Seborowski origin (Grajewo region)

Interested in any info on the surname "Seborowski". I was told on another msg. board that it isn't a common last name... family originates from the Grajewo region. TIA!

All I can say is this. Because
- the rarity of this surname in Poland (seven people in entire country, five in Grajewo District)
- the spelling of surname does not ring a bell - there is no obvious meaning attached to it
- its pronunciation is similar to Zaborowski
- Zaborowski derives from ZA BOREM, beyond BÓR, on the other side of a coniferous forest
- there are 4794 people of Zaborowski surname in Poland, and 56 in Grajewo District alone
I suggest that Seborowski is just a misspelled version of Zaborowski.

SEBOROWSKI: -owski ending suirnames are nearly always of toponmyic origin. Perhaps it deries from Romany-Sebory in Mazowsze or possibly Sebor or Seborov in the Czech Republic.

Believe me, I was not searching for Romany-Sebory, but for something completely different, and here pops up this treasure trove: "Herbarz szlachty gniazdowej parafii Krzynowłoga Mała, położonej w powiecie przasnyskim, w ziemi ciechanowskiej, województwie mazowieckim." (Heraldy of coats of arms of lesser nobility from parish Krzynowłoga Mała, Przasnysz County, Ciechanów Land, Mazovia Voivodship).

akson.sgh.waw.pl/~apszczol/kmherb.htm, What a bonus!

Krzynowłoga Mała is a municipality, an administrative commune (gmina) to which Romany-Sebory belongs - together with several other "Romany-like" villages: Romany-Fuszki, Romany-Janowięta, and Romany-Sędzięta.

According to the Heraldy the family de Romany (supposedly of Roman origin), Ślepowron coat of arms was related to a Hungarian branch Hunyady, Korwin coat of arms. They initially (since 13th c) owned Romany village in the parish Krzynowłoga Mała. In 15th c. they changed their surname to Roman. According to the early 15th century documents family of de Romany was very active settlement-wise. They quickly subdivided into two main lines: Wisko line (Romany village near Szczytno) and Przasnysz line. The latter was subdivided into three groups:

+ Southern one, with villages from Krzynowłoga Mała Parish: Romany-Fuszki, Romany-Górskie (mountainous), Romany-Janowięta (descendants of Jan), Romany-Kosiorki, Romany-Misie (bears), Romany-Powije, Romany-Rzytki (asses), Romany-Wszebory (descendants of Wszebor), Romany-Zdrzyski i Romany-Złotokierz (golden bushes).

+ Western one: Romany-Zalesie (beyond a forest)
+ Northern one, belonging to Krzynowłoga Wielka, along the little river Krzynowłoga aka Ulatówka. The villages are known as: Romany-Borki (small coniferous forest), Romany-Janki (descendants of Jan), Romany-Karcze (clearings in a forest), Romany-Sędzięta (descendants of a judge), Romany-Ślepowrony (Ślepowron=Roman family coat of arms), Romany-Zajki and Romany-Skierki

The Romans, extensively branched in the Middle Ages, and in later centuries were the owners of farms and portions of various noble estates, in most parishes of Przasnysz county, and the surrounding counties. In 1676 alone there were 22 families sharing Roman surname in parish of Krzynowłoga Mała alone. The Romans today belong to one of the largest families in the Przasnysz region. In 1990, 275 people by the name of Roman lived in Ciechanow voivodship (the old administrative division), 324 - in Ostroleka, and 322 - in Olsztyn. In total, this constituted 16% of all those bearing that surname in Poland.

The Heraldy does not mention Romany-Sebory though, but it seems that this village used to be known as Romany-Wszebory. This information comes from two sources:

1. Gazeta Warszawska, R. 112, 1885, nr 190 + addendum, ebuw.uw.edu.pl/dlibra/plain-content?id=77129
Mentions auction of: Romany Wszebory vel Sebory

2. Miejscowości Suwalszczyzny i ziem przyległych w końcu XIX wieku, linia-polnocna.internetdsl.pl/SGKP/litera_R.html
Lists Romany-Sebory (Wszebory)

Wszebor is an Old Polish masculine name, made of two parts: Wsze- ("wszystek, każdy, zawsze") [all, everything, always] + -bor ("walczyć, zmagać się")[to fight, to struggle]. Wszebor therefore means: one to whom fight is everything in life. It has several variations: Wszebor, Wszabor, Wświebor, Świebor, Śwsiebor, Siebor, Siabor, Szabor, Szebor, Wszeborz, Świeborz, Śwsieborz, and Sebor.

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Based on this information, one may generalize a transition from surname Wszeborowski to Seborowski. There are altogether 419 people in Poland with surname Wszeborowski : Kolno 129, Grajewo 46, Pisz 40, town of £omża 24, Gdański 21, £omża 17, Zambrów 15, etc.

I therefore stand corrected: Seborowski is not a misspelled surname Zaborowski, but a variation on surname Wszeborowski.

The Wszeborowski>Seborowski hypothesis seems quitz plausible, esp. if we consider the tendency for 'masurianised' pronunciaton ub that area (ie pronojncing sz like an s). Sosomeone waay have told some village scribe, priest or whoever else knew how to write centuries ago his name was Wszeboirowskik but pronounced it Wseborowski. Since an initial w in such cases is barely audible, it got wirtten down as Seborowski and that's how it got passed down from one generation tot he next... Albo i nie!?

I am actually going to Poland to visit the area of the Seborowski. Correct spelling. From areas Brzezno,Mozdzenia,Wasosz,Szczyczyn. I have the birth certificate with the spelling. There will not be too many relatives on the Seborowski side because Peter ( died) lived in Moundsville West Virginia brother of Stanislawa Seborowska-died 1938 in Poland and Wladyslawa Seborowski( sisters, one my Mothers, and one her Godmother). My Mother was sent to live with her on her farm. I am going there in August to search further. The seborowskis moved to Pittsburgh area marrying Lepkowski and Grabowski. In Poland all from the same area. I will also be checking West Virginia. As a child,I am 74, I went to weddings there. Hope this helps

The hand written signed baptismal certificate signed by my grandmother clearly spelled it Seborowski. That was in 1910. I'm in Poland now and will be searching in the Szczuszyn area. Whim

The correct spelling is WSZEBOROWSKI or KA. I also was searching for Seborowski. After two summers in Poland all the doors opened when I got the spelling corrected from family I found. Even past family members would use Seborowski on documents. Same person. All documented,crosscheckeed with records from parishes, diocese in Lomza( absolutely fantastic) records are in Polish, German and Russion. You will find the families in the Podlaska Voivodeship. One new found relative Robert Andrzej Wszeborowski reconstructs the beautiful churches. He is also from my Gromudzki( new found line) family. A schlatka that is also and many celebrations and commemorations. PROUD TO BE POLISH!! whim