Surname Petrauskis - Meaning and Origin
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Petrauskis: What does the surname Petrauskis mean?
Petrauskis is a Lithuanian surname derived from the word petražolė, meaning ‘hollyhock’. The surname is believed to have originated with people who lived near a hollyhock field and adopted the flower as their symbol. It is also believed to have been a nickname for someone who was particularly tall.
Throughout Lithuanian history, people with the surname Petrauskis have often been of farming origin and belong to the very religious Lithuania Catholic Church. In the early 20th century, many people with the surname emigrated from Lithuania in search of a better life, mainly to countries like Australia, The United States and Canada.
Today, the surname Petrauskis is mainly found in North America, Australia and Lithuania. It is an uncommon name, but those who do have it can be proud as it has a long and distinguished heritage. Those with the surname Petrauskis are believed to be strong and loyal, with a strong work ethic. It is a traditional surname representing Lithuanian culture and pride and those with the surname have a great sense of honor and duty.
Order DNA origin analysisPetrauskis: Where does the name Petrauskis come from?
The last name Petrauskis is most common in Lithuania today, particularly in the Kaunas county. It is believed that the surname originated from Petrauskas, a village in Kėdainiai district municipality in Kaunas county, Lithuania. The Petrauskis family is one of the oldest and most common families in Lithuania, with records of the name dating back to the 16th century and having the highest concentration of the surname in the country.
The Petrauskis family belongs to the Lithuanian ethnic group, which formed during the amalgamation of several Indo-European tribes that settled in the region during the late Bronze Age. According to DNA studies, genetic markers can be found that connect the Petrauskis family to a cluster of Lithuanian DNA groups, which has been traced back to the 18th century.
Today, the Petrauskis family continues to be one of the most well-known and populous throughout Lithuania. From records, it is known that there are multiple branches of the Petrauskis family whom have branched out through Lithuania’s eastern and central regions, including in the cities of Šiauliai, Klaipėda, and Siauliai. While it is believed that the surname may have some family connections with the Utena and Alytus districts in Lithuania, more research is needed in order to confirm those claims.
Furthermore, the Petrauskis surname is also very common among Lithuanian immigrants in the United States. Since the late 1800s, Lithuanians have settled in many major American cities, and many of these immigrants had the Petrauskis surname. Therefore, if you are looking for the Petrauskis family today, you’re most likely to find it in Lithuania or amongst those of Lithuanian descent in the United States.
Variations of the surname Petrauskis
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Petrauskis include Patrauskis, Letrauskas, Letrauskis, Petriukas, Petrauskaitė, Petrauskienė, and Petronaitis.
The surname Petrauskis is derived from the Lithuanian language and is a patronymic surname, meaning it was traditionally passed down from father to son. It is derived from the old personal name Petras, which comes from the Greek word “Petros”, meaning “rock”, and gave rise to a number of different surnames throughout Europe.
In Lithuanian, the word “Petrauskis” has two main spellings, Petrauskas or Petravskis. Petravskis is the eldest spelling, which dates back to 1612 in Lithuania, when a person with the name Viktoras Petravskis was mentioned in documents.
The suffix "-skis" may also be added to the name too, to indicate a patronymic origin, and is generally found in the Lithuanian form of the name. For example, the variant spelling Patrauskis can be seen in Lithuanian records since the 17th century.
Other variations may also be found throughout Lithuanian records. For example, Letrauskas, Letrauskis, Petriukas, and Petronaitis (also a patronymic surname derived from the Greek name Petros) are all believed to stem from the same root.
The female forms of the surname, as well as the feminine surnames Petrauskaitė and Petrauskienė, have also been recorded during different time periods throughout Lithuanian history.
Overall, the surname Petrauskis is derived from the ancient Greek name Petros, and has seen various spellings and variants over time. It can be seen in records across Europe, with various spellings and patronymic suffixes used throughout different countries.
Famous people with the name Petrauskis
- Paulius Petrauskis: Lithuanian writer, literary critic, and political figure.
- Darius Petrauskis: Lithuanian basketball player.
- Jurgis Petrauskis: Lithuanian sculptor.
- Vytautas Petrauskas: Lithuanian doctor and medical engineer.
- Saulius Petrauskas: Lithuanian professor of organic chemistry.
- Algimantas Petrauskas: Lithuanian politician and diplomat.
- Artūras Petrauskas: Lithuanian film director, screenwriter, and director of photography.
- Stasys Petrauskas: Lithuanian music teacher and conductor.
- Mindaugas Petrauskas: Lithuanian basketball coach.
- Gintaras Petrauskas: Lithuanian poet.