Where did Rafalik come from?

I'm trying to do several things:

1. My father was born in U.S. but raised in Poland. He served with the Polish Army during WWII, was captured twice and sent to labor camps. I'm trying to find out which labor camp(s) he was in.

2. I hear that his family was from the Sloboda region, at some point his parents moved to Bristol Massachusetts, U.S. At some point, after my father's birth, the family returned to Poland to live, I think to Zielona Gora. I would like to trace his family's movements around Europe before WWII.

3. I'd like to understand the origin of the name Rafalik.

Can anyone help?

Thank you.

Terri RaFalik
trafalik@nc.rr.com

The surname Rafalik could come from the name Rafał

RAFALIK: indeed the root of this hypocoristic form is the first name Rafał. Other pet forms include Rafałek, Rafałko, Rafek and Rafuś.