Surname Pawolleck - Meaning and Origin

Pawolleck: What does the surname Pawolleck mean?

The last name Pawolleck originates from a combination of two Old German and Proto-Germanic words, “pawo” and “lleck.” The term “Pawo” is derived from the Latin word “pavo,” which meant “peacock.” The term “Lleck” is derived from the Proto-Germanic word “lek,” which meant “field, pasture of meadow.” This combination creates a meaning of “Peacock Meadow” when translated to English.

It has been suggested that the name Pawolleck could have stemmed from an area of land that near a large lake or stream where peacocks used to live. Peacocks were considered to be a very proud bird and were a symbol of high rank or importance. The fact that somebody was described as having held tenure of the “peacock meadow” could mean that the family had some clout in the area. The name then continued to be passed on through the generations, much like many of the other fields and pasture names from the Old Germanic and Proto-Germanic languages.

The name Pawolleck can now be found in many countries beyond its original homeland of Germany. While the original meaning has largely been forgotten, the proud name still lives on today.

Pawolleck: Where does the name Pawolleck come from?

The last name Pawolleck is most commonly found today in Germany. It is estimated that thousands of people with this surname live there.

Pawolleck is a variant of the Polish name Pawłowski, derived from the Polish word pawel meaning 'small' or 'humble'. The 'leck' suffix is found in many language variants of the name, including Pawleck, Pawlak, Pawecki, Pawelczyk and Pawlek.

The distribution of the surname shows that most people with the name live in the Northern European states – mainly in Germany, with more concentrated populations in the southern German states and adjoining Austria. Other parts of Europe where the name is found include The Netherlands, Denmark, Hungary and Czechia.

The records of Pawolleck’s first appearance in the area date back to more than 500 years ago. At least one branch of the family relocated from Poland to Germany, in the region of Upper Silesia, during the 17th century. Since then the family has spread into the surrounding areas, with a range of spelling variations.

Outside of Europe, there are significantly fewer individuals who have the last name Pawolleck. There have been individuals with the name located in the United States since the late 19th century, and families can be traced back to Canadian settlers in the early 20th century. A few families have also moved further afield – primarily from German-speaking countries – to cities such as Melbourne, Australia.

Variations of the surname Pawolleck

Pawolleck is a unique surname of Germanic and Polish origin. The surname is primarily found among Polish and German immigrants to the United States.

The spelling of the Pawolleck surname may vary, with Pawlack, Pawluck, Paulick, Pawlowicz, and Pawlowitz all being found. These spellings originated from Eastern European languages, and the particular spelling typically been dependent upon the region of origin.

In the United States, many whose last name is Pawolleck have Americanized their surnames to Paulick, Paulak, Paulick, Pauluck, and Pollak. Paulick is an Anglicized spelling of Pawolleck and is the most commonly used name in the US.

In Germany, the Pawolleck name is often spelled Paulig. This version dates back to the 18th century and is found predominantly in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

In Poland, the name is commonly spelled Pawluk, Pawlowicz, or Pawlowitz. This name can also be found in Brazil, South Africa, and New Zealand.

In Austria, the name is often spelled Paulik, which derives from the German word paul, meaning landless commoner.

In Russia, the Pawolleck surname is often transliterated to Palchenko or Palchenkova, both of which are derived from the Russian word pokryshka, meaning roofed shed.

No matter the variation, Pawolleck remains a unique surname of Germanic and Polish origin. Whether it is spelled Pawluk, Pawluck, Pawlowicz, Pawlowitz, Paulick, Paulig, Paulik, Paulak, Palchenko, or Palchenkova, the shared origin of this surname among different regions remains consistent.

Famous people with the name Pawolleck

• Lukasz Pawolleck: an award-winning Polish actor and filmmaker, who has starred in films such as 'A Love Story' and 'Mermaid'.
• Malgorzata Pawolleck: a Polish-born poet who was a two-time winner of the Solidarity Prize for Literature.
• Jan Pawolleck: a leading Polish political figure and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1983.
• Joseph Pawolleck: a Polish Olympic track and field athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Monika Pawolleck: a Polish ‘polka’ singer, who achieved success with her album ‘Polish Christmas’ in the 1980s.
• Helena Pawolleck: a Polish musicologist and folklorist who specialised in the history and culture of the Polish diaspora.
• Maciej Pawolleck: a former Polish international football player, who represented his country at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
• Andrzej Pawolleck: a Polish mathematician and researcher, who developed theoretical foundations in the field of algebraic topology.
• Elżbieta Pawolleck: a renowned Polish graphic artist and painter, who exhibited her work in both Europe and the US.
• Krzysztof Pawolleck: a Polish poet and novelist, who has written numerous works of literature in both English and Polish.

Other surnames

Pawollek