German roots, the Woschniak family maintains a strong sense of identity and are proud to be a part of the history that the name Woschniak holds.

Woschniak: Where does the name Woschniak come from?

The last name Woschniak is most commonly found in Germany and Eastern Europe today. It is a fairly common German name, and is also found throughout Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Woschniak is believed to have been of Germanic origin and potentially derived from the word “Wossen” which means “to hunt.”

In the United States, the last name Woschniak is found in relatively small numbers. The 2000 U.S. Census reported approximately 160 individuals with this last name, largely concentrated in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The majority of these individuals are foreign-born, suggesting the name has been passed down from ancestors who settled in the United States from Germany or Eastern Europe.

The last name Woschniak is not as common in the United Kingdom and Ireland either. In the 1881 census, a total of 59 individuals with this surname were recorded in England and Wales. However, by the 2011 UK census, this had dropped to only 24 individuals, suggesting the name is becoming increasingly rare.

Despite this, the name Woschniak remains common in certain areas of Germany and Eastern Europe. With records dating back to at least the 18th century, it is likely that the name first emerged from Germany and quickly spread to countries around it throughout the centuries.

Variations of the surname Woschniak

The surname Woschniak (sometimes spelled Woschnek, Woschnig or Woschnick) is of Old German origin, and is derived from the personal name Wasschnecht. During the Middle Ages, this surname was found in parts of Germany, Austria and Slovenia, and is believed to have been adopted by some East European settlers who immigrated to North America and other countries.

Variants and spellings of the surname Woschniak include Woschnek, Woschnig, Woschnick, Woschneg, Woschnieck, Woschnieg, Woschnegg, Woschnigk, Wosschnek, Woschnik, and Woschancock. Surnames with a similar origin but slightly different spelling include Waschnek, Waschenk, Voschnig, Vennig, Voschneck, Vounig, Foschinik, and Woschinik.

Other surnames of similar origin include Waschnick, Waschnig, Waschek, Wasschek, Wasschenk, Waschnick, Waschnik, Waschnek, Waschniek, Waschnieck, Vaschenik, Voschnik, Voschniek, Voschnick, Foschniek, and Foschnik.

Some of the variants of this surname can also be found in Romania and parts of Ukraine, such as Waschin, Vaschin, Faschin, Waschen, Oschin, Roschin, Daschin and Goschin.

All of these variations stem from the same Old German origin, and can be found throughout Europe and parts of North America today.

Famous people with the name Woschniak

• Kristine Woschniak: an American professional tennis player who competed on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in the early 2000s.
• Jerry Woschniak: an American football player who was drafted to the National Football League in 1951.
• Fritz Woschniak: a German cinematographer who was also a professor of cinematography at the University of Television and Film Munich.
• Sonya Woschniak: an American artist and designer who has worked with a variety of mediums including ceramics, sculpture, and illustration.
• Steven J Woschniak: an American professional golfer who spent most of his career on the Nationwide Tour.
• Yvette Woschniak: an American piano player, singer, and songwriter who has released four solo albums and has performed live around the world.
• Brigitte Woschniak: an Austrian actress who has had roles in numerous films and television series throughout Europe.
• Ron Woschniak: an American screenwriter who wrote on several animated films and television shows, including "Transformers: Prime" and "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".
• Tracy Woschniak: an American artist, graphic designer, and illustrator who has had work featured in a variety of publications and books.
• Irina Woschniak: a contemporary Russian jewellery designer whose work often draws inspiration from architecture and nature.

Other surnames

WoschniWoschniok