Surname Besek - Meaning and Origin
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Besek: What does the surname Besek mean?
The last name Besek is of Slavic origin and is found in the countries of Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name or baptismal name of the father, and was commonly used in the Middle Ages. In the Czech Republic, the name Besek likely originated from the given name Běska, which is related to the Old Slavic word běska, meaning “fury” or “wrath”.
The surname Besek is most commonly found in the region of Malopolska, an area located in the south of Poland. It is estimated that there were more than 2,500 people with this surname living in Poland in the 19th century. Subsequently, some Beseks have emigrated to other places within Europe and across the world.
Today, it is thought to be a fairly rare name. However, it could also be classified as a unisex name and can be found as a first name in some countries in addition to a last name. Some notable people to carry the last name Besek include the Swedish footballer Per Besek, the British industrialist Sir John Besek, and the Czech journalist and author Lastovicka Heska.
Order DNA origin analysisBesek: Where does the name Besek come from?
The last name Besek appears to be most commonly found in Slovakia and the Czech Republic today. It is likely of Slovak and Czech origin, stemming from the word for "knife" or "blade." This is often the case with Slavic last names which end with “ek” or “ak”.
The origins of the Besek family can be traced back to the Middle Ages when they would have lived in the eastern regions of what is now known as Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Records show that the Beseks were prominent citizens in their villages, often as doctors, merchants, and wealthy landowners.
The family name is not particularly widespread in other countries, with few peaks outside the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is most commonly seen in the United States, with scattered instances in Canada and other parts of Europe.
Interestingly, the family name Besek can also be found in the small village of Žihlava in western Bohemia, where the family originally hailed from. Founded in the 11th century, it is known as “the birthplace of the Beseks” and is still populated by descendants of the original family.
Despite its lack of spread, the family name Besek has been associated with prestige and honor throughout its history. Its presence in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and a small village in western Bohemia illustrates its strength and lasting legacy in the region.
Variations of the surname Besek
The surname Besek is of Slovak origins and is related to the ancient family name "Bezek". The spelling is sometimes rendered as Besk, or Bezk, and the spelling variants "Bezeky" or "Beseke" are also found.
The root of this family name is from the name of a place. The place name is thought to possibly be derived from an old Slavic word "byzty" which means "well-heeled". It is unclear whether the place's name refers to a person or to a location, and the name may have merged with another family name, most likely one derived from the verb "bezati" meaning "to run".
In different parts of Slovakia, the family name takes on various spelling and variants. In north-central Slovakia, the surname can be found as "Bezek", while in western Slovakia, it is often spelled "Besk". Other spelling variants can be found in different regions such as Bezeky or Beske.
The family name is also found in other areas such as Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Romania. In Hungary, the surname is spelled "Bezky", while in Romania, it is sometimes spelled "Bezecky".
The surnames Besek and Bezek are related family names, and there may have been some kind of migration or connection among all of these surnames at some point in the past. The origin of the family name Besek is most likely from Slovakia and the varied spelling variants of this surname give us clues to the different migrations of people that this name was associated with.
Famous people with the name Besek
- Yosef Besek: an Israeli ultra-Orthodox rabbi from the Jerusalem community who is widely known for his lectures on Jewish philosophy around the world.
- Jonathan Besek: an American film editor, writer, and producer known for his work on films such as The Little Hours, Star Trek Beyond, and Kung Fu Panda 3.
- Efraim Besek: a professional Israeli football player who currently plays for Hapoel Umm al-Fahm in the Israeli Premier League.
- Emanuel Besek: an Austrian diplomat, the first envoy of the United States to the newly established intentional courts in Amsterdam in 1853.
- Helga Besek: an Austrian decathlete and long jump competitor who competed in the men's long jump event at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
- Algirdas Besek: an American-Lithuanian soccer coach, who is best known for his time as coach of the Lithuanian under-21 national team.
- Ilana Besek: an Israeli artist known for her sculptures, installations, and video art works that examine geopolitical power structures.
- Alfred Besek: an American physicist who made important contributions to atomic beam physics and to the understanding of ion recombination processes.
- Jack Besek: an American Broadway producer known for his productions of Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and Crazy for You.
- Uriel Besek: a professional Polish basketball player who currently plays for Asseco Arka Gdynia in the Polish Basketball League.