Surname Schulek - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Schulek: What does the surname Schulek mean?
The last name Schulek is of German origin and is an occupational surname that means "Schoolmaster". It is a derived from the word "Schullehrer". The name likely originated in the Middle Ages when German areas were divided up into areas of schoolmasters, where each area had its own schoolmaster and teachers.
Other variations of the surname "Schulek", such as "Scheulek", are also common. Schulek is seen as a highly respected and honorable family name, as it refers to the teaching profession. The Schulek family likely has a history of teaching, as the name suggests.
In modern times, the Schulek family name can be found mainly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The family may have also had migration to other countries outside of this area, such as the United States.
Despite the family's heritage, the name still carries a lot of respect and admiration to this day. Families or individuals that carry this family name embody the importance of education, as they are proud to carry the name of a profession that has been respected for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSchulek: Where does the name Schulek come from?
The last name Schulek is most commonly found in countries that were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It may also be found in areas of Europe that their ancestor migrated to, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Schulek is a surname that has both Jewish and non-Jewish origins and can be found all over the several countries that once were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was most likely derived from the German term 'Schulze' which means 'village headman' or 'landowner'.
In Austria, Schulek is mostly found in the districts of Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich and Salzburg. In Hungary the surname is found in Galanta, Győr-Moson-Sopron and Pest. In the Czech Republic, it is found in Moravia and Bohemia.
At the beginning of the 17th century many Jews from the Austro-Hungarian Empire migrated to North America and continued to use this surname in the countries they migrated to. It can be found in the US in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. In Canada, Schulek is found in Ontario.
Now, the last name Schulek in these areas is not seen as frequently as it used to be in the past as many of those who inherited this name has changed it due to immigration. It is, however, still very common in areas near its original homeland.
Variations of the surname Schulek
The Schulek surname is derived from the German and Yiddish word for school or scholar. Many spellings of the surname have emerged over the years, including Schulek, Shulek, Szoulik, Schelik, Shalek, Shalik, Scholik, Sholik, Shallik, Schulik, Shulik, Szulek, and Szolik.
Most of the variants of the Schulek surname are found among the Ashkenazi Jewish population, which is believed to have originated in Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages. According to Ancestry.com, many people with the Schulek surname also spell it as Scholek, Schoulek, Schuhlik, and Schulik.
In some cases, individuals with the Schulek surname have also adopted the Jewish surnames Parkoff, Grunvald, and Blank in order to be recognized as Jewish in their respective communities. Other variants of the name, such as Szulik, are believed to have been adopted by families living in now-Poland during the Second Polish Republic, which lasted between the World Wars.
The exact origin of the Schulek surname is unknown, but it is likely related to the German and Yiddish words for “school” and “scholar.” As many European surnames were adopted in order to distinguish specific family lines, it is possible that the Schulek surname emerged from a family of educated or intellectually-inclined individuals or even an educational institution. It is also possible that the Schulek surname was used to distinguish individuals from particular towns, regions, or countries where a culture of education was particularly important.
Famous people with the name Schulek
- Emil Schulek: Emil Schulek (1854-1938) was an Austrian-Hungarian architect who was acclaimed for his renovation of the Gödöllő Palace in Hungary.
- Peter Schulek: Peter Schulek (b. 1950) is a successful businessman from Canada who founded the Hillcrest Group, an investment and real estate company.
- Mike Schulek: Mike Schulek (b. 1985) is an American football player who has played for the National Football League (NFL) since 2008.
- Lou Schulek: Lou Schulek (b. 1961) is a Ukrainian-born American fashion designer and entrepreneur who owns his own label, Schulek Originals.
- Tony Schulek: Tony Schulek (b. 1985) is an American actor who has had parts in films like Men in Black II, and television shows like The Sopranos.
- Cecilia Schulek: Cecilia Schulek (b. 1990) is a Swedish classical music soprano and international recording artist.
- Ken Schulek: Ken Schulek (b. 1967) is a New York-based marketing executive and entrepreneur who has co-founded several start-ups.
- Daniel Schulek: Daniel Schulek (b. 1986) is a Czech mathematician and data scientist who is known for developing breakthrough algorithms for artificial intelligence applications.
- Hermann Schulek: Hermann Schulek (b. 1991) is a German motion-picture director and music video producer who is based in Berlin.
- Amelie Schulek: Amelie Schulek (b. 1990) is a French visual artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries around the world.