OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 1 Nov 2010 #1,321DERENIEWSKI: from dereń (dogwood), a tree whiose berries are used in Poland to make dereniówka (a home-made cordial) Since -ewski names are usually toponymic, it probably came from some village called Dereniewo or Dereniew.For more information please contact me
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 1 Nov 2010 #1,324MARCHWIŃSKI & MÓRAWSKIMARCHWIŃSKI: root-word is marchew (carrot); ideally this should be a name of toponymic origin from a place like Marchwin, Marchwina or Marchwiny (Carrotville)MÓRAWSKI: this is tricky because it could be a misspeling of Murawski (from murawa = sod, turf, lawn) or Morawski (Moravian), an ethnic tag, to which a superfluous acute accent somehow got inadvertently added; most likely it arose as a toponmyic nick from paces in Poland such as Murawy or Morawy.
MomrikResearch 2 Nov 2010 #1,325Does anyone have any input as to the possible origin (and therefore etymology) of the surname Momryk? As I understand it, it is traditionally pronounced Moomreek.Part of the family still currently resides in the ancestral village (Czernilawa) which is now part of the Ukraine. I understand that when my branch of the family came to the USA, the village was actually part of Austria, then Poland and now the Ukraine. I'm not certain if the name originates from Ukrainian, Polish, Austria or some other language.I understand from other posts in this thread that ryk is the Polish word for "roar, bellow, low"... not sure if that holds any bearing on it. It is also possible that the name evolved from another spelling... possibly Mymryk or Memryk. In the US, it has evolved into Momrik.
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 3 Nov 2010 #1,326MOMRYK(?): no such surname used in today's Poland. But I would venture the guess that this was a local, dialectic from of the old Polish momrot (mumbling, muttering, speaking indistinctly). In modern Polish it is mamrot.
zetigrek 4 Nov 2010 #1,328Jutrzonkait brings to my mind only one assoiation - "Jutrzenka". Jutrzenka is the star (in fact planet Venus) which is seeable just before sunrise. "Jutro" means "tommorow".
zetigrek 4 Nov 2010 #1,330Dolata is a a kind of surname derived from verb. Latać means to fly, "do" means "to". It would be something like fly to the aim of journey, to reach the the point by flying... but I'm not sure. Wait for Polonius3 he will tell you more reliable infos. What I can say is only that its quite rare form of surname but Dolata would be most popular from that group.Edit. ok it's not so rare. In Poland, there is 5251 people with surname Dolata at least.
ShortHairThug - | 1,101 4 Nov 2010 #1,331Zetigrek is correct Dolata is derived from "dolatać" meaning to reach one's destination, to arrive, presumably a nickname or topo, however Jutrzonka is more likely derived from a word "jutrznia" meaning dawn or from a RC early morning prayer to bless the new day in commemoration of Risen Christ which is also called "Jutrznia".
rayraf - | 1 4 Nov 2010 #1,332Any information on the names Rafalowski or Korzeniowski?Both of my grandparents came from Poland but I don't know which cities.Thanks in advance for any help.
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 4 Nov 2010 #1,333JUTRZONKA: root word is jutrzenka of which this looks ot be a dialectic variant; possibly toponymic in view of places in Poland called Jutrzyna and Jutrzenka and possibly more in the lost territories to the east.DOLATA: probably from verb dolatać (to fly the final stretch if speaking of a bird). Since names sprouted up for so many often unexpected reasons, perrhaps someone known locally for frequently saying "Oby do lata" (I hope we make it through to summer) got dubbed Dolata.
dubia005 6 Nov 2010 #1,334What can you make of Dubiak? My great grandfather was born in Solinka and other familiy members from Zuella/Zvala which is over the border in Slovakia. My understanding is its Rusyn.
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 7 Nov 2010 #1,337DERENIEWSKI: as noted earlier is derived from dereń (dogwood)DEREWIŃSKI: although at first glance it may seem similar, its root is derew- (Ruthenian for wood, tree, timber; Polish: drzew-).KUCHARSKI: adj. form of kucharz (cook), so either patronymnic (cook's son) or toponymic for someone from Kuchary, Kucharzew (Cookville).DUBIAK: probbaly Rusnyak version of Dąbiak (Oakson).
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 9 Nov 2010 #1,339JAKOWCZYK = Jacobson (from Russian for Jakub - Jakow + Polish diminutive/patronymic ending -czyk).
Sebastian 6 | 108 10 Nov 2010 #1,340Wojewodzic. Apparently, here is the meaning of it. I got it from wikipediaIn medieval Poland a Palatyn (Palatinus) was initially the highest title at the King's court. Later, every local Prince had his own Palatinus, often the actual ruler of a Duchy. With the partial reunification of the Kingdom the ducal Palatini remained in their place and ruled the former Principalities (now renamed to Palatinates, Palatinatus) under the King. The title got merged with that of Wojewoda (Dux Exercituum, Herzog). A son of a Palatinus was titled Wojewodzic (Palatinida) and would often become a Palatinus at his father's death, but these titles never became officially hereditary and formally remained granted for lifetime by the King. Today, the palatinal families (rodziny wojewodzińskie, descendants of the Palatini), remain the highest strata of Poland's aristocracy.
lonestarr1 - | 1 10 Nov 2010 #1,341Can you help with the surname "Prowacki" - it has been anglicised I believe from "Prowancka" or something similar?
Olaf 6 | 955 10 Nov 2010 #1,342Hi,Prowackiwould not turn intoProwanckaor you just misspelled?If you are male, then your name ending doesn't change in nominative, only female would conjugate to Prowacka in nom.
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 10 Nov 2010 #1,343PROWANCKI: probably traceable to the Franco-Italian border area known as Provenza in Italian or Provença (in French regional dialect). There may be an interesting story behind this family, its Polonisation and coat of arms. For more information please contact me
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 12 Nov 2010 #1,345UNDELLO: no-one using this name in Poladn; looks to be Italian
Shawnz - | 1 14 Nov 2010 #1,346What about Zwir? It's very uncommon here in Canada.As well as my friends last name, GramatowskiMuch thanks.
Nathan 18 | 1,349 14 Nov 2010 #1,347What about Zwir?It sounds exactly like Ukrainian word "Звір" meaning animal (usually wild), beast.
PennBoy 76 | 2,432 14 Nov 2010 #1,348Ukrainian word "Звір" meaning animal (usually wild), beast.Zwierz in Polish, Nathan is Hajduk or Hayduk a Ukrainian surname ??
OP Polonius3 994 | 12,367 14 Nov 2010 #1,349ŻWIR: gravel; possibly occupational nick for a gravel diggerGRAMATOWSKI: root word gramatka (fruit soup); possible topo nick from Gramatów or Gramatowo
Nathan 18 | 1,349 14 Nov 2010 #1,350Zwierz in PolishIndeed, quite similar.Nathan is Hajduk or Hayduk a Ukrainian surname ??You will definitely find this surname in Ukraine, PennBoy. Regarding its origin, I found some ethymological explanations on Wikipedia:The etymology of the word "hajduk" is unclear. One theory is that hajduk was derived from the Turkish word haiduk or hayduk, which was originally used by the Ottomans to refer to Hungarian infantry soldiers. Another theory suggests that the word comes from the Hungarian hajtó or "hajdó" (plural hajtók or "hajdók"), meaning a (cattle) drover.[3] Indeed, these two theories do not necessarily contradict each other, as the Balkan word is said to be derived from the Turkish word haiduk or hayduk (bandit),[1][2][4] while the Turkish is in turn believed to have been borrowed from Hungarian and to have originally referred to Hungarian mercenaries who guarded the Hungarian-Turkish border.[5] Families of Croatian descent with the same oral traditions of "mountain banditry" use the surname Hidek, a derived form of "hajduk".[citation needed] The Hungarian surname "Hajdú" also comes from the same source.[citation needed]Ukrainian variant of "hajduk" is "haidamaka". Hope it helped.
