Surname Hojnacki - Meaning and Origin
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Hojnacki: What does the surname Hojnacki mean?
The last name Hojnacki is of Polish origin and it is derived from the pre-Christian pagan personal name "Hojnek," meaning “generous one.” This name was occasionally bestowed on firstborn sons in some Slavic regions, and likely became a surname in the medieval period. Hojnacki is most common in Poland and Ukraine, and can also be found in areas of Slovakia, Slovenia, and Austria.
The Hojnacki name first appeared in historical documents in the 15th century, when a person with the same name was recorded in the area of Krakow in Poland. Another Hojnacki appeared in records from the same area in the 17th century.
The namesake of the Hojnacki last name—Hojnek—comes from the old Slavic work “Hoj” meaning “generous” or “bounty.” The people who were given this name were viewed as having a generous spirit and kind nature. It is likely that people with this surname continue to embody its meaning in modern times, suggesting that the Hojnacki family has a long history of giving and sharing with others.
Despite its origins, the Hojnacki surname today is quite rare. However, it is still possible to find people in some Eastern European countries that bear the Hojnacki name, and members of the Hojnacki family may still share the generous nature it represents.
Order DNA origin analysisHojnacki: Where does the name Hojnacki come from?
The last name Hojnacki is often found today among the people of Poland, although its roots lead much further back in time. According to the Heraldry Database, the name originated with the Polish nobility of the 14th-16th centuries. The name Hojnacki comes from the root word “hojny” which means generous or charitable, suggesting that the noble family was one known for its generosity.
The name has been found scattered all over Poland since then, and due to the influx of Polish immigrants to other countries in recent years, the surname has also been found in countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the US specifically, it’s estimated that there are around 600 people today carrying the surname Hojnacki.
While the surname Hojnacki isn’t particularly common, there are other variations that have the same roots - the most common among them being Hojnowski. Its prevalence in Poland today speaks to the origin of the surname and the pride many carriers take in its Polish roots.
Variations of the surname Hojnacki
The surname Hojnacki is of Polish origin and is derived from the word ‘Hojny’ meaning generous. Over the years, there have evolved various variants of this surname depending upon the region and pronunciation of the name.
Variants of Hojnacki include Hoinacki, Hojna, Hojnicki, Hojnecki, and Hojnik. All these spellings are very similar to the original surname, with just slight variations in the spelling.
In some cases, Hojnacki has been anglicized to become Honeck, Honick, and Honicki. The Polish spelling may also be found with a slight variation, such as Honycki.
In some families, individuals may also assume surnames related to Hojnacki, such as Hopnicki, and Honnik. These changes could have been to deliberately hide from authorities or could have merely been a part of the long-standing traditions which amended surnames for a variety of reasons.
Finally, Hojnacki may also have been changed to a completely different surname as a result of emigration. In some examples, we can find Hojnacki families with surnames such as Friedman, Friedman and Friedman-Hojnacki. The spelling is sometimes preserved, such as being written as Hoffman or Flynn.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames related to Hojnacki are evidence of the changing history of the name. Thus, we can still find families with this surname in many of its varied forms.
Famous people with the name Hojnacki
- Joe Hojnacki: An American-born Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the International Hockey League from 1989 to 1993.
- Mark Hojnacki: A former professional American football guard in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers.
- Andy Hojnacki: An American professional soccer player who last played for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.
- Leon Hojnacki: An American boxer who was a Professional Boxer from 1933 to 1943.
- Steve Hojnacki: An American former football cornerback who played four seasons in the National Football League.
- Frank Hojnacki: An American former professional basketball player.
- Tadeusz Hojnacki: A Polish politician, who was the Minister of Agriculture together with Minister of Forests from 2001 to 2005.
- Chip Hojnacki: An American professional kicker/punter who most recently played for the Milwaukee Mustangs of the Arena Football League.
- Adrian Hojnacki: A former ice hockey left winger who played nine games in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Casey Hojnacki: An American Soccer player who currently plays for the Toronto FC Academy in the Canadian Soccer League.