Surname Zislak - Meaning and Origin

Zislak: What does the surname Zislak mean?

The last name Zislak is of German and Hebrew origin, and has roots in the Middle Ages. The name likely comes from the German word ‘silslagen’ meaning ‘to seize’ or ‘to press with something’. This could refer to activities such as pressing grapes for wine, oil or fruit juices. In Hebrew, it could mean ‘given by God’ or ‘gift from God’.

The Zislak surname is most common in vacinity of Southern Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Romania and other parts of Eastern Europe, where it used to be more frequent than today. It is widely spread among predominantly Catholic and Protestant populations.

The Zislaks are believed to be direct descendants of the medieval ‘Silslagers’ family, a clan of hardworking commoners who valued and respected the land they worked on. The name was most likely given to the family by their landlord in recognition of their labor.

Today, the name Zislak is mostly associated with a wide variety of European families who are spread all over the world. They are known for being very welcoming and friendly to newcomers in their communities.

Zislak: Where does the name Zislak come from?

The surname Zislak is generally believed to be a Central European name deriving from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is a relatively uncommon surname, believed to have originated centuries ago in an area that was historically part of the Czech Republic. The name then came to be spread beyond the region, including to the United States.

Today, the last name Zislak is most commonly found in the United States, especially in states with large populations of Central European descent such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. It is also common in countries that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

In America, Zislaks are scattered throughout the country, but they are particularly numerous in states such as Wisconsin, where several small communities with immigrant populations including a significant number of Zislaks exist. In Wisconsin alone, the 2000 census reported that over 1700 people had the last name Zislak.

It is believed that the name is of Czech origin, which means to guard or watch over. This is reflected in many of the variations in the spelling such as Zislak, Zizlak, Zisslack, or Zielak. This reflects the variety in cultural influences that have been part of the region's history.

Clearly, the last name Zislak has spread far since its inception centuries ago. Although the name is still fairly uncommon, it is now present in many parts of the world, including the United States.

Variations of the surname Zislak

The surname Zislak is of Jewish origin and has numerous variant spellings and surnames derived from it. Common alternative spellings include Zislack, Zislak, Zislyak, Zilak, Zislick, and Ziselak.

The patronymic surnames derived from the Zislak name are Zislakson, Zilakson, Zislackson, Zilackson, and Zislyakson. Additionally, the feminized forms of the surnames are Zislackova, Zislakova, Zislyakova, Zilackova, Zilakova, Ziselakova and Ziselakowa.

In the Russian language, the surname Zislak may be rendered as Zisyak or Zizakov, while in the Czech and Slovak languages, the surname may be written as Zizalek, Zizalak or Zizalaek. In the Ukrainian language, the surname is typically spelled Zizlyak.

In accordance with the phonetic spelling rules of the English language, Zislak may also be spelled as Sislak, Sislack, Syzlak, Sizlak, Syzleck, Cyzlak, Cyzleck, Cizlak, Cizleck, Siclak, Sicleck, Zyzlak, and Ziclak.

The surname Zislak is found in many countries, including Ukraine, Canada, the United States, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, France, and Israel.

Famous people with the name Zislak

• Andrew Zislak: American film producer, screenwriter, and actor
• Orel Zislak: Israeli painter and sculpture
• Maria Zislak-Peregoudova: Russian-born Canadian geophysicist
• Thomas Zislak: author and business professor
• André Zislak: French priest
• Bill Zislak: American screenwriter
• Svetlana Zislak: Russian Olympic swimmer
• David Zislak: American professional football player
• Alexander Zislak: Russian poet and lyricist
• Kenneth Zislak: American-based cinematographer

Other surnames

Zislar