Surname Pollatscheck - Meaning and Origin

Pollatscheck: What does the surname Pollatscheck mean?

The last name Pollatscheck derives from the German surname "Pollatschek," which means "son of Paul." The suffix "-atschek" can mean either "son of," "little one," or "Schulze," a type of mayor in German cities. The name Pollatscheck is most common in areas of Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic—all countries with a German-speaking population.

The origin of the name is meant to signify a filial connection to Paul, an important figure in the Christian faith. As such, the name is often associated with traits and characteristics associated with this figure, such as faithfulness, selflessness, and kindness. Other characteristics may have been adopted over the centuries, such as hard work, determination, and resourcefulness.

For immigrants, the name Pollatscheck may represent a personal struggle to maintain faith and values in the face of a society that was foreign and often hostile. It may also have represented an individual's desire to remain loyal to their origins and proudly assert their family's identity in a new setting.

In contemporary times, the name has evolved beyond its traditional meaning to become a symbol of pride and remembrance. People bearing the Pollatscheck name have made important contributions to their societies, and continue to represent what it means to be a part of this extended German-speaking family.

Pollatscheck: Where does the name Pollatscheck come from?

The last name Pollatscheck is most commonly found in Germany. According to a study of surnames conducted by the University of Bonn, Pollatscheck is a very rare surname, with less than 50 people currently living with the last name in Germany. There are few Pollatschecks in other countries as well: emigrated members of this family are usually concentrated in Europe, as well as in North and South America.

Most Pollatschecks in Germany today are concentrated in the smaller cities such as Bremen, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Due to the limited population of Pollatschecks, it is likely that the majority of those living with the last name today are likely distant relatives.

The Pollatscheck family is believed to have originated in the small middle Franconian village of Pollatsmonheim in the early 1700s, though the exact origins of the family is unknown. The name likely developed from the combination of two local words-- ‘pollen’ and ‘tschack’-- and was later shortened to the surname Pollatscheck.

It is likely that the family moved away from the town of Pollatsmonheim in the late 1700s and 1800s, as most German families did, in search of better economic opportunities and to escape military conscription. The Pollatschecks spread out from their homeland, and their descendants can now be found far and wide.

Variations of the surname Pollatscheck

The surname Pollatscheck is mainly of Czech origin, but also has been recorded in the United States, primarily by Polish immigrants. It is a fairly uncommon name, since there are only 278 people worldwide with this name according to Census records.

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Pollatscheck include: Pollatscheck, Polatschek, Pollaczek, Polatschok, Pollacheck, Pollackos, Polektchek, Pollatschek, Polatsek, and Pollatschek.

The most common form of the name in America is Pollatscheck, as the shape of the ending "-atschek" reflects a standard form of Czech names. The other versions listed are alternative spellings of the same original name.

In the United States, other surnames such as Pollack, Pollock, and Pozlewicz are derivatives or shifting of the Pollatscheck name. It is believed that the possible phonetic relationship of Pollatscheck and Pollack was the main reason for this switch – Americans often simplified longer, more unfamiliar names.

Pollatscheck is primarily a Czech name, and in its various spellings can be found throughout the country. The Czech version, Polaček, is the most common, followed by Pollatscheck, Pollaczek, and Polatschek.

Other derivations of the name are commonly found in Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Lithuania, and the Ukraine. Pollack is the prevalent version in the United Kingdom, although the Czech spelling is also found there to a lesser degree.

In summation, the surname Pollatscheck has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Polatschok, Polatsek, Polektchek and Pollackos, to name a few. It is particularly common in Czech Republic, but also has a presence in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Lithuania, and the Ukraine.

Famous people with the name Pollatscheck

• Marcus Pollatschek: a German actor best known for his roles in The Tunnel and The United States of Germany.
• Byanca Pollatschek: a Brazilian singer who released her debut album in 2010.
• Reinhard Pollatscheck: an Austrian football player who played as a goalkeeper for the Austrian national team from 1995 to 2006.
• Thomas Pollatschek: a German author and journalist, as well as a former editor-in-chief of the German news magazine Der Spiegel.
• Anja Pollatschek: a German investigative journalist and author.
• Ingo Pollatschek: a German sociologist and professor at the University of Hamburg.
• Vinzenz Pollatschek: an Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist, as well as the founder of the International Institute for Modern Mental Health in Vienna.
• Rupert Pollatscheck: an Austrian neurologist and professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Medical University of Vienna.
• Gregory Pollatscheck: an American practitioner of Chinese medicine, and founder of the Eastland Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Centre in New York City.
• Walter Pollatscheck: a former football player and manager who managed the Austrian Football Association from 2000 to 2002.

Other surnames

Pollatschek