Surname Zemkus - Meaning and Origin
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Zemkus: What does the surname Zemkus mean?
The last name Zemkus is of Lithuanian descent. It derives from the Lithuanian term "zemba," which is a derivative of the name Sembas, which was commonly used by the Lithuanian nobility back in the 17th century. The term was typically applied to someone who was a “king�� or leader, so the surname likely originated from someone with a high social rank in the past.
The name Zemkus is a patronymic surname, which means it was derived from the first name of one’s father. It likely represents a family of nobles or simply families who had lived in the region for a long time. This type of surname is very common in Lithuania and other countries in the Baltic region, so the Zemkus name could be found in many areas.
Some people who bear the name Zemkus are said to have arrived in the United States during the 19th century. This is when many Lithuanians emigrated to escape from oppressive Tsarist rule in their homeland. The name has since become more common in the USA, especially in the midwestern states like Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
The Zemkus family name has remained strong throughout the years. There are many notable people who have the name as a surname including Vytautas Zemkus, a Lithuanian politician who was the founder and first leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party. It is a reminder of the family’s strong roots and connection to its native homeland.
Order DNA origin analysisZemkus: Where does the name Zemkus come from?
The last name Zemkus is primarily associated with Lithuania and Poland, although some people of this surname have migrated to other countries, such as the United States. As such, this surname is still relatively common in these Eastern European countries.
In Lithuania, the spelling of the Zemkus surname is Zemkūnas, and some of the oldest records of the surname date back to the 16th century. Records from 1618 show the name listed twice in the Biebrzański Leliwa, with nobles of Lithuania named Zemkūnas. In 2016, a study found that the Zemkūnas surname was still one of the 15 most common surnames in Lithuania, with just under 12,000 bearers.
In Poland, the Zemkus surname is spelled slightly differently as to reflect the pronunciation of the name in the Polish language. Records from 1664 show the surname listed in the Register of Poznan. In 2000, a study found that the Zemkus surname was still one of the 10 most common surnames in Poland.
In the United States, Zemkus is not a particularly common surname, but it has been found especially amongst people who have migrated from Lithuania or Poland. As such, Zemkus is still relatively common among communities of Lithuanian and Polish immigrants in the United States.
Variations of the surname Zemkus
The surname Zemkus is an East European surname which has roots in Lithuanian origin. It is mostly found in Lithuania, USA, Canada and other East European countries. Variations in the spelling and pronunciation of the surname Zemkus can be found in several different languages. In German, the surname can be found as “Jemkus”, In Dutch, it can be found as “Zemichus”, and in French, it can be found as “Zemcoios”. In Lithuanian, the surnames “Žemkūnas” and ”Žemkauskas” originate from the root “Zemkus”. In Polish, the surname is also spelled as “Zemkos”. In Russian the surname is spelled as “Zemkuzh”. In Belarusian it is spelled as “Žemkoŭ” and in Ukraine the surname is spelled as "Zemkov".
The surname Zemkus is also associated with several derivative surnames, all of which are derived from the root “Zemkus”. These include the surnames “Žemkūnas”, ”Žemkauskas”, “Zemkos”, “Zemkuzh”, “Žemkoŭ” and “Zemkov”. Each of these surnames is heavily associated with the East European countries in which they are featured. All of these surnames share the common root of “Zemkus” and individuals whose surnames are derived from this root can trace their ancestry back to the Lithuanian origin of the original surname “Zemkus”.
Famous people with the name Zemkus
- Erik Zemkus: American basketball player
- Mary Zemkus: American voice actress
- Marius Zemkus: Lithuanian middleweight boxer
- Brian Zemkus: American filmmaker and cinematographer
- Alexander Zemkus: American actor
- Darius Zemkus: Lithuanian basketball player
- George Zemkus: American business executive
- Justin Zemkus: American menswear model
- Robert Zemkus: American music producer
- Joey Zemkus: American snowboarder
- Tadas Zemkus: Lithuanian karate fighter
- Martynas Zemkus: Lithuanian actor
- Alex Zemkus: American strength athlete
- Mykolas Zemkus: Lithuanian footballer
- Jared Zemkus: American actor
- Dawid Zemkus: Polish footballer
- Elvyra Zemkus: Lithuanian painter
- Jokūbas Zemkus: Lithuanian architect
- Charles Zemkus: American actor
- Stanislovas Zemkus: Lithuanian diplomat