PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

FIEMA

KDJANICHA — Fri Dec 27, 2019 12:50 pm

Author: KDJANICHA

Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 12:50 pm

Hi! My paternal grandmother's last name was Fiema, she lived in Bochnia, near Krakow until 1948, then she moved to Argentina with my father and my aunt....
Her father was IAN FIEMA.....

Re: Looking for info on Fiema /

tfiema — Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:13 am

Author: tfiema

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:13 am

That actually strengthens the Rijeka origins. The Saint Euphemia's basilica is very close to Rjieka, and it was originally built in the 1600's. The "Fiemas" that supposedly migrated to the Krakow region were builders hired at some local construction.

Re: Looking for info on Fiema /

tfiema — Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:01 am

Author: tfiema

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:01 am

Wow! Thanks that's great!

Re: Looking for info on Fiema /

Agnieszka Pawlus — Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:58 am

Author: Agnieszka Pawlus

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:58 am

Tfiema,

This is indeed a rare surname, but I have found some information. Accordingly to Hoffmans' Polish Surnames: origin and meanings (3rd edition) the surname Fiema comes from feminine given name Eufemija (in Greek Εὐφημία [Euphemía] < εὐ [eu],
“good” + φήμη [phḗmē], “omen, fame”.

The name Eufemia is not used anymore in Poland but it was popular in the old Poland. The first mentions about Eufemia name in Poland are from 13th century. It was a popular given name of the princesses from Piast dynasty (the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland).

Looking for info on Fiema /

tfiema — Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:02 am

Author: tfiema

Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:02 am

Hi

My surname, Fiema is Polish (to some extent).
I was born near Wrocław in 1976.
My Father's side originated (as far back as we can trace) in Niepołomice, close to Krakow.
The theory in the family is that this surname originated with some migrants from the Rjieka region of today's Croatia sometime in the 16th century. Rjieka used to be called Fiume.
I visited Niepołomice sometime in the 80's and I remember that the cemetery had a lot of Fiemas.

As far as Polish surnames go and as far as I can tell - this one is not indigenous.
Yesterday I had a conversation with a man from Holland, and he was very surprised to hear I am Polish. He was convinced Fiema was from Friesland in the Netherlands.
But this new "hint" only confuses my search.

What I find interesting is that the spelling of Fiema seems to have survived in Poland without anyone ever adding "ski", "owy" or any other "polszczyzna"

Let me know if you have anything that could shed some light.
Thanks in advance