Wieczorek

Wieczorek is a common Polish surname meaning "little evening" or derived from a nickname meaning "bat" in Polish, ultimately from wieczór meaning "evening". The name is a diminutive form, formed with the suffix -ek, and originally referred to someone associated with the evening, perhaps a person who was active or born at that time, or humorously, a bat. It is one of the most common surnames in Poland, particularly in Opole Silesia and Świętokrzyskie Voivodeships, where it ranks second in frequency.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals with the surname Wieczorek include: Adam Wieczorek (born 1992), Polish mixed martial artist; Andreas Wieczorek (born 1974), German football midfielder; Antoni Wieczorek (1924–1992), Polish ski jumper; Bertram Wieczorek (born 1951), German physician and former politician; Burghild Wieczorek (1943–2016), East German athlete; Christian Wieczorek (born 1985), German football player; Danuta Dudzińska-Wieczorek (born 1966), Polish opera singer; Dariusz Wieczorek (born 1965), Polish politician; Denis Wieczorek (born 1991), German figure skater; Eva Janina Wieczorek (born 1951), Polish visual artist; Greg Wieczorek, American drummer; Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (born 1942), German politician. The name also has an archaic feminine form, Wieczorkowa, and plural Wieczorkowie.

Distribution

Wieczorek is the 5th most common surname in Poland overall, with over 50,000 bearers. It is especially prevalent in the southern regions, including Silesia and Świętokrzyskie. Outside Poland, it is found among Polish diaspora communities, notably in Germany and the United States.

• Meaning: Little evening or bat
• Origin: Polish
• Type: Nickname-based surname
• Usage regions: Poland, especially Opole Silesia and Świętokrzyskie; Polish diaspora in Germany and USA