Surname Onuszko - Meaning and Origin

Onuszko: What does the surname Onuszko mean?

The last name Onuszko is believed to derive from the Old Polish word "onen", meaning "one" or "only" or also "unique". The suffix "ko" was added to the surname in order to indicate the surname holder's relation to this word, much like the English suffix "-son".

The most popular theory of origin states that the name emerged in the area around the city of Rzesz in southeastern Poland, as the result of a practice that was widespread during the 16th century. At the time, people often took their names from the word or phrase used to describe their house or land. Since the word "onen" can also denote something that is small or isolated, this could refer to a small, unique piece of land.

Traditionally, families with the surname Onuszko were distributed over the south and east of Poland, as well as a few surrounding countries. Today, the Onuszko surname is still common in Poland, with about 6,000 individuals sharing the name.

Those named Onuszko are considered to be part of an exclusive group, because the name and its history are both unique and rare. Throughout history, many different families have had the surname Onuszko, but each one could trace their roots back to the same origin and meaning.

Onuszko: Where does the name Onuszko come from?

The last name Onuszko is a common Polish surname which is mostly found in areas that were once part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poland is where this surname is most common, as well as in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe such as Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Slovakia.

Given the fact that Poland was the subject of numerous partitions throughout its history, the last name Onuszko is also found in smaller numbers throughout these regions today. This is especially the case for descendants of those Poles who were forced to migrate to new lands during previous centuries. For instance, there is a sizable diaspora of Poles located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries across the globe.

It is also worth mentioning that there are several variants of this surname throughout these regions, usually depending on the dialect of Polish that was spoken in a particular area. For example, the surname Onuszko may be spelled as Onusczko, Onusko, Onuschko, or Onyshko.

Overall, the last name Onuszko is a very common Polish surname which is found in numerous different countries. Its presence in Central and Eastern Europe is especially pronounced, but its variants can also be found in other areas in smaller numbers.

Variations of the surname Onuszko

The surname Onuszko is of ancient Polish origin. It is believed to have first appeared in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old Polish personal name Onufrej, and literally means "son of Onufrej". Variations and spellings of Onuszko include Onduszko, Onyszko, Onusko and Onuska.

The surname is thought to have been popularized during the period of the Polish partitions, a period of Polish history between 1795 and 1918 when Poland's territory was divided between the Russian Empire, Prussia, and the Austrian Empire. During this period, the holders of the Onuszko name changed their surname or Anglicized the spellings and pronunciation in an effort to establish themselves and blend in with the predominant cultures.[

Surnames of the same origin are also thought to include Ondušek, Onduzek, Onduschek, Ondzusko, Onuschik, Onuszuk, Ondushko and Ondushek.

The surname is still prevalent in today's Poland. In addition, it is also thought to have spread throughout Europe, with members of the Onuszko family now scattered across Slovakia, Belarus, the Czech Republic, the United States and Canada.

Famous people with the name Onuszko

• Paweł Onuszko: Polish footballer and football coach
• Andrzej Onuszko: Polish TV and theatre actor
• Katarzyna Onuszko: Polish designer and fashion house owner
• Tomasz Onuszko: Polish painter and sculptor
• Mariusz Onuszko: Polish cyclist, Olympic silver medalist
• Tadeusz Onuszko: Polish military officer and politician
• Jozef Onuszko: Polish actor
• Jan Onuszko: Polish modern historian
• Jakub Onuszko: Polish music producer and composer
• Lucjan Onuszko: Polish military historian and professor

Other surnames

Onuszeit