Surname Cygan - Meaning and Origin
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Cygan: What does the surname Cygan mean?
The last name Cygan is of Polish origin, coming from the word ‘Cygan’, which is derived from the phrase ‘Tsigane’. This phrase translates to ‘Gypsy’. The name was first found in Poland, where it was used as a surname by a gypsy population since around the 17th century. This name is quite common throughout Poland, where the family can be found in many areas.
The name Cygan is said to have been derived from the word ‘tsigane’, used to refer to the Romani people, an ethnic group originating from Northern India. The term’s origin is derived from the Greek word ‘Aigyptios’, meaning ‘Egyptian’. The family was known to move between countries, providing manual labor in places like Poland. This mobility caused the family to gain a certain notoriety.
The meaning of Cygan is said to be ‘God will provide’ or ‘Thou Shalt Find’. This is likely due to the family’s history of mobility and their reliance on faith to get by. This belief system was likely brought to the family by their ancestors and ties directly into their name.
Today the last name Cygan is still quite common in Poland, but they can also be found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. They continue to live by their ancestral beliefs and often take pride in their Gypsy roots. The name Cygan is a great reminder of where we come from and our shared history, and is a great testament to the resilience of the people who bore the name.
Order DNA origin analysisCygan: Where does the name Cygan come from?
The last name Cygan is not particularly common today and is likely of Polish or Slavic origin. Records indicate that individuals with this surname have immigrated to the United States from different countries and regions including Poland, Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, Belarus, and Ukraine.
In the U.S., records show the last name Cygan is most prominently used in Pennsylvania, with the majority of individuals living in and around Pittsburgh. According to the Social Security Administration, Pennsylvania also has the highest concentration of individuals with the last name Cygan in the entire country.
Elsewhere in North America, the last name Cygan is most frequently spotted in Canada. The Canadian population with this last name is believed to be largely descended from immigrants who arrived in the 1800s.
Outside of the U.S. and Canada, Cygan is a common last name in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. Records show that the last name first appeared in these countries in the early 1900s and is likely of European origin. The country with the highest concentration of Cygans is Poland, followed by Germany, the Czech Republic, and Belarus.
In short, the last name Cygan is most commonly seen in the U.S. and Canada, though it is also found in pockets of Europe, Mexico, Columbia, and Peru.
Variations of the surname Cygan
The surname Cygan is of Polish and Slovak origin and is spelt in various ways including, Cajan, Ceygan, Cigan, Cigga, Ciggan, Cygan, Cygann, Cygann, Szajan, and Szega. The surname may have originally been derived from the word "szajan" which means "noisy".
The surname Cygan has had multiple variations throughout its history, with the surname originally being spelt in a traditional eastern European fashion with the ending "-an". It has been common to drop the "n" from the end of the surname, resulting in the current spelling of Cygan. In some cases, the surname has been adapted to the local language of the region, leading to variants such as Cajan in Hungary and Czech Republic, Cigga in Lithuania, and Szega in Ukraine.
The surname Cygan has also had multiple variations in terms of spelling and has been known to appear in its original spelling along with modified spellings such as Ceygan, Cygann, and Cygann. These variated spellings have arisen due to the limitations of literacy and language-based changes that occurred when immigrants traveled to new countries and adapted the spelling to their new language.
Overall, the surname Cygan has had a range of spellings and variants throughout its history, primarily due to various factors such as illiteracy, language shifts, and regional adaptation.
Famous people with the name Cygan
- John Cygan: actor who appeared in The Dark Knight and A.I. Artificial Intelligence
- Michalina Cygan: Polish voice actress
- Magda Cygan: Polish actress and stage artist
- Elżbieta Cygan: Polish table tennis champion and European champion in 1969
- Bob Cygan: former professional baseball player
- Karen Cygan: American journalist
- Maciej Cygan: Polish footballer
- Antoni Cygan: Polish lawyer, former Deputy Minister of Justice from 2005 to 2007
- Waldemar Cygan: Polish footballer
- Magdalena Cygan: Polish sprint canoeist