Is Grudnik name Polish?

My last name is Grudnik but I am afraid this name may be German (everyone that came through Ellis Island with that last name was German).

Can someone verify whether or not this name is Polish?

I am getting very worried can I please have an answer

in Polish Grudnik could assimilate to the month of December, of "fencing", "garden", “fencing up a garden”

A lot of people assume that Polish last names end with ski, where in fact a lot of Polish last names end with “ik” as well as “ki” for men, and usually for woman the ending changes to an “a”. For example Mr. Grudnik, or Ms. Grudnikowa.

The country of origin may have been different at the time, what you need to find out the name of the place and not just the country. I've family coming from the same place, that once was under Austrian then Russian before ultimately reverting to Poland.

Grudnik is defintiely Polish or other-Slavonic, not German. Immigrants going to the US when Poland was occupied were often listed as Prusssian (German), Russian or Austrian, because it was those countries that issued the passports. Grudnik or grudniak are nicknames for people or animals born in December (grudzień).

The month gets its named from the word gruda meaning a clod of frozen soil that the mud of November turned into during a December cold snap.

You are worried that your name might be of German origin? Are you for real?

Wouldn't everybody prefer to be Polish than German. Ist es nicht viel besser Polnisch als Deutsch sein? I was always taught there were two kinds of people in the world -- those who are Polish and those who wish they were!

If with "everybody" you mean Poles, then yes. <g>


Your teacher was obviously Polish... :)

I am thrilled to find out that my name is Polish. I love Poland. Kocham Polske!

All it tells you is that your family name has its roots in the Polish language. That doesn't automatically mean though that all your ancestors were Polish nationals. So, no need to get overly excited... :)

If you do a DNA test you can determine whether indeed your genes are more Slavic or Germanic. Maybe someone on PF who has alaready done this migth offer some advice to Ms Grudnik.

My name Lazar Grudnik and I am from Latvia
my father from other Baltic Country .
are you relax now ?