Pietrzyk is a Polish surname, like Pietrzak and Pietrzykowski, developed from the given name Piotr, when it was still Pietr, before it stabilized in its present form, Piotr, following the so-called . The Pietrzyk declension is very old, having been recorded as early as the 12th century.
The suffix -ak, like -yk, indicates the paternal origin of the surname; it expressed a diminutive form with a positive emotional connotation; when added to the name Piotr, it likely meant Piotr's son. Archaic feminine forms are Pietrzykowa (by husband), Pietrzykówna (by father); they still can be used colloquially. It may be transliterated as: Petrzyk, Petrzik, Petrzhyk, Petrzhik, Petshik, Петшик.
Notable people with this surname include the following:
Agata Pietrzyk (born 1988), Polish freestyle wrestler (born 1951), Polish politician, trade union activist, member of the Sejm (born 1953), major general of the Polish Army, military analyst Edward Pietrzyk (1949–2021), Polish military officer, diplomat and general in the Polish Arm Jerzy Pietrzyk (born 1955), Polish sprinter (born 1966) – Polish journalist and politician, member of the Sejm Kazimierz Pietrzyk (born 1942), Polish politician, member of the Sejm, sports activist Leslie Pietrzyk (born 1961), American author Lucyna Pietrzyk (born 1956), Polish policewoman, politician, member of the Sejm (1895–1965), lieutenant colonel of infantry of the Polish Army, independence activist
See also Pietrzyk, village in Gmina Lutocin, Żuromin County, Masovian Voivodeship, east-central Poland Pietrzyki, village in Gmina Pisz, Pisz County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, northern Poland