Surname Owczarek - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Owczarek: What does the surname Owczarek mean?
The last name Owczarek is of Slavic origin, derived from the Polish word 'owcza', meaning 'sheep'. The name was first given to people who lived close to farmlands and businesses that raised and tended to sheep, and over time came to signify family lines descended from those workers or shepherds. These families would often live in close proximity to one another and establish strong bonds of friendship and kinship, resulting in common last names.
This last name can be seen as signifying a person of deep connection to the land and the farming lifestyle. In the past, those who shared the name Owczarek were typically involved in raising sheep for their livelihoods and creating strong, close-knit communities. This name has a long tradition of being associated with working with nature and the land, and remaining connected to it.
In today’s society, however, the name Owczarek is less associated with the farming lifestyle and more with being of Slavic descent. As a result, those who carry the name often share a sense of inner strength and a pride in their ancestry and roots. It is a name that comes with its own set of expectations and potential to pass down a strong cultural legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisOwczarek: Where does the name Owczarek come from?
The last name Owczarek is a Polish name derived from the word "owca" meaning "sheep". It is found mainly in the Polish-speaking countries of Europe. Approximately 1 in every 10,000 people in Poland is named Owczarek.
In terms of emigration, the surname is also found in other places around the world such as United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany and other countries. Owczarek is one of the most common surnames in United States, with approximately 3,500 people bearing this name. The United Kingdom also has a significant number of Owczarek families with the number estimated to be around slightly more than 2,000.
Owczarek is rarely found in other countries such as France, Netherlands, Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Croatia, Estonia and Spain. The rarity of the surname is attributed to limited Polish immigration to these countries.
In terms of immigration to the United States, Owczarek was one of the 10 most common surnames amongst Polish-born immigrants in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Immigrants from other countries who have since taken the Owczarek name are far fewer in number.
Overall, the last name Owczarek is common in the countries with a long tradition of Polish immigration and settlement such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany. Rarely is the name found in other countries due to lower levels of Polish immigration and settling.
Variations of the surname Owczarek
Owczarek is a Polish-origin surname that can vary its spelling depending on the country and language. In Poland, the fourteen most common variants of the surname are Awcwarczek, Awczerk, Awczarek, Awczerek, Awczerk, Owczarcek, Owczarczyk, Owczarek, Owczark, Owczarka, Owczarkiewicz, Owczareczek, Owczarek, and Owczerek.
In other countries, the common surname variants include Awczarek, Owczarzak, Owczarzek, and Owczerk in Belarus, Awczarek and Awczerek in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Owczarek in Ukraine, Owczar (Ovcar) in Serbia, Ovcárek in the Czech Republic, Osvcar in Slovenia, Ovcárek in Hungary, and Övczar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The established European surname, Owczarek, may have also evolved into other surnames with different spellings such as Ovcaric in Croatia, Ovchar in Macedonia, Avcıer in Turkey, and Owczarzak (otherwise known as Oszarzak in Poland) in Germany.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, the most common surnames related to Owczarek are Awczyniski, Owczarski, and Owczarzak. These variations likely originated from the various spelling and language conventions adopted by the immigrants who left Poland in the 19th and 20th century.
In total, there are about forty-two recorded variants and spellings of the surname Owczarek, or related surnames, around the world today, indicating the extensive diversity of cultural influences surrounding this surname.
Famous people with the name Owczarek
- Malgorzata Owczarek: Polish theater and film actress.
- Martin Owczarek: Polish cross-country skier.
- Natalia Owczarek: Polish rhythmic gymnast.
- Wojciech Owczarek: Polish football coach and former player.
- Kamil Owczarek: Polish kick boxer and mixed martial artist.
- Patryk Owczarek: Polish professional basketball player.
- Tadeusz Owczarek: Polish Olympic javelin thrower.
- Dariusz Owczarek: Polish professional volleyball player.
- Rafal Owczarek: Polish sculptor and artist.
- Zdenek Owczarek: Czech football player and coach.