Surname Wiciok - Meaning and Origin
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Wiciok: What does the surname Wiciok mean?
The last name Wiciok is a Polish surname, believed to have originally come from the personal name Wiciek. It has become relatively rare, however, over the centuries. The name is believed to have been created from the ancient Polish word "wic" meaning "crossroads". This is thought to reflect an original reference to the family being well-traveled and having traveled to many crossroads on their migrations.
The surname is found in many regions of Poland but primarily in southeastern parts of the country. There, many historical records note it as occurring among peasant families. This suggests that the name has been in use in Poland for centuries, for peasants as well as various aristocratic families.
The meaning of the name Wiciok has been much debated over the years. One theory is that it is related to the Greek and Latin word for 'outright' or 'unconditionally'. Other theories suggest it is derived from a root word for 'vigilant' or 'watchful.'
Whatever the original interpretation of the name, it continues to be used in Poland today, with some of the more common variants of the name being Wiciak, Wiciaczek, and Wickie. All of these share the same basic meaning: a person who is always vigilant or traveling and well-traveled.
Order DNA origin analysisWiciok: Where does the name Wiciok come from?
The last name Wiciok is most commonly found in Poland today. According to the Central Statistical Office of Poland, Wiciok is the 13,106th most common surname in the country. It is estimated that between 1,300 and 1,400 people living in Poland have the last name Wiciok.
It is believed that the name has Slavic origins and originated in an area now known as the Masovia region of Poland. The name likely derived from words associated with settlement and the making of homes, such as wieś (village), wić (to build) and ok (place)—or related words.
Other small populations of people with the last name Wiciok can be found scattered across Europe, including in some regions of Germany and Ukraine. Outside Europe, there are scattered populations of people with the last name Wiciok living primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The small populations across Europe and the other overseas countries with the last name Wiciok are likely the result of emigration after World War II. Many Europeans migrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is therefore likely that the people with the last name Wiciok currently living in these countries are descended from those who emigrated from Poland.
Variations of the surname Wiciok
The surname Wiciok is a variation of the more common surname Wojciechowski. It is also sometimes spelled as Wichyok, Wiczok, Wiczick, Wiczyk, Wysocki, Wyshchowski, Vicianovich and Vicianov. It is derived from the Polish first name Wojciech, of which Wiciok is a patronymic surname derived from. Wojciech means “he who is happy” in Old Slavic and is derived from the name Woj.
The variant spellings of Wiciok are sometimes anglicized. The surname is sometimes spelled as Wischuk, Wischtchutzky, Vishlock, Vishowski, or Wisschok. It is also sometimes spelled with the letter “v” at the beginning, as Vichiok or Vicok.
The surname is mostly Polish in origin. In some cases, the spelling has changed across different countries and regions or during immigration to a different country. For instance, Wysocki is the German spelling of Wiciok. In the United States, as well as in some other countries, the surnames Vicianovich, Wiczyk, and Wischuk are more common spellings of the original surname Wiciok.
The surnames derived from Wiciok are many and varied, since the surname has spread throughout Europe and the world via immigration. Some of the surnames derived from or similar to Wiciok include Wiesczok, Wischok, Vicok, Vicciok, Viczinski, Wicinski, Vickiok, Vidok, Vizczok and Wizik. Each of these variants of the surname are specific to either a country, region, or culture.
Famous people with the name Wiciok
- Ernie WiCiok, Canadian former National Football League player
- Stanley Wiciok, American professional wrestler
- Jessie Wiciok, American artist
- Barbara Wiciok-Vogel, American wildlife photographer and author
- Gimme Wiciok, American toxicologist
- Steffen Wiciok, German creator of the Mannerism in architecture
- Karen Wiciok, Polish Film and TV director and screenwriter
- Andrzej Wiciok, Polishishe Chaplain in the Vatican
- Frank Wiciok, American football coach
- Paweł Wiciok, Polish historian and professor