OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 24 Oct 2011 #2,131SZCZYGIELSKI: root-word szczygieł (bullfinch, species of songbird); most likely originated as a topo tag for someone from Szczygły (Bullfinchville).
Nakka22 - | 1 24 Oct 2011 #2,132Hello! Im originally from Ukraine, my last name is Snak, want to find out who ere my polish last name came from and where and who are my ancestors!?
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 25 Oct 2011 #2,133SNAK (?): The Snak surname has been reocrded in Poland but no-one uses it at present. There are over a hundred Snakowskis, however, about 70 of them living in the Kraków and neighboring Katowice areas. Probable etymology: toponymic nick from the Slovak village of Snakov.
Wroclaw_666 1 | 47 27 Oct 2011 #2,134I'm affraid that Nowak is the most popular last name in Poland...
LaVonne - | 1 28 Oct 2011 #2,135Merged: Meaning of SobieralskiI have been told that my last name is polish but then I hear that it is also German.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 28 Oct 2011 #2,136SOBIERALSKI: Most likely derived from Polish first names Sobiesław or Sobiestian (archaic dialectal form of Sebastian). It is definitely Polish, although it may be used in Germany by people Germanised many generations ago who are unaware of their original Polish or Wendish roots.
Vee 29 Oct 2011 #2,138Would anybody happen to what Obarewicz means? It's my surname but nobody is really sure of its meaning..
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 29 Oct 2011 #2,139OBAREWICZ: The -wicz tells us this originated as a patornymic tag, and this form was most common in tne NE area of the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Wilno, Grodno, Białystok, Nowogródek, Kowno, etc.).Root-word is obara (archaic term for a toppled pine-tree), so Obarewicz would have been the son of someone nicknamed Obara.
Izzie - | 2 30 Oct 2011 #2,140[Moved from]: Looking for info on Salaj (Shalley) Family from GaliciaMy Grandmother was Justina Salaj (Shalley). Born in approx. 1890 and came to the US in 1905. Married Victor Mazur fromBrozoph?(Austria/Poland). They settled in Monessen Pennsylvania.I'm sorry that I don't have any more information than this but if someone could possibly give me a starting point, it would be gratefully appreciated.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 30 Oct 2011 #2,141SA£AJ/SALAJ: believed to have been derived from first names such as Salezy and Salomon, possibly also from German name Sal.
Georgius - | 2 30 Oct 2011 #2,142Can you tell me the meaning of my surname Warzilek ?Greetings from AustriaGeorge
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 30 Oct 2011 #2,143Gruß Gott!, Georg! Warzilek is impossible in Polish. The original Polish spelling must have been:WARZYLEK: The root-word is warzyć (to cook, boil, brew [beer]). In Old Polish the term warzylek was used to describe the amount of beer produced in a single brewing. Maybe way, way back (generations or centuries ago) you had some brewmasters amognst your ancestorss.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 30 Oct 2011 #2,145KUBASKA: Most likely either derived from Kuba (hypocoristic form of Jakub) or a topo nick from Kubaczyn. In the latter case it would be from western Poland's Wielkopolska region. But there are several places in parts of Russia that once belonged to Poland called Кубасово which etymologically is an even better source.
mojibear 1 | 9 30 Oct 2011 #2,146Hi, do you know what the meaning of the surname Bambynek could be please?
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 31 Oct 2011 #2,147BAMBYNEK: root-word probably bęben (drum; diminutive bębenek means little drum); reveals apparent Lithuanian influence where the bamb- syllable is used in drum-related words.
Dallas 1 Nov 2011 #2,149I am from the US and i have to do a project on my surname. When my family moved here it was changed from Seroskey to Seroski. Any help on what it means. I have looked all over.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 1 Nov 2011 #2,150SEROWSKI: would appear to be the most likely Polish spelling; root-word = ser (cheese); probably a toponymic nickname from the village of Serowo (Cheeseville).
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 2 Nov 2011 #2,153RÓŻYCZENKO: root-word róża (rosa, the flower); the name is of obovious Ruthenian origin, -enko being a common Ukrainian surname suffix.PROKOPIAK: This surname originated a patronymic nickname from the East Slavonic firrst name Prokop. The Ukrainian version would be Prokopiuk.
SProkopiak - | 1 2 Nov 2011 #2,154[Moved from]: Family History, relatives, ProkopiakI am trying to find out information on my family in Poland. My Grandfather came to the US around 1910-1915 from Poland I think.His name was Stanislaw Prokopiak.How do I begin?
ShortHairThug - | 1,101 2 Nov 2011 #2,155How do I begin?Ellis Island record, there’s enough information on the ships manifest to get you started. Last place of residents, final destination in US, people he might have traveled with, relitives in US if any, etc.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 3 Nov 2011 #2,157ŻO£NIEROWICZ: patronymic tag, root-word żołnierz (soldier), hence soldier's son.
jjulian 3 Nov 2011 #2,158Thank you for this service! Could you please tell us the origins of these Polish names?KuzaraKalitaSochaOsoraDudekPrzegentkaRajskiKielinskiBrzyzckaAdamczakSiwinskiThank you very much!some of those names are within the thread. please use the forum search function.
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357 3 Nov 2011 #2,159Kuzara: from kuzar, variant form of huzar (Hungarian light cavalry); in old Polish peasant slang also big , burly bloke.Kalita: variant form of kaleta (moneybag or pouch, leather purse)Socha: primtive wooden ploughOsora: origin uncertain; possibly derived from noble clan-name and c-o-a OssoryaDudek: hoopoe (bird species)Przegentka: form of Przegiętka (something bent or twisted)Rajski: adjectival form of raj (paradise); several localities named Raj in Poland and vicinity.Kieliński: from first name Kielijan or Kilian; or mason’s trowel (kielnia)Brzyzcka: dialectal form of brzeczka (malt extract used in beer brewing), or from first name Brykcy (of Celtic origin) encountered in Poland from the 12th century.Adamczak: patronymic from Adam = AdamsonSiwinski: root-word siwy (grey); probably topo nick from Siwin, Siwe, Siwianka or similar
Des Essientes 7 | 1,288 3 Nov 2011 #2,160Dudek: hoopoe (bird species)The wisest of birds in Farid ud-Din Attar's The Conference of Birds.Dudek