Surname Szyma - Meaning and Origin
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Szyma: What does the surname Szyma mean?
The last name Szyma (pronounced ZEE-ma) is a Polish surname derived from a personal name popular during the Middle Ages. The name was derived from the Latin word simeon, which refers to a cross-bearing saint. The surname can refer to someone who was the son of Simeon or a descendant of him.
The surname Szyma was first found in the south and southwest of Poland, in Lesser Poland and in Galicia. In Poland, it has been recorded since the 14th century on.
Although many variants exist, there are several known specific origins of the Szyma family. The first of which is the village of Zymne in the district of Polski Trzebiatowski. There is also the Szyma family from Ostrowski near the town of Opatow in Mazovia.
There is also evidence that it is of Jewish origin. A 16th Century rabbi in Lublin was known as Rabbi Szyma Bunem.
In the US, the Szyma family first immigrated in the 1950s. In modern times, the surname Szyma is also found in Germany, Israel, and Canada.
The surname Szyma reflects a long and proud history, and offers a unique glimpse into the past.
Order DNA origin analysisSzyma: Where does the name Szyma come from?
The last name Szyma is most common in Poland, where it is the 206th most common surname. Some other countries where the name is fairly common include the United Kingdom, Belarus, the United States, and Australia.
In Poland, the last name is most commonly found in northern and central regions such as Kraków, Poznań, Szczecin, Gdańsk, and Warsaw. The last name’s highest concentration is in the Masovian Voivodeship, which is home to 30% of those with the last name.
In the United Kingdom, the last name is most common around the London area, particularly East and South East London where it is the 1060th most popular name.
Belarusian people commonly carry the last name, particularly in urban regions such as Minsk and Grodno where it is the 530th and 563rd most popular last name, respectively.
In the United States, the last name is particularly common among those of Polish-American descent from the Midwestern states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa. It is particularly popular in the city of Detroit, where it is the 8937th most popular surname.
In Australia, the last name is particularly prevalent in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. In Adelaide and Melbourne it is listed as the 2335th most popular surname.
Overall, the last name Szyma is most common among people of Polish descent living in Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Szyma
The surname Szyma is derived from the Polish name Szymczyk and is often found in Poland and other Slavic countries. It can be found in its original spelling—as Szymczyk or Szyma—as well as in its changed forms. The variations in spelling for this surname usually depend on the regional origin of the family, with Szymczyk being the original base spelling.
Variant spellings of the name Szymczyk/Szyma include Szymborski, Szymonowicz, Szymanski, Szymanek, Szymanowicz, Symaniec and Symanczyk. Some of these variants appear in other Slavic countries, such as Symank Belarus and Symonovych Ukraine.
In the United States, people of Polish descent often hyphenate their name to reflect their dual heritage. Thus, Szyma appears as Szyma-Szymczyk and often in even more variants, such as Szymanski-Szymczyk.
Like many traditional surnames, Szyma can also be found in a variety of spelling variations. Common mispelling variants of Szyma include Szymacz, Syma, Szimacz, Szymak, Szymek, Szizma, Szymczuk, and Szymowicz. These are all forms of the original Polish surname Szymczyk.
The Far East also has a variant spelling of the name, similar to the Polish spelling but pronounced differently. In Japan, the surname Szyma is written as しィマ―Shima―as well as しィマーShimaa and しーまShima. In Korea, the surname is written as 시마Shima and 시마스Shimaseu.
Finally, the surname Szyma is related to the surname Smalle, which appears in England and parts of Scandinavia. It is believed to be an Anglicised version of the original Polish surname.
Famous people with the name Szyma
- Oskar Szyma: a famous Polish psychiatrist and leading authority on psychiatric disorders in children.
- Maria Szymańska: a Polish professional volleyball player who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Krzysztof Szymański: a Polish physicist, physicist/engineer, and professor at the University of Warsaw.
- Marcin Szymański: a former professional soccer player who represented Poland in international competitions.
- Michał Szymański: a contemporary Polish politician and entrepreneur.
- Justyna Szymańska: a Polish actress who has appeared in several television series and films.
- Krystian Szymański: a Polish poet, playwright, and theatre director.
- Jan Szymański: a Polish composer and conductor.
- Małgorzata Szymańska: a Polish lawyer and politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2019.
- Anna Szymańska: a Polish film actress who is best known for her roles in 1983's Znachor and 1985's Czułe miejsce.