Surname Prokopowicz - Meaning and Origin
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Prokopowicz: What does the surname Prokopowicz mean?
The last name Prokopowicz is of Polish origin and has an ancient history. It is derived from the word Prokop, meaning "progress" or "advancement" and Wicz, meaning "son of." It is believed to have first been used by noble families who wanted to distinguish themselves from commoners.
The Prokopowicz family is believed to have originated in the area of Poland east of the Vistula River. The earliest known records of this name date back to the 17th century. It wasn’t until the 19th century, however, that the Prokopowicz name began to spread internationally.
The Prokopowicz name has since become a common surname in both Eastern and Western Europe, with the most concentrations being located in Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland. It is also common in the United States, particularly in areas that historically had large Polish populations such as Chicago.
Today, the Prokopowicz family continues to strive for progress and advancement, be it in business, science or technology. The name is still held in high regard and continues to be a source of pride for those that carry the Prokopowicz name.
Order DNA origin analysisProkopowicz: Where does the name Prokopowicz come from?
The last name Prokopowicz is most commonly found in Poland today. According to Poland's Central Statistical Office, Prokopowicz was the 670th most common surname in the nation as of 2020. This was up from 812th in the 2011 Polish census.
Prokopowicz is the 3rd most common surname in the Masovia Voivodeship, with about 1,97 people using it. It was also the 7th most common surname in the Silesian Voivodeship, with the surname being used by about 1,44 people. The Prokopowicz family was historically concentrated in these two southern regions of Poland.
The name Prokopowicz is derived from the personal name Prokop or Procopius, which is derived from Greek and means “he who progresses”. It was likely given to a child born in the 16th century, when the name began to appear in legal records from the region.
The Prokopowiczes were mainly farmers, living and working in the area for centuries. During the nineteenth century, some members of the family began moving away from farming and into the urban centers.
Today, many of the Prokopowiczs still reside in southern Poland, building and maintaining businesses, working in the healthcare and hospitality industries, and engaging in other professions. However, there are also many Prokopowiczs living around the world, including in Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.
Variations of the surname Prokopowicz
Prokopowicz is an East and Central European surname. This surname is derived from personal name Prokop, which comes from the Old Polish verb prokopac, meaning 'to cut through'.
In its original form, Prokopowicz is a variation of Prokopovich or Prokopov. In some cases the '-ovich' or '-ov' suffix may be omitted. Furthermore, this surname has been spelt in various ways, including Prokopovits, Prokopovic, Prokopowicz, Prokopowitsch, Prokopovitz, Prokopovtsev, Prokopovitzky, Prokopovskij, Prokopowtch, and Prokop Bohem.
In Poland, Prokopowicz can also appear as an adaptation of the Yiddish surname Prokupovitz, a variation of Prokup or Prokop. In Ukraine and Belarus, the name is mainly found in the forms Prokopovych or Prokopovchyk, derived from Prokop.
The surname Prokopowicz is common among Ukrainian and Polish Jewish families, hot rarly can be found among other ethnicities. It is most commonly associated with eastern Slavic countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Russia.
The surname is also very popular in the United States and Canada and can be found in many locations across the world, countries like the US, Canada, England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Lithuania and Australia.
Famous people with the name Prokopowicz
- Juliusz Prokopowicz: a Polish Soviet-era general and statesman.
- Wojciech Prokopowicz: a Polish diplomat and historian.
- Tomasz Prokopowicz: a Polish professional soccer player.
- Józef Prokopowicz: a Polish chemist and biochemist who specialized in the field of organofluorine chemistry.
- Stanisław Prokopowicz: a Polish priest, activist, and literary historian who researched Medieval Polish literature.
- Bogusław Prokopowicz: a Polish-Canadian historian and teacher with a focus on Polish and East-Central European history.
- Agnieszka Prokopowicz: a Polish discus thrower who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Maciej Prokopowicz: a Polish professional basketball player.
- Jakub Prokopowicz: a Polish vlogger and YouTuber.
- Wojtek Prokopowicz: a film director who has directed several documentaries and feature films.