Surname Volodkevicius - Meaning and Origin
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Volodkevicius: What does the surname Volodkevicius mean?
Volodkevicius is a Lithuanian surname of noble descent. It is derived from the Lithuanian personal name Volodkevitch, which comes from two words- "Volod" meaning ruler or silent and "Kevitch" meaning son of; thus, the literal translation of Volodkevicius is "son of the ruler or the silent one". Historically, this surname was used to identify a family of knights and warriors who protected the ruling families of Lithuania and its neighbouring nations.
In modern times, the surname Volodkevicius is believed to be most common in Lithuania, though it has spread throughout Europe and the United States. People with the Volodkevicius surname tend to be proud of their ancestry and take pride in the history of noble warriors and knights that the name connotes.
The sense of pride among those with the Volodkevicius surname is obvious in the way that they carry themselves and interact with others. They tend to be courageous, honourable, and respectful towards those they meet. People with the surname Volodkevicius have a great respect for tradition and take pride in their accomplishments. They strive to live up to both the literal and cultural meanings of their name.
Order DNA origin analysisVolodkevicius: Where does the name Volodkevicius come from?
The last name Volodkevicius is most commonly found in Lithuania today, which is located in Northern Europe and borders Russia, Belarus, Latvia, and Poland. It is believed that the Volodkevicius surname originated in the late 1800s from Lithuania, which was part of the Russian Empire at that time.
Today, many people of Lithuanian origin have the surname Volodkevicius, as well as Eastern European immigrants throughout Europe and North America with ties to Lithuania. In Lithuania, the Volodkevicius family name is fairly common across the country, though there are also larger concentrations of people with the name in cities such as Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Kaunas in the south.
Outside of Lithuania, people with the Volodkevicius last name have mostly spread to other parts of Europe, such as Poland, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia, and have also moved to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. In the US, states such as New York, California, Illinois, and Michigan have the largest concentrations of people with the Volodkevicius surname.
In the United States, the surname Volodkevicius is likely at least partially due to the influx of Lithuanian immigrants throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where a large number of migrant workers came to the US for greater economic opportunity. Today, the Volodkevicius last name remains a continuing part of Lithuanian heritage, with thousands of families still proudly carrying on the tradition across the world.
Variations of the surname Volodkevicius
The variants, spellings and surnames of Volodkevicius are quite varied due to the fact that this surname originates in different countries. Some of the more common variations include:
Volodkeverts, Voldokveych, Volodykovenko, Volodkevich, Volodkevih, Volodkevitsh, Volodkevetsh, Volodkevits, Volodkewitts, Walodkevitsh, and Volodkovitsh.
Volodkevicius is typically a Lithuanian variant that is pronounced “Vol-...ke-vees-shh” and is derived from the ancient Latin “Vlad” meaning “prince” as well as “kev” meaning “rule”. This variant is notably found in parts of Russia and is also found within Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
Another popular variant is “Volodykovich” which is a Belarusian variation of the surname. It is derived from the Proto-Slavic word “Vladyka” which translates to “lord” or "royal" and is most commonly found in areas such as Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Romania.
In addition to Volodkevicius, there are numerous other variations of the surname throughout Eastern Europe. Some of these include Volodchikov, Volodevich, Volodkevish, Volkskovich, Volchok, Voltek, and Volevo. As migration to other countries continues to increase, many of these variants are becoming more widespread in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Thus, the great number of spellings and surnames of Volodkevicius speaks to its ancestral diversity and long history.
Famous people with the name Volodkevicius
- Jonas Valančiūnas: Lithuanian-Canadian professional basketball player currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association.
- Víctor Valdés: Spanish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper from 2000 to 2019.
- Liudas Vaičiūnas: Lithuanian basketball player who plays for BC Pieno žvaigždės of the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Matas Volodkevičius: Lithuanian footballer who currently plays for NK Osijek in the Croatian First Football League.
- Ugnius Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball player for BC Žalgiris of the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Dovydas Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball player for BC Juventus of the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Vytautas Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball player for BC Lietuvos Rytas of the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Vytautas Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball coach and former player who was the head coach of the Lithuania men's national basketball team.
- Saulius Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball player for BC Mazeikiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League.
- Eimantis Volodkevičius: Lithuanian professional basketball player who plays for BC Alytus of the Lithuanian Basketball League.