Surname Marcinkiewicz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Marcinkiewicz: What does the surname Marcinkiewicz mean?
The last name Marcinkiewicz is derived from the Polish term Marcinkiewicz, the diminutive of Marcin which is derived from the Latin name Martinus which means "warlike". The name has been in Poland since at least the 14th century, and is commonly found in other parts of Europe as well.
The roots of the Marcinkiewicz name are associated with a few different meanings, one being the nickname for Marcin, a person who was revered for his skills as a fighter. This is the most likely explanation as to why the name is derived from a martial term. Other interpretations suggest that the surname is derived from an old Polish phrase "marcinki", which means "little ship," suggesting that the original bearer of the last name may have belonged to a seafaring family.
The surname has become well known in Poland and other European countries due to its prominence in the music industry. It's associated with the genius and innovative music composition of the Polish composer, pianist, and arranger Mikolaj/Nikolai Marcinkiewicz who was born in Warsaw in the early twentieth century. His compositions found a place in the jazz, classical, and sacred genres.
The name Marcinkiewicz has come to symbolize the blend of modern and classical musical style, which the composer is famous for. It is a symbol of an individual’s ability to move away from pre-defined boundaries to create something special and unique.
Order DNA origin analysisMarcinkiewicz: Where does the name Marcinkiewicz come from?
The last name Marcinkiewicz is most commonly found today in Poland and northeastern Europe in countries such as Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Records of the Marcinkiewicz family first appear in the 16th century in the Polish regions of Krakow, Poznań, and Silesia. During the 19th and 20th centuries, with the turmoil of two world wars and rural migration, many of the Marcinkiewiczs spread out to other countries.
In the United States, Marcinkiewicz is a much rarer name, but there are still some that share it. According to the Census Bureau, the most heavily populated U.S. states with Marcinkiewicz families are New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and California. Many Marcinkiewiczs in America have descended from the Polish immigrants who settled within the country's borders during the 20th century.
There is also a small presence of the Marcinkiewicz surname in various parts of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Generally speaking, those who bear the Marcinkiewicz name are of Polish descent and all trace their roots back to the same small but proud lineage of Polish aristocrats.
Variations of the surname Marcinkiewicz
Marcinkiewicz is a Polish surname of noble origins. The surname is thought to have begun in the 15th century along with the banishment of many Polish gentry to the region of Prussia. This surname has a number of variants both in spelling and in its variation in surname usage.
Spelling variants of Marcinkiewicz include Marcinkiewic, Marcinkiewicz, Marcinkiewitcz, Marcinkewicz, Marcinko, and Marcinkevich. Other surnames derived from the Marcinkiewicz root are Marcinkowsik, Marcinkovsk, and Marcinkevic.
Variations in the usage of the surname include such German variants as Marzinkowitz, and Marzinkewitz, as well as popular lineages such as Marcinkiewicz, Marcnikov, and Marcinolo. It is also important to note that the surname is sometimes encountered in more modern forms such as Marzonka and Marszinkowski.
Additionally, Marcinkiewicz has other derivative names including Mackinicz, Mackinzynski, Marcinek and Makarczyk, as well as surnames such as Kapusta or Kupczyk which are derived from the original Marcinkiewicz.
Overall, the surname Marcinkiewicz has a long standing history, which can be observed in the numerous spelling variations, and surnames which have derived from the same root.
Famous people with the name Marcinkiewicz
- Zbigniew Marcinkiewicz: Former Prime Minister of Poland.
- Wladyslaw Stanislaw Marcinkiewicz: Polish artist.
- Monika Marcinkiewicz: Film director and screenplay writer.
- Agata Marcinkiewicz: Poet and novelist.
- Justyna Marcinkiewicz: Actress.
- Grzegorz Marcinkiewicz: Actor.
- Przemyslaw Marcinkiewicz: Football player.
- Ireneusz Janusz Marcinkiewicz: A German-Silesian-Polish engineer, and master of machines.
- Kamil Marcinkiewicz: Voice Actor.
- Robert Marcinkiewicz: Sprint canoer.
- Zdzislaw Marcinkiewicz: Historian and journalist.