Surname Worshawsky - Meaning and Origin
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Worshawsky: What does the surname Worshawsky mean?
The last name Worshawsky is of Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin and is a variant of the name Varshavsky, referring to someone from Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The name, broken down, includes the elements “Warsz” (shortening of Warsaw) and the “-sky” ending which typically indicates a toponymic surname denoting origin or residence. Therefore, Worshawsky would translate to "from Warsaw" or "of Warsaw." This patronymic name suggests that the original bearer of the name either lived in, was born in, or was somehow associated with the city of Warsaw. It's important to note that the character of spelling variations in this surname, such as Warshawsky or Varshavsky, demonstrates different phonetic transliterations from the original language to English. This surname is prevalent among Ashkenazi Jewish communities, but it could also be found among non-Jewish populations in Poland and surrounding regions.
Order DNA origin analysisWorshawsky: Where does the name Worshawsky come from?
The last name Worshawsky is not incredibly common today, especially not outside of the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, this surname is most commonly found in Arizona and Pennsylvania, with slightly lower concentrations in Wisconsin, California, and New Jersey.
The 2020 US Census Bureau data also provided more detailed geographic information for those who have the surname Worshawsky: the reported census data shows that the name is most commonly found in Philadelphia, with the next largest concentrations in towns like Tucson, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Allentown, and Jersey City.
In general, the concentration of this surname appears to be mostly within the United States, and the data points mainly to the regions of the East Coast, Midwest, and Southwest.
One possible cause of this geographic concentration is the historical roots of the surname. Records suggest that this surname emerged in the 19th century from immigrants from Eastern Europe, likely from people of Polish, Russian, or Ukrainian origin, particularly in the areas of the United States. This could explain why the surname is more commonly found within the United States, and why the concentrations are largely in the midwest and east coast, which have historically been immigration hubs.
Overall, Worshawsky is a relatively uncommon surname in the United States, and is highly concentrated in certain areas, particularly the Midwestern and Eastern states. The last name is likely of Eastern European origin, and records suggest that it emerged in the 19th century among immigrants from this region.
Variations of the surname Worshawsky
The variants, spellings and surnames for Worshawsky originate from the Ukrainian, Slovenian, Russian or Czech language. Worshawsky is a derivative of the Ukrainian surname Vorshava or Vorshavsky, as well as the Slovenian surname Voranc or Vorancska. In Ukrainian and Slovenian, "Vor" means "man of honor" or "Lord". Other spellings include Vorshavy, Vorshavski, Vorshavskyi, Vorshavska, Voronc and Voroncska. The Russian spelling of the surname is Vorshavskii, and the Czech spelling is Vorshavský.
Due to movements of people, this surname also took root in Polish, Lithuanian and Belarusian cultures. In Polish, Worshawsky can be spelled Worszewski or Worszewskia, and in Lithuania Worshava or Vorshava. The Belarusian spelling is Vorshavski or Vorshavska.
Regardless of spelling, all of these surnames stem from the same origin: the Ukrainian language and culture. The subtle spelling variations capture the nuances of language, culture and immigration, and tell the story of how surnames like Worshawsky spread throughout cultures in different forms.
Famous people with the name Worshawsky
- Chad Worshawsky: An American ice hockey player who played for the Calgary Flames and the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League.
- Jacob Worshawsky: An American Jewish immigrant who was an adherent of the Greek Catholic faith. He founded the town of Worshawsk in Russia.
- Golda Worshawsky: A Russian-born playwright and novelist who wrote under the pen name "Worshowska" during the late 19th century.
- Philip Worshawsky: A Russian-American architect who was known for his use of globally sourced geometric forms in his designs.
- Saul Worshawsky: A Lithuanian-born American doctor, professor, and musician who founded the Worshawsky Music School in the early 20th century.
- Robert Worshawsky: An Austrian-American physicist who developed a number of methods in physics and applied mathematics.
- Leopold Worshawsky: A Russian-American violin teacher and scholar who was a leader in the musical field of Romanticism and Expressionism.
- David Worshawsky: An Israeli composer and pianist who has written a number of compositions for film and television.
- Daniel Worshawsky: An American electrical engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of radar, radio, and television.
- Jessica Worshawsky: An American information technology doctoral candidate and theorist who researches the use of natural language processing for digital security.