Surname Wilansky - Meaning and Origin
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Wilansky: What does the surname Wilansky mean?
The last name Wilansky is a Jewish surname, most likely of Ashkenazic origin. It is thought that the name comes from the combination of two Hebrew words: Vilen andski, which when translated mean "son of Vilen." Vilen is derived from the Hebrew word "Vilna", which means a seashore or bank in an ancient place.
The Wilansky name first became prominent in the Jewish ghettos of Poland and Ukraine in the late 18th to early 19th centuries. Wilanskys were often merchants, small business owners, and rabbis in their respective communities. The Wilansky name spread with immigration to the United States, where many Wilanskys achieved success in the textile and garment industry.
The Wilanskys have also left a noteworthy impact in the arts and sciences. Prominent people with the name Wilansky have included Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright Arthur Miller, the rock band Wilco, and astrophysicist and cosmologist Stephen Wolfram. A large number of Wilanskys are also involved in Jewish philanthropy.
Though there is no one specific meaning to the Wilansky name, it is clear that the Wilansky family has made many positive contributions to the world and their history is one of hard work, perseverance, and success.
Order DNA origin analysisWilansky: Where does the name Wilansky come from?
The last name Wilansky is most commonly found in Russia and can be found in other countries across Europe, including Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Germany. In the United States, it is most commonly found among the Ashkenazi Jewish community in New York, New Jersey, and California.
The Wilansky surname originated from the Hebrew word wilansky, which means “son of Israel.” This surname would have been given to families by rabbis in the 19th or early 20th centuries as an indication of their Jewish heritage and descent from biblical Israel.
Wilansky is an uncommon name and is not as common as other names of Jewish origin, such as Levi or Cohen. Even so, it is a relatively common name with close to 6,000 people bearing the Wilansky name, according to the US Social Security Card Applications index. It is more common in the US than in Europe.
In the United States, Wilansky is equally distributed between men and women and is found across all political and religious affiliations. It is also a common name among secular and reform Jews. On a global scale, the Wilansky last name is most concentrated in Israel and the US.
The Wilansky surname is a reminder of Jewish history, identity, and heritage. It is a name that continues to be passed down from generation to generation, making each holder of the name an important part of Jewish history.
Variations of the surname Wilansky
The surname Wilansky is of Jewish and Polish origin. Wilansky variations include Wilensky, Wilenski, Wilinsky, Wilinskis, Wilinskij, Wilenske, Wilenskei, Wilenskii, Wilinski, Wilenskij, and Wilinskas.
In Jewish families, Wilansky can also be spelled Wylandsky or Wylansky. This is thought to be a variation of the old spelling of Wilansky, derived from the pre-Revolutionary Russia way of spelling the original Russian name.
The Wilansky name can also be spelled as Vilansky, Vilensky, Vilenski, Vilinsky, Vilinskis, Vilinskij, Vilenske, Vilenskei, Vilenskii, Vilinski, Vilenskij, and Vilinskas. This is due to the common practice of misspelling last names when working with complicated Russian naming conventions.
The Wilansky surname is sometimes spelled as Wilensky in Poland, Wilenky in the United States, and Wilin΄skyy in Ukraine. It is not uncommon to find Wilansky or related surnames spelled Wilsansky, Wylensky, Wilinskij, Wilenskie, Wilingysky, or Wiling multiple times on ancestry websites and other genealogical databases.
Surname variants for Wilansky can also occur depending on the language and region. For example, in Germany, Wilansky can be spelled Wilanky, Velansky, Wileńsky, and Wileński. In France, the Wilansky surname is spelled Willensky, and in Spanish or Italian, Wilansky is spelled Vilensky or Volensky.
Famous people with the name Wilansky
- Howard Wilansky: an American comic book writer and editor
- Marian Wilansky: a dental hygienist, entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Michael Wilansky: a Canadian composer, conductor and teacher
- Angus Wilansky: an artist and sculptor
- Nathan Wilansky: a lawyer and politician
- Andrew Wilansky: a U.S. Navy admiral
- Alan M. Wilansky: a banker and businessman
- Peter Robert Wilansky: a U.S. Navy admiral
- Bruce Wilansky: radio and television host
- Robert Wilansky: a cartoonist and artist