Surname Kapschak - Meaning and Origin
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Kapschak: What does the surname Kapschak mean?
Kapschak is a rare surname of Germanic origin, derived from the given name Kaspa which means "ruler of a fortified town" or "governor of a castle". It is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word "kapuzanc" meaning "governor or commander of a castle".
In historical records, the Kapschak surname appears in records from lands under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy as early as the 1500s. A mapmaker by the name of Josef Kapschak appears on a 1641 hand-drawn map of the Upper Austrian towns of Krems and Stein under the rule of the Archbishop of Salzburg.
In the modern day, the Kapschak surname is still found among German-speaking populations. Individuals with the last name Kapschak are believed to be descended from nobility, as the name suggests a leadership history. Today, those with the surname Kapschak often have occupations related to administrative work, technology and engineering, as well as a variety of other professional fields.
In summary, Kapschak is an uncommon surname of Germanic origin first used in the early 1500s among members of the ruling class. Originally associated with administrative leadership and governance, those with the Kapschak surname today can work in a variety of different fields.
Order DNA origin analysisKapschak: Where does the name Kapschak come from?
The last name Kapschak is most commonly found in the Central European countries of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. German immigration records indicate that the Kapschak family has been present in the region since at least the early 19th century. There are also records of people with the Kapschak surname living in Lithuania and Slovakia, as well as people with Kapschak-derived surnames such as Kapsnik and Kapaschak.
In modern times, the Kapschak surname is still relatively common in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. According to a comprehensive database compiled by Forebears, there were ~1,100 people with the surname Kapschak in Germany in 2019 and ~900 in Austria. In the Czech Republic, the surname appears to be more regionalized, with a greater concentration of people with the name living in the southern border region near Austria and Slovenia. In Hungary, the Kapschak name is also somewhat common, with ~200 people listed in the Forebears database in 2019.
Overall, the Kapschak surname continues to be relatively common in the countries of Central or Eastern Europe where it has been present for centuries. The exact numbers of people with the name today may vary from country to country, but the Kapschak family tree remains strong in the region.
Variations of the surname Kapschak
The surname Kapschak is of Slavic origin and is most commonly found in German-speaking countries. Variants of this surname include Kapschok, Kapschick, Kapschokk, Kapschokke, Kapschakk, Kapschakke and Kapschokkke. Spellings for this surname can vary slightly due to the phonetic use of certain letters over time, so names such as Kapšak, Kapschaak and Kapschack may also be encountered.
Surnames of similar origin to Kapschak include Kapschka, Kapschke, Kapschu, Kapschbac, Kapschban, Kapschzak, Kapschzka, Kapschcac, Kapschcin, Kapschzic and Kapschzik.
For those with the Kapschak surname, it is important to also be aware of potentially related surnames that were derived from this name, such as Kapshek, Kapchek and Kapsheski. These names may correspond to the same family line as Kapschak and can help to identify other individuals related to the same family tree.
Due to their closely related origins, some surnames may be interchangeable. For example, Kapschzka, Kapschche and Kapschban can be seen as variations of the same surname, as they all by the Kapsch base.
The Kapschak name is derived from the Slavic root Kapusz, which means ‘flower’, indicating a link to the family profession or an important event or milestone in the family history. This root has also been linked to the surname Kopal, a variation which holds a similar origin.
Famous people with the name Kapschak
- Jakob Kapschak, Austrian painter
- Robert Kapschak, Austrian historian
- Damian Kapschak, Czech composer and singer
- Marika Kapschak, Austrian sprinter
- Stefan Kapschak, Austrian alpine skier
- Kurt Kapsch, Austrian composer and music teacher
- Max Kapschak, Austrian puppeteer
- Erich Kapschak, German ice hockey player
- Joseph Kapschak, Austrian author
- Alexander Kapschak, Austrian diplomat