Long-term impact of returning UK Poles to Poland

I know that the UK-bound emigration is not over yet. The economy will keep Poles in the UK for at least a few more years. But my estimation is that ultimately about 3/4 of them will return within the next 10 years. 3/4 of a million is a sizable chunk of people. So what cultural/societal impact will those returning UK Poles have on Poland? None, as in "we only went there for the money"? Or will the UK experience affect Poland? Will ex-UK Poles bring secular trends with them, so that church attendance in Poland will drop down to Western levels in 20 years? Will they bring British names with them, so that 20 years from now Poland will have plenty of boys called Colin Kaczmarek and Sean Bartkowiak, and girls called Vanessa Sadowska and Samantha Kasprzyk? The mind wonders...

what is the point in predicting this? It is going to turn out differently anyways. You can control the future. Predictions are useless really since they are not based on reality, but rather speculations, unless one is a scientist, but even then - it is not precise.

I think Sean is an Irish name, not British. The fact that some Irish lands are currently
under British occupation and some people named Sean live there, doesn't mean that
Sean is a British name.

I am quite sure that in Prussian occupied Poland there were men with names like Władysław,
Gniewomir or Bogusław, but it doesn't mean that these are German names.

You think correctly.

There are however quite a few British people with Irish names - even if they don't have a connection with Ireland.

I would say maybe 15% within 10 years will return and actually live in Poland permanently. If it hasnt happened yet what makes you think it will in the future? Its been a good 5 years already since the mass migration.

Hopefully cricket and rugby(:

Cricket .... Good lord no.

Rugby Union is already alive and growing in Poland

It would be illegal for Polish parents to name their son Colin or Sean, or their daughter Vanessa (especially with that illegal letter!)

that law changed some time ago i believe.

Well turn the question around, have the Poles in the U.K. effected the U.K. culture?
Will Brits be naming their kids after Polish names? Are the Brits going to church more?
I doubt it, although I can never be too sure, after all people usually prefer to go to church with other people.

I think the only thing that will really change and you surprisingly left it out, is that the work experience they bring back will hopefully change business practices here in Poland.


Liar ;)
I don't know if it was the case but it certainly isn't any more.


Such a large portion of Brits are of Irish descent, mainly due to emigration from Ireland, that a healthy percentage of Brits have some good in them;p

I think nothing will change rapidly. It was good lesson for us. We still want driving fast without speed cameras on our back and feel safe on the street without looking around for a bottle, knife or screwdriver. We will appreciate more what we have here in Poland.

another great Harry lie. You are so entrenched in the 1970s it's hard to believe. As much as you don't like it, Poland is moving forward, live with it.

Edyta Gorniak was accused of breaking the law about five years ago, for giving her baby a non-Polish name, despite both parents being Polish. So when did the law change?

I was mostly interested in the cultural aspects (hence "cultural/societal"), but feel free do discuss business / economy. One thing I obviously forgot is the knowledge of English as a second language. Seems to me it'll be far more widespread than it would've been otherwise.

That I can't tell. However I have a Polish god-daughter called Amelie, it became a very popular name among 'trendy' couples after the hit film. That was what, eight years back? Poland's changed, Harry hasn't.

Why not?

because I really can't be bothered to waste my Thursday evening rooting through legalities. However, I think the fact that so many children nowadays are being handed blatantly un-Polish names speaks for itself?

And you call yourself a lawyer?

Even one of my students (who is almost a lawyer, but not quite) could tell me about various aspects of law without needing to "root through legalities" - so why can't you?

about twelve years ago. but this is Poland so problems still exist

there are different branches of law, maybe you're aware? Real estate is a little different...

How will returning UK Poles affect Poland? Well, how well do Poles integrate into English society? How well do the English accept the Polish immigrants?

Poles in UK and their future

Why the uk love poles... because we get married and have kids and......


Similar situation is in the US - first the native citizen complain the immigrants "take their jobs" and when they start to leave, they change their minds because they cannot find a nativie citizen to do the same job for the same lousy money..