Surname Wanick - Meaning and Origin

Wanick: What does the surname Wanick mean?

The last name Wanick is of Polish origin, with reported instances of the surname being documented in several places across the country. The earliest known spelling of the surname is “Wanick”, with other spellings including “Wonisch” and “Wonick”. The root of the surname is believed to be derived from the Old Polish word ‘wan’ or ‘woń’, meaning ‘smell’ or ‘perfume’.

As with many surnames, the meanings typically have an origin story that has been passed down from one generation to the next, and many stories exist about the origin of the Wanick name. Commonly, the surname is believed to have been carried by individuals in perfume-making guilds, or people that worked in the cloth printing industry. The fabric-dyeing process used at the time created strong odors, and thus individuals that were dedicated to the craft were known as “wanick”, or ‘perfumers’.

The prevalence of the Wanick name is particularly high in the provinces of Malopolska, Slask, and Lodzien. It is thought that certain movements of individuals from the Eastern to the Western areas of the country also contributed to the distribution of the surname. Records of this surname being found in America as early as 1823 suggest that individuals with the name Wanick were an active part of the early Polish immigration to America.

Today, the Wanick surname is still found frequently in Poland, and many individuals with the name have emigrated to countries around the world, including the United States, where the surname has been kept alive since the mid-nineteenth century.

Wanick: Where does the name Wanick come from?

The origin of the last name Wanick is believed to have begun in medieval Germany, where the name was thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name Wannich. Historically, there were various spellings of the name and its variations, including Wahnick, Wanek, and Wainek.

Today, the name Wanick is most commonly found in Germany. In 2018, the last name was the 2,373rd most common surname in the country, out of a total of roughly 888,000 surnames. It is estimated that there are about 5,000 people living in Germany with the last name Wanick. The surname is also found in many German-speaking countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, as well as in the United States and Canada.

In the United States, according to recent census data, the last name Wanick is most prevalent in the state of Iowa. Just over 200 people living in the state have the surname. In total, it is thought to be in use by about 500 individuals across the country.

It is also found in Canada, although it is a much less common name. There are fewer than 50 people in the nation with the Wanick surname. This is likely because the name is more recent and has not had the time to become as well-established in Canadian records as it is in Germany.

Variations of the surname Wanick

The surname Wanick has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname include Wanic, Wanyk, Wannick, Vanych and Wénych. These variations, as well as others, of the surname originate from the old Polish word ‘wąż’ which means ‘snake’.

Another common spelling is the Germanic Vanic, which is the result of the truncation of the surname Wanic. In certain regions, the surname may also be spelt Wanicke. This could be explained by the influence of the German language and the spelling habits of Germans.

The Czech variant of the surname is Wanícek or Vajícek. This variation has resulted from the phonetic assimilation of the letter ‘v’ with the vowel ‘a’. Other variations may include Vanecek, Vannicke, Wanicke, Vannike, Vonych, and Vénych.

In some instances, the surname may appear as fully anglicized versions such as Wanech, Wantz and Wanke, due to the influence of the English language. Furthermore, the Dutch form of the surname Wanick is Waneg, whereas the Italian and Spanish version is Vanicek.

Overall, the main variations of the surname Wanick are Wanic, Wanyk, Wannick, Vanych, Wénych, Vanic, Wanicke, Wanícek or Vajícek, Vanecek, Vannicke, Wanicke, Vannike, Vonych, Vénych, Wanech, Wantz, Wanke, Waneg and Vanicek.

Famous people with the name Wanick

• Alec Wanick: Canadian actor and writer.
• Rufus Wanick: Canadian stage and television actor.
• Hiroshi Wanick: Japanese manga artist.
• Pierre Wanick: French Olympic fencer.
• Liz Wanick: US Olympic fencing medalist.
• George Wanick: US Olympian track and field athlete.
• Karl Wanick: American professional football player.
• Graham Wanick: Canadian jazz trumpeter and singer.
• Andrzej Wanick: Polish film producer.
• Ric Wanick: American actor and producer.
• Kara Wanick: American actor and singer.
• Hedo Wanick: Brazilian professional footballer.
• Daisy Wanick: Australian stage and television actress.
• Evelinn Wanick: French croquet player.
• Sandro Wanick: Italian fashion designer.
• Jasmine Wanick: Indian film and television actress.
• Gary Wanick: Canadian actor, singer, and writer.
• Marcel Wanick: Belgian Trialcross champion.
• Adriana Wanick: Brazilian model.
• Taylor Wanick: American pop singer.

Other surnames

WanicekWaniczek