Surname Kurek - Meaning and Origin
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Kurek: What does the surname Kurek mean?
The last name Kurek is of Slavic origin. It is derived from kurek, meaning 'hook', and could indicate that the original bearer of the surname was either a fisherman or perhaps a blacksmith who made hooks or other metal tools. It is also possible that the name is derived from the word 'kurka', meaning 'peat', referring to those who lived off the land, in particular from burning peat for fuel.
The diminutive form, Kureczka, is generally used as a patronymic, particularly in the Polish language. It is derived from the Byzantine Greek name Kuriakos, a popular name in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Ancient Slavic gods such as Kurek were also associated with the moon, and could explain why there were also many villages named Kurek or its variations in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found among Polish and Czech immigrants. People with this name may be of Polish and Czech origin, but can also trace their roots to numerous other countries including Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Belarus and even Russia.
The commonality of Kurek can be seen through its various iterations in countries such as Austria, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in previously mentioned Eastern European countries. It has become strongly associated with the concept of family and is considered an element of ethnic identity. Therefore, those bearing the name Kurek are believed to be part of a larger 'Kurek family' that goes back several generations.
Order DNA origin analysisKurek: Where does the name Kurek come from?
The last name Kurek is most commonly found in Poland and other countries that have strong ties to Polish culture. This includes various parts of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Russia and Ukraine.
In Poland, Kurek is among the 25 most common surnames in the country with approximately 78,554 people bearing the name. Records from the Central Statistical Office of Poland show that there were over 8,000 Polish families with the Kurek surname in the year 2018.
In the United States, Kurek is most common amongst individuals of Polish heritage who have since immigrated to the country. The United States 2020 census lists over 8,000 people with the Kurek surname. California, Illinois, New York, and Michigan are the states with the most people having the Kurek surname.
In the United Kingdom, the Office of National Statistics reported that there were 5,000 British people with the Kurek surname in the year 2011. Most of these people are first-generation immigrants from Poland.
In Canada, the last name Kurek is moderately popular, with over 1,500 people identified in the last name index. Most of these individuals are of Polish heritage.
Kurek is also a common surname in Ukraine, Russia, and Germany. Ukrainian records cite 4,000 people with the Kurek surname while Russian censuses record 7,000 people with the name. German statistics cite 4,600 people with the Kurek surname.
Variations of the surname Kurek
The surname Kurek has many variants in its spelling, spelling variations and surnames with the same origin. It is a Polish surname that is derived from Sanskrit roots and its meaning is “strong” or “valiant”.
Kurek is generally spelled Kurek, however it can also be spelt as Korek, Kureck, Kurez, Korok, Kurdek, Kurdek, Kurdyk and Kurac.
The surnames with similar origins include Kerekes, Karkowski, Krakowski and Korab.
In some countries, especially those where German is spoken, it is written as Kürek.
Another variation of the Polish surname Kurek is Kurecka. This is the female form of the name and is usually spelled Kurecka with two C’s.
In some cases, the surname is spelled Kurecki. Depending on the region, this form of the name may be used to refer to the father or male line of descent, while Kurecka may be used to refer to the female line.
Kurek is also an old Czech surname, spelled Kurdek or Kurik.
Moreover, the Polish surname Kurek is also sometimes spelled differently according to the region such as Kurech, Kurec, Kurex, Kurechy and Kurecs.
In conclusion, the surname Kurek has many spelling variations and related surnames. These include Kurecka, Kerekes, Karkowski, Krakowski, Korab, Kürek, Kurdek, Kurdyk and Kurac. It is also sometimes spelled differently according to the region.
Famous people with the name Kurek
- Marta Kurek: Polish beauty queen, finalist in Miss World 2013
- Seam Kurek: American celebrity chef
- Mira Kurek: fashion and beauty influencer
- Luke Kurek: filmmaker
- Bozena Kurek: former Vice Prime Minister of Poland
- Pawel Kurek: professional Volleyball player
- Barbara Kurek: Polish actress
- Robert Kurek: American actor
- Adam Kurek: Polish Ice Hockey Coach
- Eldon Kurek: Canadian sculptor, painter, and mixed media artist.