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ArchivesFor those who are curious about their surname
If anyone has a vaguely ethnic-sounding surname but has no idea which nationality it derives from, here are a few helpful hints if your last name ends in or contains these elements:
-ski is likely to be Polish.
-sky is more likely to be Russian (these two get mixed up a lot.)
-enko is almost infalliably Ukranian.
-vic is likely from Yugoslavia.
-vich is often confused with 'vic' but is from Russian, not Yugoslavian, origin.
-vici, also often confused with the two above, is Serbian.
-off, -ov, -ev, and -eff are probably Russian.
-wicz or any cz combination really, is likely Polish.
I'll be back with more later if I can!
Jessica
-ski is likely to be Polish.
-sky is more likely to be Russian (these two get mixed up a lot.)
-enko is almost infalliably Ukranian.
-vic is likely from Yugoslavia.
-vich is often confused with 'vic' but is from Russian, not Yugoslavian, origin.
-vici, also often confused with the two above, is Serbian.
-off, -ov, -ev, and -eff are probably Russian.
-wicz or any cz combination really, is likely Polish.
I'll be back with more later if I can!
Jessica
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Replies
I am familiar with the endings you mention, but my married name is ULIK and I think its yugoslav or near what used to be Yugoslavia, but I'd like to pin it down more precisely. None of the relatives seem to know or care.
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What about -iac?
I've known a couple of people with -iac names. they were both Jewish. (Vichniac and Kluzniac). Is there a certain ethnicity associated with -iac names?
I've known a couple of people with -iac names. they were both Jewish. (Vichniac and Kluzniac). Is there a certain ethnicity associated with -iac names?
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From my days as a resident of Cleveland (the largest city in Eastern Europe), I recall -iak as a Ukrainian ending and -ak as a Slovak ending. Never ran into -iac per se, unless you count the "maniacs" on City Council then.
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