Wójcik, Wojczik, Wojczyk, Wojszyk (also variants of phonetic spelling: Woicik, Woycik, Woyczik, Woytik, etc.[1]) is one of the oldest Polish surnames, and the fourth most common in Poland (100,064 in 2009).[2][3]Archaic feminine forms are derived by adding suffixes: -owa for married woman and -ówna for maiden name.

There are several suggested origins of the surname: diminutive from the occupation of wójt or from the given name Wojciech. It may also be a nickname by the bird wójcik (greenish warbler).[1]

Feminine forms are Wójcik, Wójcikówna, Wójcikowa. Over the centuries, from many dialects arose multiple spellings for the Wójcik surname, including Woichik, Wojczyk, Woyzeck, Wojszyk, Wujcik, etc.

History edit

Early record of the Wójcik surname may be found in the Chronicles of Little Poland (13th century).[citation needed] The knight Wójcik was a companion of King Wladyslaw of Poland and a member of his bodyguard.[citation needed] According to medieval Łęczyca Court Files (14th century), in 1395, Michno Wójcik of Wójciki pursued legal action against City of Łęczyca to take back part of his estate that was illegally annexed during his absence.[citation needed]

Noble families named Wójcik bear different coats of arms:

  • Wójcik of Bialynia
  • Wójcik and Wojczyk of Pobog
  • Wójcik and Wójcikowski of Korab
  • Wójcik of German origin: Silver, an eagle black, crowned gold.
  • de Wojcza, Wojczik and Wojszyk of Ogończyk
  • Wójcik and Wójsik of Ostoja
  • Wojszyk of Szeliga
  • Wojszek and Wójszyk of Łodzia
  • Wójcik of Lubicz
  • Wójcik of Rola
  • Wojsik and Wojszik of Łabędź
  • Wojszek and Wojszik of Piława
  • Wójsik and Wojszyk of Janina
  • In the 17th century appeared the family Wójcikiewicz (derived from family Wójcik) of the Bialynia coat of arms
  • Wójcikowski of the Nałęcz coat of arms.

However, most families bearing the surnames Wójcik, Wójczyk, Wojszik, etc. (c. 90%) are derived from peasantry or burghers, as a result of popular adoptions of this surname between the 17th and 19th centuries.[citation needed] These families derived their surname from the named office of wójt or the first name Wojciech: son of Wojciech is also Wojcik.[1]

People edit

Wójcik edit

Wujcik edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c WÓJCIK (contains further references)
  2. ^ Zawadzki, Jarosław Maciej (2002). 1000 najpopularniejszych nazwisk w Polsce (1000 of the most popular names in Poland) (in Polish). Świat Książki. ISBN 83-7311-265-0.
  3. ^ Ministry of Interior (Poland). Statystyka najpopularniejszych nazwisk występujących w Polsce in 2009 Archived 2013-09-28 at the Wayback Machine (The most popular surnames in Poland in 2009). Retrieved August 18, 2013.