Surname Littwinsky - Meaning and Origin
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Littwinsky: What does the surname Littwinsky mean?
The last name Littwinsky is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words “litt” and “winsky”, meaning “little” and “vineyard” respectively. Hence, the name translates to “a small vineyard” or “little vintner”.
The Littwinsky’s are believed to have emigrated from Germany to Central or Eastern Europe during the late Medieval and early Modern Ages of Europe as resident craftspeople, farmers or small-scale winemakers. The surname is thought to have spread to parts of Eastern Europe such as Ukraine by German and Austro-Hungarian migrations.
The Littwinsky’s likely originated in what is now Southern Germany and spread across Central and Eastern Europe. They were of a higher social and economic standing in the community and were part of a relatively wealthy and powerful elite in the early to mid-19th century. The name was recorded primarily in the German-speaking regions of Central and Eastern Europe, with a few examples of the name recorded in areas not heavily populated by German-speaking migrants.
The Littwinsky’s are a well-known family that has made significant contributions to business, politics, education, and research in Europe. The name has particular associations with Ukraine, where some of the descendants of the original family have achieved a prominent status in Ukrainian society.
Order DNA origin analysisLittwinsky: Where does the name Littwinsky come from?
The last name Littwinsky is relatively uncommon today and is most commonly found among people of Jewish heritage. It was first found in Eastern Europe and records show that it is a rare name even in this area. The earliest record of the last name is in the Galician region of what is now present-day Ukraine, where it was documented in the 15th century.
Given the history of Jewish people throughout Europe, the name has spread to other parts of the continent, including Russia and Germany. It is now mostly found in countries that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It is also found in the United States, mainly in the states with large communities of Jewish heritage, such as New York and California.
The name can be found in various spellings, such as Littwinski, Littwin, Littwinsky, Littwonsky, Litwinsky and Littwensky, but is still relatively rare. It is believed to derive from the Polish name Littwanska and has a root in the Proto-Slavic word ljut meaning “angered” or “hot-tempered.”
Variations of the surname Littwinsky
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Littwinsky are: Littvin, Litvin, Litvenko, Littvenko, Littvensky, Littwinsky, Lytvynenko, Lytvyn, Lytvynuck, Lytvynsky.
The surname, Littwinsky, is of Eastern European origin. It is derived from the Russian word "lytva" which means alder-tree. The surname is thought to have been first used by a person living near an alder-tree. In its various spellings, it is a very popular surname in Russia and Ukraine.
In Russia, the surname can be spelled variously as Littvin, Litvin, Litvenko, Littvenko, Litvensky, etc. In Ukraine, it is spelled as Lytvynenko, Lytvyn, Lytvynuck, Lytvynsky. Many of the same spellings are used in Central Europe such as Poland and Belarus. The surname is derived from the Russian "litto" or "littvyne" and means "from the alder".
The Littwinsky surname is not as common in the United States as it is in Eastern Europe. Most immigrants with this surname came to the USA during the mid- to late-19th century. The surname can also be found in parts of Western Europe, primarily in Germany and Austria.
In Germany, the surname is spelled as "Littwe" or "Litwe". In Austria, it is spelled as "Littvin", "Littvenskiy", "Littvenskij", "Litvenaka", or "Litvinskij". In the USA, some spellings of the surname are "Litveyn", "Litvine", and "Littvainsky".
Regardless of variations in spelling, all of these spellings derive from the same origin. The origin of the surname is Russian, and it is thought to derive from the word "lytva" meaning alder-tree. It is a very common surname in various parts of Eastern Europe, and is slowly becoming more popular in the United States.
Famous people with the name Littwinsky
- Alfredo Littwinsky, Venezuelan singer, songwriter, composer, conductor and actor.
- Sibylle Littwinsky-Savellan, French author and illustrator.
- Arnold Littwinsky, German painter, sculptor and medalist from Dresden.
- Christian Littwinsky, Polish chess master.
- Jan Littwinsky, Belgian Fencing Master.
- Leonard Littwinsky, German-American mathematician.
- Mark Littwinsky, Canadian curler.
- Peter Littwinsky, German-Jewish lawyer and public figure.
- Sophie Littwinsky-Duhamel, French singer, composer and actress.
- Rozsá Littwinsky, Hungarian sculptor and medalist.
- Julien Littwinsky, French screenwriter and director.
- Bohumil Littwinsky, Czech Jewish sculptor.
- Eugene Littwinsky, German politician of Jewish descent.
- Oskar Littwinsky, German-Jewish jurist.
- Jacques Littwinsky, French actor.
- Marie Littwinsky, 19th century German painter.
- Sarah Littwinsky, German economist.
- Arnold Littwinsky Jr., German sculptor and medalist.
- Alice Littwinsky, 20th century German writer.