THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME?

SZYPULEWSKI: root-word szypuła (stem, hull, stalk); since nearly all surnames ending in -ewski are of toponmyic origin, this one is probably traceable to some locality called Szypulew or Szypulewo (Stemville, Stalkton, Hullbury).

How about Borowski and Welninski? I apologize if these have been answered already, but didn't see them when I used the search function. Thanks!

BOROWSKI: root-word bór (coniferous forest); topo nick from one of many localities in Poland such as Bór, Borowo, Borów, Borowa, Borowskie and others.

(17 different noble lines with as many different coats of arms used the Borowski surname.)

WE£NIŃSKI: root-word wełna (wool); topo nick from Wełna or Wełnin. (No known coats of arms.)

Hi I am interested in knowing the meaning and possible origin of the last names CIENKUS and GRUDZIEN.

Also the meaning of the name WILCZEK. Thanks!

Pawacki?

PAWACKI: Several hypothetical possibilities: 1) patronymic from Paweł; 2) two-stage patronymic: someone got nicknamed Paw (because he was proud as a peacock), his son got dubbed Pawak and his son in turn became Pawacki; 3) toponymic from Pawielin, Pawęzów or similar;

No-one at present uses the Pawacki surname in Poland. There are a few Pawęckis and even fewer Paweckis.

CIENKUS: from adjective cienki (thin, lean, poor), either someone thin as a rail or dirt poor.

GRUDZIEŃ: the month of December; a nickname for someone born or who converted to Catholicism in that month.

WILCZEK: diminutive of wilk (wolf), meaning little wolf or wolf cub. As a nickname it could have been a patornymic for the son of someone nicknamed Wilk.

Or a toponymic tag from any of numerous localities called Wilcza, Wilcze, Wilczewo, Wilczkowo, Wilczyca, etc.
5 different coatrs of arms among bearers of the Wilczek surname.

Not sure if this has been answered before, but Lipinski? Is this the correct spelling and what are the origins?

Does anyone know the meaning of the surname Opalinski? He is a character in a book I am writing :)
Barbastelle

Anything on Kaperzynski?

LIPIŃSKI: root-word lipa (linden, lime tree); toponymic tag from a mutlitude of villages called Lipiny (Lindenville, Limeton); all of 18 gentry lines with as many coats of arms including one own-name one.

OPALIŃSKI: root-word opał (fuel, firewood) or opalić (to heat or singe); topo nick from Opalenie, Opalenica or Opaleniska; only one noble line.

KAPERZYŃSKI: topo tag from Kapera; variant of Kasperzyński -- patornymic meaning Kasper's son or from kaper (pirate) - the pirate's son.

Thank you :)
Barbastelle

Thank you! :-)

You are so quick! How about Kunkiewicz?

KUNKIEWICZ: the -wicz ending is always a patronymic indicator; someone was called Kunk because he hailed from the village of Kunki or Kunkowa; when he fathered a son the offspring would have been dubbed Kunkiewicz; another possibiltiy -- Kunk was short for Kunkel, the German word for distaff (part of a spinning-wheel).

Merged: Polish origins

Do these surnames "Szostak", "Boronoski" and "Ornat" look from Polish origins?

yes all of them are Polish

SZOSTAK or SZÓSTAK: from szósty (sixth); possibly the sixth child or son; also topo tag from Szóstka or Szóstaki.

ORNAT: chasuble (liturgical vestment); possibly topo tag from Ornatowice (Chasubleton)

BORONOSKI: probably a misspelling of Baranowski - topo nick for someone form Baranów or Baranowo (Ramsville, Ramton).

Thanks!! So.. all of them are Polish =)
And are there many people with these surnames in Poland nowadays?

Some 10,000 Szostaks, under 1,000 Ornats and under 200 Boronoskis.

Any help with these would be greatly appreciated:

Jaszczyński/Jasczynski

Witkowski

Maranowicz

Cigrowski or Zygarlowski

JASZCZYŃSKI: from jaszcz, aka jazgarz - a small fish of the perch family; probably topo nick from Ящинo in Russia.

WITKOWSKI: root WItek, pet form of Witold; topo nick from Witków or Witkowo.

MARANOWICZ: root-word marana (old word for herb melissa); possibly someone got nicknamed Maran because he lived in a place overgrown with melisa; when he fathered a son -- instant Maranowicz.

CYGROWKI: possibly from German word Zieger (a kind of soft cream cheese); in a Polish-speaking area someone who produced such cheese might have got nicknamed Cygrowski.

ZYGAR£OWSKI: ???; possibly a distorted spelling of Cygrowski.

Sorry for typo; should read CYGROWSKI

My last name is Golinski, which as far as I can tell has something to do with 'naked.' From Golina.

My mother's last name was Wisniewski (related to cherry trees), and have seen several different coats of arms for this name.

The Golinski Coat of arms:

• 
  I have also seen this coat of arms with three rings in the lion's paw.
  

GOLIŃSKI: root-word golina (tree branch devoid of leaves); spin-off golinka (growth on horse's lip); like most -ski surnames a topo nick from one fo several localities in Poland called Golin or Golina. The noble Golińskis belonged to seven different gentry clans, however the Zaremba clan whose coat of arms you have displayed is not amongst them. BTW there is actually an own-name Goliński coat of arms.

WIŚNIEWSKI: root-word wiśnia (cherry tree); topo tag from one of at least 9 villages called WIśniewo; Poland's 3rd most popular surname; 5 different noble lines.

I'd like to find out what the meaning of Kiesznowski is. That is my maternal grandfathers surname.

KIESZNOWSKI: very rare, etymology uncertain; possibly a misspelling of Kierznowski from Old Polish kierz (shrub, bush); most likely a topo nick from Kierzno (Shrubville); three szlachta lines amongst the Kierznowskis with as many coats of arms.

I was wondering if anybody knew of two of my families most important family names.Bojdo and Pabijan.
I always suspected the name Bojdo was of Vlach Romanian origin , as I am a southern pole from near Krakow and half of my family including myself is really dark. I always believed Pabijan was clean Slavic origins, as everyone on that side is very Slavic looking and is lighter. If anyone knows anything about my names please comment.

BOJDA: probably form Old Polish bojeć się (be afraid); altetrnatively a misspelling of wojda from Hungarian vajda (voivode).

PABIJAN: variant form of first name Fabian.

Polonius3 dzięki moj kolegi. I am very grateful to you and you have been very helpful.

Polonius3 - Thank you. I was told a couple years ago that the name meant landed gentry. This came from a Polish Kiesznowski who was teaching at the time at Bialystok University. I was just curious if you would tell me the same thing. That is the general area that my family came from. One side from Lomza and the other Bialystok.

The overwhelming majority of Polish surnames with the adjectival -owski ending are of toponymic origin. It indicated a commoner as a native of a given locality or, in the case of the well-born, the name of his estate or a village he owned. Surnames ending in -ski ending were the most popular amongst the gentry and meant "of". Originally a nobleman would have been known as Jan z Brzezin (John of Birchville). Later it adjectivalised into Jan Brzeziński. In England the "of" got dropped and it became just John Birchville or John Birch. On the other hand, only about 10%of Old Polish society enjoyed szlachta status, so only a fraction of Wiśniewskis, Kowalskis, etc, held membership in a gentry clan.

Polonius, thank you so much for that explanation. This is so interesting. Back in the 1970's a relative of my grandfather's came to the US looking for an "heir" for his property. Apparently he never had children and I don't think he had extended family living in Poland that he could will his property to. He could not sell the property and take the profits and leave Poland. At the time I was just 19 and they were pressuring me to be that person. If I recall correctly in order to do this I would have had to live on the property for I forget how many years. I was getting married, did not spoke Polish (and still don't) and honestly, the thought of going to a foreign country let alone one that at the time was under communist rule, scared the heck out of me. So it was not even anything I considered. I do recall seeing the photos of the home and property and it was really incredible. It was a very large home made of stone and over time different generations had built additions to it. It was really a lovely place. Anyway I guess he died and what he had hoped to prevent happening, the state stepping in to reclaim the property because he had no heir, happened. A shame really. I just wish I had taken a copy of his pictures because it really was a beautiful place and would have been nice to have. I wish I had learned more about my ancestors while my mom was still alive. All her siblings have long since passed so the link to the old country is gone as well :(