Kwietak

Like many surnames of East European origin, "Kwiek" has undergone a number of changes in spelling. It derives from the Polish Baltic word "Kwiecien" meaning "April" and like the English personal name, referred specifically to one borne in that month or by implication was given to a female of "spring-like" character. In the case of "Kwiek" the original recordings have the suffix "ski" equivalent to the French "de" and the German "von" indicating gentry status. The early spellings include Kwietak, Kwietek, Kwiekek etc., these being forms of diminutives or patronymics. The usual recordings are the form of Kwiecinski, Kwieczinski, and Kwieczynska and include Franz Kwiecinsi who married Emilie Radloff on October 25th 1869 at Berlin Start, Brandenburg, and Johann Kwieczynsk, baptised on October 22nd 1866 at Gross Bislaw, Westpreussen, he was the son of Anthonia Kwieczynska. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Daniel Kwietek which was dated June 25th 1702 baptised at Marggrasbowa, Ostpreussen, Deutchesland, during the reign of Emperor Leopold 1st of the Holy Roman Empire, 1668 - 1705. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.