Polish last names or nazwisko is used as a family name like all European cultures. The personal name of an individual, imię , is always followed by the Polish last name. The original Polish surnames were used to associate someone with something. For example, a profession was used as the basis of surname, like a carpenter was called Ciesla. In some cases, when a child was born, a suffix would be added to his name. For example, Symanski, as in son of Simon. The Polish surnames have been developed from four major sources. Let us go into the details of the origins of various Polish last names.
Polish Last Names Origins
The four sources that lead to the development of Polish last names are as follows:
Description: A unique quality of an individual or a physical feature that was prominent, was used as a pet name or nickname. These nicknames slowly got converted into Polish surnames.
Patronymic and Matronymic Surnames: This name was based on the surnames that were derived from the first name of a well respected ancestor's first name. Most of the surnames were derived from the father's name, though few names came from the first name of a well respected or wealthy female ancestor. These surnames often have endings with -icz, -wicz, -owicz, -ewicz, and -ycz. These endings usually mean 'son of'. Other suffixes like -czak, -czyk, -iak, -ak, -ik, and -yk also mean something like 'son of' or 'little'.
Place Surnames: This is one of the most common source of Polish last name origins. The last name was usually derived from the area or location where the first bearer of the family lived. The names of towns, countries or geographical features were converted into Polish last names. However, not all surnames lead to the ancestral villages as most of the place names in Poland have been changed or disappeared over time. However, the suffix -owski is derived from place names that end with -y, -ow, -owo, -owa, etc.
Occupation: There are many Polish last names that have been derived on the basis of a person's job or trade. Thus, a person was recognized by his family profession.
These are some of the ways Polish last names have been derived or originated. Let us see some of the surnames in the following Polish last names list.
Polish Last Names List
Common Polish Last Names
Some of the common Polish last names that have the most widespread use are as follows. You can read more on common last names in the article most common last names.
* Nowak
* Kowalski
* Wiśniewski
* Wójcik
* Kowalczyk
* Kamiński
* Lewandowski
* Zieliński
* Szymański
* Woźniak
* Dąbrowski
* Kozłowski
* Jankowski
* Nowaczek
* Wojciechowski
* Kwiatkowski
* Krawczyk
* Kaczmarek
* Piotrowski
* Bagiński
* Grabowski
Famous Polish Last Names
Polish last names have originated since the middle ages, but it was only about 200 years ago that use of surnames became compulsory. Some of the Polish last names became popular of over the years. These names were derived from profession, some names came from trees and few originated from place of origin. The following are a few popular and famous Polish last names.
* Nowak
* Kowalski
* Wiśniewski
* Wójcik
* Kowalczyk
* Kamiński
* Lewandowski
* Zieliński
* Szymański
* Woźniak
* Dąbrowski
* Kozłowski
* Jankowski
* Mazur
* Wojciechowski
This was all about the Polish last names list with their meanings. There are many Polish last names that I may have missed out in the above list. But, you can find your family tree over the Internet through sites that offer information on genealogy and family history. I hope this article has helped you spot the meaning of your Polish last name.
Polish Last Names Origins
The four sources that lead to the development of Polish last names are as follows:
Description: A unique quality of an individual or a physical feature that was prominent, was used as a pet name or nickname. These nicknames slowly got converted into Polish surnames.
Patronymic and Matronymic Surnames: This name was based on the surnames that were derived from the first name of a well respected ancestor's first name. Most of the surnames were derived from the father's name, though few names came from the first name of a well respected or wealthy female ancestor. These surnames often have endings with -icz, -wicz, -owicz, -ewicz, and -ycz. These endings usually mean 'son of'. Other suffixes like -czak, -czyk, -iak, -ak, -ik, and -yk also mean something like 'son of' or 'little'.
Place Surnames: This is one of the most common source of Polish last name origins. The last name was usually derived from the area or location where the first bearer of the family lived. The names of towns, countries or geographical features were converted into Polish last names. However, not all surnames lead to the ancestral villages as most of the place names in Poland have been changed or disappeared over time. However, the suffix -owski is derived from place names that end with -y, -ow, -owo, -owa, etc.
Occupation: There are many Polish last names that have been derived on the basis of a person's job or trade. Thus, a person was recognized by his family profession.
These are some of the ways Polish last names have been derived or originated. Let us see some of the surnames in the following Polish last names list.
Polish Last Names List
Common Polish Last Names
Some of the common Polish last names that have the most widespread use are as follows. You can read more on common last names in the article most common last names.
* Nowak
* Kowalski
* Wiśniewski
* Wójcik
* Kowalczyk
* Kamiński
* Lewandowski
* Zieliński
* Szymański
* Woźniak
* Dąbrowski
* Kozłowski
* Jankowski
* Nowaczek
* Wojciechowski
* Kwiatkowski
* Krawczyk
* Kaczmarek
* Piotrowski
* Bagiński
* Grabowski
Famous Polish Last Names
| Polish Last Names | Polish Last Names Meanings |
| Adamczyk | Son of Adam |
| Borkowski | From places with name like Borki, Borków, Borkowo |
| Chmielewski | One from the place of the hops |
| Czarnecki | From Czarnecki |
| Czerwinski | One who came from Czerwinski |
| D¹browski | From the oak grove |
| Duda | Bagpipes or bad musician |
| Dudek | Hoopoe - a type of bird |
| Gorski | Of, from or pertaining to a mountain or hill |
| Grabowski | From a village beginning with the term 'Grab' |
| Jabloñski | Apple tree |
| Jasiñski | Kin of Jan, One who lived near or worked with ash trees |
| Jaworski | Of the sycamore |
| Kaczmarek | Innkeeper |
| Kalinowski | Guelder rose or cranberry tree |
| Kamiñski | One who came from a rocky place |
| Kowalczyk | Son of Smith |
| Kowalski | Blacksmith |
| Kozlowski | From a place named Kozlow, Kozlowo, etc |
| Król Kucharski | Associated with cooks |
| Kwiatkowski | One from the place of little flowers, like Kwiatkow |
| Maciejewski | Kin of Matthias, From places with names meaning Matthias's place |
Majewski | From places with name beginning with 'Maj' |
| Michalski | Of Michael |
| Nowak | New guy in town, new or from the root now. |
| Nowakowski | From village Nowaki, Nowakowo |
| Nowicki | New |
| Oliszewski | From the place of the alder trees |
| Ostrowski | From places with names like Ostro~w, Ostrowek,Ostrowo |
| Pawlak | Son of Paul |
| Pawlowski | From Paul's place |
| Piotrowski | Of, from the place of Peter, like Piotrow |
| Rutkowski | From places with names like Rutka, Rutki, Rutkowo |
| Sawicki | Son of Sawa |
| Sobczak | Son of Sob |
| Sokolowski | From place of the falcons |
| Symanski | Son of Simon |
| Szczepañski | Son of Szczepan |
| Tomaszewski | From places with name like Tomaszew or Tomaszow |
| Walczak | Son of Walka |
| Wieczorek | Little evening |
| Wiœniewski | From Wisniewo or Wisniew |
| Wojciechowski | One from Wojciechy |
| WoŸniak | Man who drives a cart |
| Wysocki | From places with names like Wysoka, Wysockie, Wysocice |
| Zajac | Hare or rabbit |
| Zawadzki | From a place called Zawada or Zawady |
| Zielinski | Associated with 'green' |
Polish last names have originated since the middle ages, but it was only about 200 years ago that use of surnames became compulsory. Some of the Polish last names became popular of over the years. These names were derived from profession, some names came from trees and few originated from place of origin. The following are a few popular and famous Polish last names.
* Nowak
* Kowalski
* Wiśniewski
* Wójcik
* Kowalczyk
* Kamiński
* Lewandowski
* Zieliński
* Szymański
* Woźniak
* Dąbrowski
* Kozłowski
* Jankowski
* Mazur
* Wojciechowski
This was all about the Polish last names list with their meanings. There are many Polish last names that I may have missed out in the above list. But, you can find your family tree over the Internet through sites that offer information on genealogy and family history. I hope this article has helped you spot the meaning of your Polish last name.
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