Surname Lewkowich - Meaning and Origin
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Lewkowich: What does the surname Lewkowich mean?
The last name Lewkowich is a Polish surname which originated in the medieval kingdom of Poland. It is thought to be derived from the historical Slavic term Lewkowo, which referred to a person from a village that was located near the river.
The most common roots of the Lewkowich surname are from two distinct historical locations in Poland - Lewkowo Staro (old Lewkowo) and Lewkowo Nowy (new Lewkowo). The old Lewkowo was a large estate located in the modern-day village of Ciechanowo near the Narew River. The new Lewkowo was situated in the modern-day town of Zambrow, and was an estate owned by a noble family in the area.
It is possible that the name Lewkowich was adopted by members of these two villages when they relocated elsewhere in East Central Europe. The importance of family, particularly from the land, is deeply ingrained in the Polish culture. It is likely that someone seeking to move away from their small village would want to preserve a connection to their hometown, and would take the name Lewkowich to reflect their origin.
The Lewkowich surname is still in use today, and many of its descendants are scattered across the globe. It is a unique reminder of how Polish family heritage has been carried on through generations of immigrants.
Order DNA origin analysisLewkowich: Where does the name Lewkowich come from?
The last name Lewkowich is a relatively uncommon name today, but it has its roots in parts of the world where many Slavic languages are still spoken. In particular, the name is associated with areas of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Belarus, and the Czech Republic.
Although the precise origins of Lewkowich are unknown, it is believed to be of Slavic origin. As such, it is likely derived from the ancient gentry name Lewkowicz. During feudal times in Europe, many noble families took ‘-wicz‘ as a suffix of their gentry name, as it denotes their status as noblemen.
In modern times, some Lewkowiches are found in the United States and Canada, primarily from immigration from Eastern European countries, where the name is still common. In the U.S., the surname is most often found in states such as Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Florida, and Massachusetts. In Canada, Lewkowich is mostly found in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, as well as in the Greater Toronto Area.
Overall, the surname Lewkowich is not particularly common today, though it is still possible to find individuals with this name in parts of both North America and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Lewkowich
The variants of the Lewkowich surname come from the original Polish spelling ("Lewkowicz") and the phoneticized forms that have developed throughout the centuries.
The original spelling of the surname is Lewkowicz and it is often spelled in English as Lewkowicz or Lewkovich. The surnames Lewkovich and Lewcosech have also developed from the original spelling.
The surname can also be spelled as Levi, Lewcovich, Lewkowych, Lewkowski, Lewckowych, Lewko, Lewek, and Lewke. These are all derived from the original Polish spelling; however, many of these forms have come to be “Americanized” and are used in the United States and other English-speaking countries.
In addition to all these spellings, the surname Lewkowich also has some alternative spellings. These include Lewkowski, Lewko, Lewicki, Lavicki, Lewogo, and Letenko. There is also a Ukrainian variant of the last name "Lewkovych".
Variations of the surname can also be found in other countries such as Russia and Latvia. In Russia, it is spelled левкович (Lewkovic), while in Latvia it is spelled Leviki or Laviki.
In short, the surname Lewkowich has multiple variants and spellings. All of these variants are derived from the original Polish spelling, Lewkowicz. The variations in different countries are a result of the differences in dialects and languages.
Famous people with the name Lewkowich
- Tyler Lewkowich: Mixed Martial Arts fighter for Bellator MMA
- Michael Lewkowich: Baseball Pitcher for the Iowa Cubs
- Kelsie Lewkowich: Canadian soccer player
- Chuck Lewkowich: American football player who was active in the Canadian Football League in the 1970s
- Michael Lewkowich: Computer scientist and professor at the University of Toronto
- Willie Lewkowich: Canadian soccer player
- Bretz Lewkowich: Former professional hockey player
- John Lewkowich: Former Canadian Football League player
- Larry Lewkowich: Canadian football player who was active for the Calgary Stampeders.
- Grzegorz Lewkowicz: Polish soccer player