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


OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
24 Oct 2011 #2,131
SZCZYGIELSKI: root-word szczygieł (bullfinch, species of songbird); most likely originated as a topo tag for someone from Szczygły (Bullfinchville).
Nakka22 - | 1
24 Oct 2011 #2,132
Hello! 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 #2,133
SNAK (?): 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 #2,134
I'm affraid that Nowak is the most popular last name in Poland...
LaVonne - | 1
28 Oct 2011 #2,135
Merged: Meaning of Sobieralski

I 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 #2,136
SOBIERALSKI: 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.
Zablotny
29 Oct 2011 #2,137
What's the meaning of the Polish surname Zablotny?
Vee
29 Oct 2011 #2,138
Would 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 #2,139
OBAREWICZ: 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 Galicia

My Grandmother was Justina Salaj (Shalley). Born in approx. 1890 and came to the US in 1905. Married Victor Mazur from
Brozoph?(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 #2,141
SA£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 #2,142
Can you tell me the meaning of my surname Warzilek ?

Greetings from Austria

George
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
30 Oct 2011 #2,143
Gruß 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.
bradk282
30 Oct 2011 #2,144
Do you know the meaning of Kubaska?
And its place of Origin?
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
30 Oct 2011 #2,145
KUBASKA: 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 #2,146
Hi, do you know what the meaning of the surname Bambynek could be please?
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
31 Oct 2011 #2,147
BAMBYNEK: 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 #2,149
I 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 #2,150
SEROWSKI: would appear to be the most likely Polish spelling; root-word = ser (cheese); probably a toponymic nickname from the village of Serowo (Cheeseville).
Dallas
1 Nov 2011 #2,151
thank you that is everything i need
Izzie - | 2
2 Nov 2011 #2,152
Thanks so much for this information Polonius3!
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
2 Nov 2011 #2,153
RÓŻYCZENKO: 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, Prokopiak

I 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 #2,155
How 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.
zolnjotk
3 Nov 2011 #2,156
zolnierowicz is my grandfathers sirname what does it mean?
OP Polonius3 993 | 12,357
3 Nov 2011 #2,157
ŻO£NIEROWICZ: patronymic tag, root-word żołnierz (soldier), hence soldier's son.
jjulian
3 Nov 2011 #2,158
Thank you for this service! Could you please tell us the origins of these Polish names?

Kuzara
Kalita
Socha
Osora
Dudek
Przegentka
Rajski
Kielinski
Brzyzcka
Adamczak
Siwinski

Thank 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 #2,159
Kuzara: 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 plough
Osora: origin uncertain; possibly derived from noble clan-name and c-o-a Ossorya
Dudek: 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 = Adamson
Siwinski: root-word siwy (grey); probably topo nick from Siwin, Siwe, Siwianka or similar
Des Essientes 7 | 1,288
3 Nov 2011 #2,160
Dudek: hoopoe (bird species)

The wisest of birds in Farid ud-Din Attar's The Conference of Birds.


  • Dudek

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