Surname Wasilewski - Meaning and Origin
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Wasilewski: What does the surname Wasilewski mean?
The surname Wasilewski has a long history of use in Poland. It is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Wasil, which is a form of the name Basil or Vasyl. The name Basil is derived from the Greek name Basil, which means king.
The name Wasilewski is a common one in Poland and is most common in the central and northeastern regions. The most interesting aspect of Wasilewski is the variation in spellings, which can range from Wasilewski, Wasilewska, Wasileski, Wasilowski and beyond.
The main Wasilewski family is a powerful Sarmatian family that lived in central and eastern Poland from 15th to 18th centuries. They had companies in trade, banking, and land ownership, and they were one of the first noble families from Poland to be invited to foreign courts.
The Wasilewski name is also associated with several places in Poland. Wasilewska Gorka in Czestochowa is a mountain peak where Napoleon I once camped with his army. In Bydgoszcz there is Wasilewska Street and a bridge named Wasilewski Bridge.
Today, many Poles with the surname Wasilewski continue to make their mark on the arts, sciences, and politics. Wasilewski has become a symbol of the Polish pride, courage, and tenacity to survive throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisWasilewski: Where does the name Wasilewski come from?
The last name Wasilewski is most commonly found today in Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, with the majority of the Wasilewski name being concentrated in Poland. As of the 2020 Polish census, Wasilewski is the 35th most common last name in Poland, with over 72,000 people having the last name. The name is most common in the regions of Masovia, Podlasie, and Lower Silesia, all of which are located in the central and eastern regions of the country.
The Wasilewski last name is also common in many countries around the world with large Polish populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States alone, census data from 2017 reported that the name Wasilewski was the 1,700th most common last name in the country. The name is most commonly found in Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana, all states home to large Polish-American communities, but the name is also found in smaller numbers in many other states across the country.
The last name Wasilewski has a long and rich history in Eastern Europe. The name is an occupational name derived from “Wasyl”, the old Slavic word for the occupation of a “Warrior”, and means “Son of the Warrior”. The Wasilewski name is also said to have been adopted during the partitions of Poland in the 18th century, as many Poles changed their last names to sound more Westernized. Today, the Wasilewski name is still a common one in their ancestral homeland of Poland, and around the world.
Variations of the surname Wasilewski
The surname Wasilewski is predominantly Polish with several variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin exists around the world.
In Poland, Wasilewski is a common surname, having many spelling variations including Wasilevski, Wasilewski and Wasylewski.
In Russia, Wasilewski is known as Vasiliev or Vasilyev. It is also seen sometimes as Vasylchenko or Vasylʹyev.
In Lithuania, the surname has variants of Vazalis and Vasiliauskas.
In Ukraine, Wasilewski is known as Vasylʹyev, Vasylenko, Vasyl'chenko and Vasylkiv.
In Belarus, the surname is sometimes spelt as Wasilewskaya or Wasilkiwsky.
In Germany, the surname is written as Wasilewsky or Wassilowsky.
In the United States, Wasilewski is more commonly spelt as Washall, Washlew, Wassel, Wassell, Wassels and Wessolle.
In Hungary, the surname can be spelt as Vaszilkovics or Wassilovics.
Australians with Wasilewskis ancestors usually spell the surname as Wassel or Wassill.
In France, Wasilewski is more often spelt as Vasilievich.
In South Africa, Wasilewski is mostly spelt as Waszynski.
In the Netherlands, the surname is much rarer and is usually spelt as Vasiloff.
In Israel, the surname is seen as Vasilyev.
In Italy, the surname is seen as Vassiliff or even Vasili.
No matter how the surname is spelt, it is of the same Polish origin, and has deeper historical roots that trace back long before the nation’s recorded history.
Famous people with the name Wasilewski
- Marcel Wasilewski: former professional volleyball player from France
- Paweł Wasilewski: Polish judoka
- Barbara Wasilewska: Polish-English actress, documentary film producer, director, and journalist
- Jakub Wasilewski: Polish actor known for roles in The Graduate 20th Anniversary, Belfer, and Imperium
- Ola Wasilewska: Polish journalist and TV commentator
- Jacek Wasilewski: head coach of Legia Warszawa
- Jakub Wasilewski: Polish soccer player
- Emma Wasilewska: Polish singer and songwriter
- Sylwester Wasilewski: Polish ice hockey player
- Bartosz Wasilewski: Polish actor known for roles in Annoying Angel, Borderline, and The Coldest Game