Surname Milek - Meaning and Origin
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Milek: What does the surname Milek mean?
The last name Milek is a Slavic surname derived from the old Slavic word “mire” which means peace. This name was most commonly used for people who wanted to showcase their commitment to peace and equality.
The name can also reference the German or Ashkenazi term “Mylka” which means retainer, guard, or steward. Therefore, another meaning of Milek could refer to someone who is loyal and dedicated.
Milek is a common surname found in many countries around the world, including Czech republic, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Croatia, to name a few. It is also popular in the United States among people of Polish and Jewish descent.
The name can also refer to a village in Poland, as well as the villages Milyki and Mirki which are located in the Belarusian region of Vitebsk. The name has also become popular in some African, West Indian, and South American countries.
The name Milek traditionally carries a positive connotation as it can represent someone who is peaceful, loyal, and dedicated. It has been used as a name for many generations and carries a great deal of cultural significance.
Order DNA origin analysisMilek: Where does the name Milek come from?
The last name Milek is common mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. It is also somewhat common in Germany and Austria.
The origin of the name Milek or variations like Mílek, Milke and Milecki is unclear. Its most likely origin is from the old Czech and Polish words “milý” (dear) and “miły” (kind) combined as “milek” to produce a related name. According to a family tradition in some branches of the Milek family, the name is derived from the German word "Milch" (meaning milk) instead.
As for the distribution of the Milek surname today, the most recent data from the surname distribution database of Forebears.io (released 2021) shows a total of 21, 922 people with the last name Milek in the world. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria top the list of countries with more than 10,000 combined people with the last name Milek. In terms of population density, Milek is mostly concentrated in Poland where approximately 16,028 individuals with the name live, followed by the Czech Republic with 4,343 individuals.
Based on reports from 2011, the prevalence of Milek surname was more prominent in Poland than in any other country, making up about 0.01% of the total population, followed by Slovakia with more than 0.008%.
Overall, the last name Milek is most common in countries with Slavic languages and cultures. It is furthermore concentrated in certain regions and provinces which contribute to its prevalence in Central and Eastern Europe today.
Variations of the surname Milek
Milek is a surname of Slavic origin, found primarily in the countries of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. It is believed to come from the Middle Latin word miletus, which means "small". Variants of the Milek surname include Mileck, Milecki, Milecz, Milke, Mileke, Milekevich, Milekh, Milekhov, Milekov, Milekovich, Miletsky, Milyk, and Milykh.
The Milek surname is found in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine, though it is also found in countries like the United States, Canada, Britain, and Australia. In Poland, variants of the Milek surname include Milecka, Milek, and Milke. It has been found among those with noble or upper-class descent.
In Belarus, variants of Milek include Mileck, Milke, Milecz, and Milek. Many spelling variations of the name have been recorded in Poland, with variants including Milecki, Milech, Milek, Milekh, Milekov, and Milekovicz. The Milek surname is also found in Ukraine, where common variations include Milekh, Milek, Mileka, Milekevich, Mile Lynn, Miles, Milyk, and Milykh.
The variations of Milek are mainly a result of geographical differences and the evolution of languages over time. In other words, different forms of the same surname have been known to exist in different areas as a result of the gradual evolution of language or dialect changes. Spelling variations of the Milek surname are common, as scribes and church officials often wrote down names as they sounded.
Famous people with the name Milek
- Roman Milek: A Polish sprinter, he won bronze in the decathlon at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics.
- Vojtech Milek: A Slovakian ice hockey player, he played 48 games for theoslovakia in the World Championship during the 1990s.
- Janusz Milek: A Polish volleyball player, he was the captain of the Polish national men's volleyball team in the 1990s.
- Petr Milek: A Czech professional footballer, he represented the Czech Republic at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
- Mathieu Milek: A French snowboarder, he competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Pierre Milek: A French former speed skater, he competed at the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics in the men's 500 m event.
- Vladimír Milek: A Czech ice hockey player, he played in the Czech Extraliga for HC Oceláři Třinec from 2004 to 2007.
- Martina Milek: An Austrian long-distance runner, she competed in both the half marathon and the marathon at the 2012 European Athletics Championships.
- Erich Milek: An Austrian technical diver, instructor trainer, and researcher, he was the first Austrian Technical Diving Instructor Trainer in 2004.
- Karin Milek: An Austrian board rower, she won bronze in the 8-metre lightweight women in the European Rowing Championships in 1997.