Surname Maksymiw - Meaning and Origin
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Maksymiw: What does the surname Maksymiw mean?
The last name Maksymiw is of Ukrainian origin. It was derived from the first name Maksym, which is a form of the name Maximus, which was popular since Roman times. Maksym translates to "greatest" or "most exalted" and is associated with strength and power.
Maksym is the patron saint of those who are persecuted for their faith and also of physicians and scholars. This suggests that Maksymiw may have originally referred to a family of doctors, wise men, or people of strong faith.
The Maksymiws are known for their warm hospitality, loyal friendships, and strong sense of family. They are industrious, hardworking people, who enjoy the challenge of pushing themselves to strive for the best.
The Maksymiws have a strong record of achievement. They tend to be ambitious, steadfast, and determined in their pursuit of success.
Today, Maksymiw remains a popular Slavic family name worldwide. It is common among Slavic-speaking people in the Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Eastern Europe. In the United States, it is most common in the Midwest and Northeastern states, although it is also found among other ethnic and religious groups.
Order DNA origin analysisMaksymiw: Where does the name Maksymiw come from?
The surname Maksymiw is most common in Ukraine and Poland, but it can also be found in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world. In Ukraine, the Maksymiw surname is most often found in the cities of Chernivtsi, Lviv, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as in the country's western regions. In Poland, the surname is concentrated primarily in the Silesian and Greater Poland regions. In the United States, most Maksymiws live in Illinois and Ohio, although there is a significant concentration in New Jersey. In Canada, Maksymiws are primarily found in the province of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The Maksymiw name is derived from the Slavic root, “maks”, meaning “large” or “great”. It is thought to have originated as a nickname applied to a person who was tall or strong. This surname is particularly common among Ukrainian and Polish people of Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic faith, who are descended from an ethnic Ukrainian group called the Rusyns.
In the modern era, the Maksymiw surname is still fairly common and may be attributed to the large Eastern-European diaspora which formed during and after World War II. For example, there are many Maksymiw families in the United States who are descended from the Ukrainian and Polish emigrants of this time.
Variations of the surname Maksymiw
Maksymiw is a Ukrainian and Polish surname with variations and spellings in many other languages. In Ukrainian, Ukrainian-American and Ukrainian-Canadian contexts, it is typically spelled Maksymiv, Maksymov, Maksymowicz, Maksymiuk, Maksymych and Maksymchuk. In Polish, it is typically spelled Maksymowicz or Maksymowiczek. In Belarusian contexts, the spelling is typically Maksymavič or Maksonavič. In German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the spelling is often Maksymiw, Maksyimow or Maczyimow. In Russia and Belarus, the spelled variants are often Maksymov or Maksymiuk.
In other languages, there are many other variants and spellings of the name. In Czech, it is Maksymovi or Maksymovic. In Croatian and Bosnian, the spelling is usually Maksimović. In Dutch and Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium, the spelling is Maksymow or Maksymovic. In France and French-speaking countries, the surname is often spelled Maksymiw or Maksymiuk. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is often spelled Maksimove or Maksimowicz. In Italian, it is often Maksymov, Maksymowicz or Maksimowicz. Finally, in Scandinavian countries, Maksymiev or Macsymich is often used.
No matter the spelling or language, all the variants, spellings and surnames Maksymiw come from the same or similar origin. Its root is the name Maxim (or Maksym), which is a male given Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian name derived from the Latin maximus, meaning ‘great’ or ‘large’.
Famous people with the name Maksymiw
- Lena Maksymiw: a Ukrainian gymnast, who represented Ukraine in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Dave Maksymiw: a former Major League Baseball player and a current coach.
- Andrea Maksymiw: the executive director at the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
- Walter Maksymiw: a professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, and an expert on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Anne Maksymiw: a faculty member at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.
- Roman Maksymiw: a Ukrainian painter, best known for his portraits.
- Bo Maksymiw: a Canadian stuntman and actor.
- Steve Maksymiw: a Canadian writer, poet and journalist.
- Mark Maksymiw: a Ukrainian musician, best known for his compositions for piano.
- Frank Maksymiw: a Ukrainian political philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto.