Surname Fiolka - Meaning and Origin
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Fiolka: What does the surname Fiolka mean?
The last name Fiolka is a Polish surname derived from the Polish word “fiolka” meaning “little vial or bottle.” Fiolka likely originated as a nickname for someone who was small of stature since the word can also be translated as “little bottle.” This last name is believed to be associated with surname variations such as Fiolkowski, Fiolek, and Fionka.
The Fiolka surname is common throughout Poland but is relatively rare around the world. It is found in areas where families bearing this name may have emigrated, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, the UK, and France. In the United States, the Fiolka surname can be located primarily throughout the northeast, specifically Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
Those bearing the Fiolka surname may have certain family traditions associated with it. Passover dinners are a common occurrence in Fiolka families, a tribute to Jewish traditions believed to be passed down throughout generations. Additionally, Fiolka families may gather together for anniversaries and reunions, celebrating a rich family history which is often tied to a strong sense of community.
The Fiolka surname is indisputably Polish in origin, representing a rich cultural legacy found throughout Europe. Despite its rarity, the name is an example of both tradition and belonging. For generations, Polish families have been proud to pass on this name, and those bearing it in the present day carry the many traditions and stories it stands for.
Order DNA origin analysisFiolka: Where does the name Fiolka come from?
The surname Fiolka is most common in Poland and countries with a large Polish population such as the United States and Canada, as well as countries with a Slavic population like Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Germany. The last name also appears in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and is one of the oldest surnames in Eastern Europe.
In the United States, Fiolka is the 1,637th most common surname and is primarily concentrated around the state of Pennsylvania with the highest concentration in Philadelphia. The name is also quite common in Michigan, Illinois, and Florida, representing a significant early wave of Eastern European immigrants in the early 20th century.
In Poland, the surname can be derived from the word "filozof," or philosopher, suggesting that someone with the last name Fiolka may have had a philosophical or scholarly profession. It could have also been given as an occupation-based name to someone working as a tradesman near a mustard field (fiolka) or a nursery keeper (fiolka poziorna). According to familysearch.org, Fiolka was among the top 100 Polish names in the 1800s.
Today, Fiolka is a fairly common last name around the world, although it is much less common outside of Slavic countries and regions with a large Slavic population.
Variations of the surname Fiolka
Fiolka is a surname of Polish origin, derived from the Polish word for feather. It is one of the many variations of the surname often found in Polish records. As most Polish surnames being spelling variants of the original name, Fiolka has numerous spellings, including Fajolka, Fiyolka, Voilka, Folka, Feolka and Voyolka.
The surname Fiolka is also known by its variants Fyolka, Fiyolka, Feolka and Folka. The spelling of the surname could also be influenced by the language of the family's origin. For example, Fiolka could be Russianized to Fyolka, while Fiyolka could be Ukrainianized to Viyolka.
The surname is also known by its various common surnames, such as Fiołek and Fiełek, all deriving from the Polish word “fiołek” meaning small feather. It can also be found in records with different suffixes, such as -owski, -ewicz and -owy. Some examples include Fiolkowski, Fiołkiewicz and Fiołkowy.
In Polish records, the surname is found in various provinces such as Warsaw, Płock, Pułtusk and Ostrołęka. While the spelling of Fiolka can still be found today with its various spelling variants, it stands to reason that the same family name could go by different spellings, depending on the respective language of the family's origin.
Famous people with the name Fiolka
- Richard Fiolka: physicist, professor and molecular biologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Latisha Fiolka: designer and co-owner of the "Are You Am I" fashion label.
- Michael Fiolka: Chicago based cinematographer known for his work in film and television.
- Tommy Fiolka: former National Football League player who played cornerback.
- Katharine Fiolka: executive director of the National Women's Business Council.
- Karen Fiolka: 16-time national and international champion in women’s powerlifting.
- Max Fiolka: German mathematician and engineer known for his work on Actuarial Mathematics.
- Kaspars Fiolka: Latvian professional ice hockey player.
- Sam Fiolka: American illustrator and graphic artist known for his medical illustrations.
- Steffen Fiolka: prize-winning German journalist and author.