Surname Starostka - Meaning and Origin
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Starostka: What does the surname Starostka mean?
The last name Starostka is derived from the Old Slavic language and is likely a topographic name for someone living near a "starostwo," or a main seat of an administrative district. The word itself is formed from the root "starost" which means "elderly." It was often used to refer to a person who had the authority and responsibility of taking care of matters of justice and security, similar to the role of a bailiff or voivode. Additionally, the word could be used to refer to someone who had authority over important public works or events.
Today, Starostka is most common in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. Depending on how the name is used, its context and spelling, Starostka can refer to both males and females. It is derived from the word Starość, which may have been derived from the older Proto-Slavic Language, and it appears to have been made a permanent surname at the end of the 15th century.
The Starostka family may have found its way across Eastern Europe over the centuries and adapted to its culture and language. It can be assumed that those carrying the surname were connected to the ruling classes of that time, possibly as warriors, government administrators, merchants, or religious leaders.
The name Starostka has also gained some notoriety in American Pop culture. For example, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film, Jaws, was dedicated to a “Starostka”, more likely a nickname or an American Language adaptation of the original Eastern European surname.
Today, the Starostka family name can be found in many parts of Eastern, Central, and Western Europe; as well as in North American countries.
Order DNA origin analysisStarostka: Where does the name Starostka come from?
The last name Starostka is primarily found in Poland and the wider Central European region. In Poland, Starostka is the 27th most common surname and is most concentrated in the southern part of the country, particularly in the cities of Krakow and Rzeszów. Families with this surname also come from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary, and even Croatia.
Starostka is a toponymic surname, derived from a town or village called Starosty or Starostka. These places likely originated from the Polish words 'starosta' and 'starostwo', which roughly translate to 'older person' and 'eldership' respectively.
The surname is found at much lower levels in other parts of the world such as North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The primary reason for the name’s low prevalence is because it is linked to Central European heritage. Since Starostka is a less common surname, the majority of people found with the name in these countries are descendants of immigrants.
In the United States, the state of New York has a larger population of Starostkas than any other state. California is second, followed by Pennsylvania and Illinois. There is only a small concentration of this name in the UK, with 2 individuals in England and 1 in Scotland, according to a census carried out in 2011.
Overall, the prevalence of the last name Starostka is highest in Poland, with other concentrations in Central Europe and low levels of the name in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Starostka
The surname Starostka is a Slavic name derived from the root word “starost” which means elder or senior figure. As a result, it is a patronymic name that means “daughter (or son) of the elder”. Starostka is the feminine form of the name, while Starost is the masculine form. Variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin may include: Starosta, Staroste, Starostek, Starosten, Starostenko, Starka, Starkova, Starkovych, and Starkow.
In some cases, the ending “-ka” has been dropped from the surname Starostka, resulting in spelling variations like Starost. On the contrary, endings such as “-ova” or “-ovich” have been added at times, resulting in variations like Starkova and Starkovich. In addition, many variant spellings owe to the differences in languages and alphabets used in Eastern European countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Finally, some surnames may have been respelled and shortened in other areas of the world, resulting in spellings Starost, Stroski, S:troska, etc. Such spelling changes are common among immigrants, as their names are often misspelled at various ports of entry or in their adopted countries. In this way, it is clear that Starostka and its variants, spellings, and various surnames of the same origin are all derivatives of the Slavic root word “starost”.
Famous people with the name Starostka
- Jordan Starostka: a professional dancer, actor, and former Laker Girl who made it to the Top 6 of "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2018.
- John Starostka: a former US military officer who served in Vietnam and a political candidate in 2008.
- Breanne Starostka: a former American talent agent who is now the Senior Director of Casting at Walt Disney Studios.
- Paul Starostka: a former professional sit-down jet ski racer and member of the Canadian Jet Ski Association.
- Mark Starostka: a professional drummer and percussionist from Fort Collins, Colorado.
- Raymond Starostka: a former professional jockey and military aviator who flew for the US military in Vietnam and earned the rank of Major before retiring.
- Joseph Starostka: a former American hockey player who played professionally for the Dallas Stars organization.
- Marybeth Starostka: a jewelry designer and former high school art teacher from Michigan.
- Mike Starostka: a former professional downhill skier and ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado.
- Sam Starostka: a professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the mid-1980s.