Surname Owczarzewicz - Meaning and Origin
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Owczarzewicz: What does the surname Owczarzewicz mean?
The last name Owczarzewicz is of Polish origin, derived from the Polish word 'owczarz', which roughly translates to 'shepherd'. This name is generally found in areas of Poland where sheep herding was an important industry.
The root of the surname, 'owczarz', is a fairly common Polish occupational name, typically referring to a shepherd, or a person who tended sheep. It can also be used in a figurative sense to indicate someone who is in a position of responsibility, often acting as a guardian or protector of an area or group of people.
The suffix '-ewicz' is derived from the Old Polish people-name suffix '-wicz' which indicates an ancestral relationship, usually denoting the people from whom the surname was derived - in this case, the "shepherds' people". This suffix could also be used to indicate a status of nobility, due to herding sheep being an upper-level occupation in Poland during the Middle Ages.
Overall, the surname Owczarzewicz is an occupational name stemming from the job of a shepherd. The suffix '-ewicz' implies ancestral connection and possible nobility due to the status of the occupation at the time.
Order DNA origin analysisOwczarzewicz: Where does the name Owczarzewicz come from?
The last name Owczarzewicz is a Polish surname that originated from the pre-Christian Slavic name of Owcze. It is still a very common name in Poland today.
Owczarzewicz is a derivative of the original Owcze, which is derived from the Old Slavic word for "ram". This indicates that the original bearer of the name was likely a hunter, farmer, gardener, or caretaker of livestock.
The name Owczarzewicz is found concentrated around the historical regions of southern and eastern Poland. The most heavily populated area is around the Tarnobrzeg district in the southeastern corner of the country. It is quite rare in other countries, with very few occurrences of the name in other places such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
An example of a famous bearer of the name in modern times is former Poland Minister of Defense Janusz Owczarzewicz. The name Owczarzewicz has likely been carried down in families in Poland for centuries due to its strong regional presence.
Variations of the surname Owczarzewicz
The surname Owczarzewicz has several variants, spelling variations, and other related surnames which have the same origin. The spelling variations of the name Owczarzewicz include the surname variant Owczarzewitz, and Owczarzewski.
The surname Owczarzewicz originates from the Polish word “owczarz”, which means “shepherd”. This common Polish surname literally translates to “shepherd's son” or “of the shepherd”. It is thought that the surname was likely originally derived from a nickname amongst the Polish people.
The surname Owczarzewicz is still found throughout much of Poland today. Other related Polish surnames include Owczarz, Owczarzewski, Owczarek and Owczarkiewicz. In addition, the surnames Owczarzak, Owczarzyk, Owczareczek, Owczarowicz, and Owczarek have also been derived from this name.
Some of the other spellings of the name include Owczarski, Owczarzy and Owczarzak. Other related names found in the same region of Poland are Oswczaruk, Owczarz, Owczarzuk, Ohchyzharuk, Owczerzuk, Owczerodka and Owczarkowicz.
The name Owczarzewicz can also be found outside of Poland, including in other Slavic countries such as Ukraine. In Ukraine it is spelled as Ovscharzewych. The names may also be found in other countries, although they are spelt differently. In the United States for example, some spelling variances include Ovtsarzevich, Owtszarzewski or Owtsarzevich.
Famous people with the name Owczarzewicz
- Krzysztof Owczarzewicz: a Polish actor and director.
- Agnieszka Owczarzewicz: a Polish composer.
- Marek Owczarzewicz: a Polish editor and director of documentaries.
- Michał Owczarzewicz: a Polish physicist and academic.
- Grzegorz Owczarzewicz: a Polish entrepreneur and CEO of a local IT company.
- Noemi Owczarzewicz: a Polish poet and prose writer.
- Michał Owczarzewicz: a Polish Olympic bronze medalist in rowing from 2008.
- Dawid Owczarzewicz: a Polish footballer who plays for the Polish national team.
- Rafał Owczarzewicz: a Polish computer scientist and researcher of cryptography.
- Kamil Owczarzewicz: a Polish karate athlete and multi-time World Champion.