Surname Vaitkus - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'V'
Vaitkus: What does the surname Vaitkus mean?
The last name Vaitkus is of Lithuanian origin and is a patronymic surname. In Lithuania, the root of patronymic surnames is usually derived from a parent's name and is a way of indicating a family connection and lineage. The root of the last name Vaitkus is derived from the first name Vaitas, which means "falcon" in the Lithuanian language.
In Lithuania the falcon was a revered symbol that was commonly associated with strength, courage, and power. In a similar sense, the name Vaitkus reflects these qualities, suggesting the family name has a reputation of being honorable and powerful. Additionally, many families would have associated with this last name the cherished Lithuanian value of protecting one's family and community from any harm or danger.
The last name Vaitkus can also be found in numerous other countries like Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, and Russia with similar meanings in other languages.
Notable examples of people with the surname Vaitkus include Lithuanian director and activist Mindaugas Vaitkus, Estonian folk singer Alari Vaitkus, and Lithuanian basketball point guard Vytenis Šarūnas Vaitkus.
Overall, the last name Vaitkus likely originated from the Lithuanian first name Vaitas and is a reference to a powerful and courageous bird, deeply rooted in Lithuanian culture and heritage. The name has become a translation of valour, strength and resilience that many of those who carry the name are proud to share.
Order DNA origin analysisVaitkus: Where does the name Vaitkus come from?
The last name Vaitkus is of Lithuanian origin and is most commonly found in Lithuania and other parts of Europe. It is a relatively uncommon name in the United States, but there are some Vaitkus families living in both the East and West coasts of the country.
The earliest known example of the surname Vaitkus in Lithuanian records dates back to the 1800s in the present-day region of Marijampole, located close to the Lithuanian-Polish border. This recorded instance of the name is also where most of the Vaitkus families continued to reside until the 1930s when many of them emigrated to various parts of the world, including the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
The Vaitkus name is a patronymic surname which is derived from the name of a person’s father or ancestor. Typically, surnames of this type are formed by adding the suffix ‘-aitis’ or ‘-aitas’ to the father’s given name. The name Vaitkus likely stems from the Lithuanian name Vaite, and the variant of the name is often found in congregations throughout Lithuania.
In the present day, the believed population of Vaitkus families has settled to around 900 people, with the majority still residing in Lithuania. The surname Vaitkus can still be found in Europe and is slowly becoming more common in the United States.
Variations of the surname Vaitkus
The surname Vaitkus has several spellings and variants in various languages.
The Lithuanian spelling of Vaitkus is Wajckewicz, with the "w" pronounced like a "v". This version is derived from the Slavic name Wajckewicz, which is based on the term wajc, meaning fighter or warrior. As such, this spelling of the surname has a somewhat militaristic connotation. This spelling is also seen as Wajchkewicz, Watkewicz, or Vaitkewicz.
The Polish spelling of Vaitkus is Vaitkiewicz, derived from the same Slavic root as the Lithuanian spelling. This version of the surname is the most common amongst Poles living in the United States and is seen spelled as Veitkiewicz or Vaickevicz.
Vaitkus can also be seen as Veitkus, Vaickus, Waickus, Vaytkus, Vaytkunas, Vaytko, or Vaytkevicz. This version of the surname is derived from the Lithuanian word vaidinti, meaning to fight or compete. Therefore, this form of the surname has a more competitive or athletic connotation.
Vaitkus may also have a range of anglicized surnames, such as Watkus, Vaykus, Vatkus, Waicikus, or Vaitys. These spellings often arose when immigrants in the United States attempted to simplify their complex family name to make it easier for Americans to pronounce.
Other surname variations include Vaitkunas, Vaytkevic, Vaytkovsky, and Vaitolic. All of these forms of the surname appear to be derived from the same original Slavic surname, with slight variations that developed over time as a result of geographical and linguistic differentiation.
Famous people with the name Vaitkus
- Vitalijus Vaikus: Lithuanian artist
- Eimutis Vaitkus: Lithuanian engineer and politician
- Edmundas Vaitkus: former Lithuanian footballer
- Vytautas Vaitkus: a scientist
- Kęstutis Vaitkus: Lithuanian poet and politician
- Natalija Vaitkus-Kahn: Lithuanian singer
- Orestas Vaitkus: Lithuanian long-distance runner
- Rolandas Vaitkus: Lithuanian basketball player
- Saulius Vaitkus: Lithuanian physicist
- Vida Vaitkutė: Lithuanian television presenter, actress and writer