Surname Hanik - Meaning and Origin
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Hanik: What does the surname Hanik mean?
The last name Hanik is of Czech origin and is derived from the Jewish name Chaim. The literal translation of this name is ‘life’. This is thought to represent the struggle between life and death, implying a fortitude in the face of difficulty.
The surname Hanik could have been borne by several different individuals with varying levels of social status. Some have become figures of Czech history such as Franz Hanik, the last leader of the Habsburg's Czech border guard, or Robert Hanik, a 19th-century butcher who became a symbol of Czech national pride.
Today, Hanik can be found mainly in the Czech Republic, though individuals with this surname have spread throughout Europe, North America, and Australia. The spelling of the name may have changed over time, from Hanik to Honik to Hanvík and more.
In the Czech language, Hanik is a fairly uncommon name. However, there is still a substantial community of people within the Czech Republic that bear this surname. This can be attributed to centuries of Czech cultural identity that still remains at the core of the nation. This identity has, in part, been preserved through the perpetuation of the last name Hanik.
Order DNA origin analysisHanik: Where does the name Hanik come from?
The surname Hanik is believed to be of German origin and is primarily found in the United States and some parts of Canada. Today, there are over 1,600 people around the world with the last name Hanik.
The highest density of the Hanik surname can be found in the US states of Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, and Florida. In Pennsylvania, the Hanik surname is the 747th most common name, and in Texas it is the 1,554th most common name. Within the US, the Hanik surname is most common in the Midwest and some parts of the East Coast.
The Hanik surname is also observed in some parts of Canada, particularly in its western provinces. In British Columbia, the Hanik surname is ranked at 693rd most common in the province, whereas in Alberta it is the 785th most common surname.
The Hanik surname may have been derived from the German personal name Heinrich ("ruler of the homeland"), and is believed to have first appeared in the 1500s. Today, the Hanik name continues to be a common German surname in the modern age, with many of its bearers scattered around the world.
Variations of the surname Hanik
The surname Hanik is a very rare surname mostly found in Lithuania and Slovakia. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Hanas, which was a popular name in the region and is also found in other Slavonic countries such as Poland and Russia.
Variants of the surname Hanik include Hanek, Hanikk, Hanic, Hanick, Hanicke and Hanicek. Slavic-language Clippings of the surname Hanik include Haniko, Hanike, Haniks and Hanikov.
Other spellings of the same origin include Hanak, Handk, Hanzik, Handik, Hanikov, Handel, Handke and Hank.
Surnames from the same origin are Handak, Handsik, Handyke, Handyger, Handzik, Hanecek, Hanecek, Hankeck, Hanzicke, Hanzivicky and Hanzik.
The surname Hanik is relatively rare, so pinpointing a unique origin to it is not absolute. However, it is likely that the surname first originated in the Slavonic countries due to its prevalence in that region.
Famous people with the name Hanik
- Wendy Hanik: an American actress, appearing in many films like 'Mission: Impossible II' and 'Spider-Man 2'.
- Joe Hanik: a professional photographer, primarily known for his landscapes and nature art.
- Alan Hanik: a former professional baseball player who played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Corinne Hanik: a multi-platform journalist for CBS2/KCAL9 news in Los Angeles.
- Denise Hanik: an American professional dancer and choreographer, currently teaching at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood.
- Matt Hanik: a former American football player who had a 10-year career in the NFL.
- Jay Hanik: a professional stuntman and actor who has performed stunts in films such as 'Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol' and 'The Dark Knight Rises'.
- Orlando Hanik: a professional mixed martial artist, with a win/loss record of 10 wins and 5 losses.
- Denni Hanik: an American television producer and director, best known for her work on 'Saturday Night Live' and the series 'William & Mary.'
- Heather Hanik: a retired American swimmer, who was the first woman from the United States to win a world championship in swimming.