Surname Bohdanowicz - Meaning and Origin
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Bohdanowicz: What does the surname Bohdanowicz mean?
The last name Bohdanowicz is often associated with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and its people. The name is believed to be derived from the first name Bohdan, which is an ancient Slavic given name meaning "God's Gift". The suffix -wicz means “son of” in old Polish language and reflects a patronymic naming tradition.
Historically, the Bohdanowicz family can be traced to the 16th century when they established their clan in the territory of modern-day Poland, specifically in the province of Galicia. The family continued to inhabit this region for centuries with some branches relocating to the northern part of the Commonwealth, now known as Ukraine.
The family is known to be quite influential and many members distinguished themselves through service in the royal court and military. They were also famed for their expertise as blacksmiths, sculptors, and architects.
Today, the Bohdanowicz surname is most commonly found among Polish and Ukrainian families. Although it is not as widespread as many other Slavic and European surnames, it is often revered as a link to the history and culture of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Order DNA origin analysisBohdanowicz: Where does the name Bohdanowicz come from?
The last name Bohdanowicz is most closely associated with Poland today. It is present in many records from various regions throughout the country, and shares a similar prevalence within Polish culture as other Polish surnames. Available records suggest the name is most commonly found in the country’s villages, cities, and suburbs, within the Masovian, Łódzkie, Subcarpaian, Warmian-Masurian, and Lesser Poland voivodeships.
The Bohdanowicz surname is quite popular in Poland. In 2017, around 3,700 modern day Poles with the Bohdanowicz surname were listed on the Social Security Administration’s database. Furthermore, 4,000 registered members of Poland’s national association of surname families - Polska Organizacja Surnicowa - identified themselves as Bohdanowicze.
Roman Catholics make up a sizable portion of people with the Bohdanowicz surname in the country, due to its early settlement in the Masovian Voivodeship area, during the late medieval period. During this period, the name is thought to have originated from an older Slavic word meaning “son of God”.
Beyond Poland, the Bohdanowicz surname can also be found in countries like the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom, largely due to immigration in the 20th century. Consequently, the name can sometimes be encountered by non-Polish speakers in cities such as New York City, London, and Toronto, as well as some rural areas of the US and Canada, among other places.
Variations of the surname Bohdanowicz
The surname Bohdanowicz is a Polish and Ukrainian patronymic derived from the given name Bohdan. Other variants of the surname include Bodanowich, Bodunowicz, Boodanowicz, Bodanowycz, and Boedanowicz. Spellings of the surname may vary depending on different dialects and language conventions such as the use of diacritics.
In the Polish language, Bohdanowicz is spelled with diacritics ó and ć, and thus properly written as Bohdanowić. The same name is alternatively written as Bohdanovych when using Ukrainian orthography.
The patronymic origin of the surname Bohdanowicz can also be seen in the variant surname forms which are derived from the same given name, including variations of "son of Bohdan". These surnames, such as Bohdanyuk, Bohdanuk, Bodaniuk, and Bodianchuk, are used throughout Ukraine and the Ukraine diaspora.
Alternatives to the Polish and Ukrainian spelling of Bohdanowicz arise from the use of Polish-based or German-based spellings. Variants such as Bodenowicz, Bodenawycz, and Butenowich can be found in both current and historical records regarding this surname.
Although the root origin of the surname comes from the given name Bohdan, it may have since been adopted by other ethnic groups with some variations in ortography and phonetics, likely due to language or cultural influence. Examples of such variants include Bednarowicz, Bednarowicz, and Będnarowicz in Poland, and Betnarovych in Ukraine.
Famous people with the name Bohdanowicz
- Vadim Bohdanowicz: Russian film director and a representative of the documentary school of thought.
- Piotr Michal Bohdanowicz: a member of the Polish Sejm.
- Marina Thimiaki Bohdanowicz: feminist author, educator, and feminist theorist.
- Tomasz Bohdanowicz: actor, director, and spoken word artist from Poland.
- Konstantyn Bohdanowicz-Rudytskyi: a Ukrainian classical composer.
- Bohdan Bohdanowicz: Polish painter, modernist, and designer.
- Michał Bohdanowicz: Polish Naturalist painter.
- Émile-Auguste Bo rudimentary: French diplomat, writer, and theologist.
- Volodymyr Bohdanowicz: Ukrainian physicist and chemist.
- Remigiusz Bohdanowicz: Polish soccer player playing for Wisła Płock.