Surname Vilinsky - Meaning and Origin

Vilinsky: What does the surname Vilinsky mean?

The last name Vilinsky is derived from the Old Slavic word “vilen” meaning “deed or craft”. It is believed to be of Czech origin and was primarily found in the regions now known as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. It is also believed to have some Lithuanian and Jewish influence.

The use of the Vilinsky name derived from the practice of identifying families based on the father’s profession or craft in the Middle Ages. Those that specialized in building houses were commonly referred to as “vilen” or “vilenny” due to their craft. It is thought that the Vilinsky surname was first seen during the 11th century when occupational surnames were becoming more commonplace.

The Vilinsky family had ties to some of the highest levels of society in the Czech Republic. It is believed that one of the most influential members of the Vilinsky family was the musician Josef Vilinsky, who was part of the Austro-Hungarian royalty.

Today, the Vilinsky surname is found in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is a name of noble distinction, as seen in the works of Josef Vilinsky, but also carries with it a sense of craft and hard work. It is a unique name with a rich history and a proud place among Czechoslovakian citizens and heritage.

Vilinsky: Where does the name Vilinsky come from?

The last name Vilinsky is not particularly common today, but there are some people with this name scattered around the world. It is most commonly found in the United States, and is especially prevalent in the northeast, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York.

European countries such as France, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Estonia also have a few people with the last name Vilinsky. The Vilinsky family is of Russian origin, with many members having originated in a city called Vilna, which is located in present-day Lithuania.

Further research reveals that the origins of this last name dates back to the seventeenth century, during the Tsarist times. The most common version of the name at that point originated in the Nizhny Novgorod region, and is believed to have come from the common Russian word ‘vily’, meaning ploughman.

The Vilinsky name is certainly one of the rarer family names out there. It is interesting to note that it is probably most common in the United States today, even though it originated in Russia centuries ago. With its unique history, the Vilinsky name is a part of paternity records and family trees all around the world.

Variations of the surname Vilinsky

Vilinsky is a surname of Eastern European and Baltic origin. Variants and other spellings of the name include Wilinsky, Wilinska, Vilenski, Wilenski, Wilinćić, Wilinska, Vilinskis, Wilinskis, Vilinskyj, and Wilinskyj.

The Vilinsky surname is most commonly found in Lithuania, where it was derived from the word "vilins", which translates to "willow". The Lithuanian etymology finds its roots in the old Baltic language.

Other variants found in countries such as Poland can be attributed to the Polish version of this surname, Wilinski, found in the rural village of Przyszow. This lends itself to the old Polish phrase meaning “son of Wilu” or “son of Vilu”. The Polish surname Wilinski ultimately derived from the Latin name, Volinus, meaning “the leader”.

In Russia, Vilinsky may be a variant of the name Vilensky, which is derived from the ancient Hebrew word, “vile”, which means “he (God) protects”. The Vilensky surname was likely adopted by Jewish families in Russia and ultimately became a regular name among non-Jewish populations in the region of Russia.

The Vilinsky surname can also be linked to Jewish families in Belarus. They usually adopted the spelling of Wilinśki or Vilinśki, derived from the old Belarusian phrase meaning “son of Wil/Vil”.

It is thought that Vilinsky is a relatively uncommon surname today, as it has been significantly reduced in recent decades due to assimilation or emigration. Given its Eastern European and Baltic origins, this surname is most likely to be found in Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Belarus.

Famous people with the name Vilinsky

• Vitaly Vilinsky: Russian Music Producer and Singer
• Oleg Vilinsky: Ukrainian Politics and Former Governor of the Odessa Region
• Vlad Vilinsky: Ukrainian Entrepreneur and Founder of the Odessa IT Park
• Sasha Villinsky: Russian Actress and Model
• Mikhail Vilinsky: Russian Painter
• Anatoly Vilinsky: Russian Olympic Soccer Player
• Olga Vilinsky: Russian Olympic Figure Skater
• Dmitriy Vilinsky: Russian Film Director
• Linda Vilinsky: Italian Fashion Designer
• Xeniya Vilinska: Russian Professional Ballerina

Other surnames

Vilinski