Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

BURCZ: from verb burczeć (growl, grumble) - most users in Kuajwy and N. Mazowsze

MAJKA: probably topo nick from many localities called Majk, Majki, Majków and similar - most Majkas live in southern Poland.

For more info please contact me

ZAB£OCKI: from za (beyond) and błoto (mud). It could have emerged as a topographic nickname for someone living on the other side of the mud flats, swamp or suchlike, or a toponymic one for an inhabitant of the village of Zabłocie (Mudville, Overbog)

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

BIA£OTA: I'll answer your question with another question. What do -ly, -ing or -on mean in English? They appear in such surnames as Whitely, Whiting and Whiton. In Polish -ota is simply a suffix which appears in many words (eg robota /toil/, głupota /foolishness/, hołota /rabble/, etc.).

For more information on Białota please contact me

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

DRUCKI-LUBECKI: toponyms from Druck and Lubecz - the name of a Lithuanian princely clan which used the Druck coat of arms. Check out:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druccy-Lubeccy

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

PRZEPIERSKI: probably from przepierka (quick laundry of soiled linens).

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

ROSZKOWSKI: toponymic nick from some of the many localities in Poland called Roszki, Roszków or Roszkowo; those settlemertns, whose names mean something like Rocco's place, Rocco's holding or maybe Roccoville, were apparently set up by someone named Roszko, Roszek (from Roch or Rościsław).

Food / Lost family recipe for Chow-Chow (Polish style) [37]

Chow-chow is NOT, I repeat, NOT Polish. Those interested I direct to:

armadillopeppers.com/Chow-Chow_Relish.html

The name itself is of unknown but certainly not Polish or Slavonic origin.
However, simiarl recipes can be found in Europe and in Poladn they are mainly called
'sałatka z zielonych pomidorów'. Often an early frost cathces unripened tomatoes on the vine, so thrifty Europeans found a way not to waste them. The recipe below is one of many. Different ingredients such as carrots and celeriac can be added as well.

This was also a linguo-culinary experience for me, because I used the Google translator for the first time. Never again! But for those unacquainted with that abortive tool, here is the evidence (see text beneath Polish recipe):

Składniki:
· 1 kg pomidorów zielonych
· 2 średnir cebule
· 1 średnia papryka ( kolor do wybory )
· ZALEWA
· 1/2 litra wody
· 1/2 szklanki octu 10 %
· 3 płaskie łyżki soli
· 7 łyżki cukru
· liście laurowe
· ziele angielskie
· pieprz ziarnisty

· Sposób przygotowania
POMIDORY I PAPRYKĘ UMYĆ,CEBULĘ OBRAĆ.POMIDORY POKROIĆ W PLASTERKI,A CEBULĘ I PAPRYKĘ POKROIĆ W PÓ£PLASTERKI.WARZYWA RAZEM WYMIESZAĆ.SK£ADNIKI NA ZALEWE RAZEM WYMIESZAĆ I ZAGOTOWAĆ.GORĄCĄ ZALEWĄ ZALAĆ SA£ATKĘ I ODSTAWIĆ NA 2 GODZINY.PO UP£YWIE 2 GODZIN SA£ATKĘ NAK£ADAĆ DO S£OIKÓW,POZAKRĘCAĆ I PASTERYZOWAĆ OKO£O 20 MINUT.

Tłumaczenie (polski > angielski)
· 1 kg of tomatoes green
· 2 onions średnir
· 1 medium red pepper (for color choices)
· Flooded
· 1 / 2 liter of water
· 1 / 2 cup vinegar 10%
· 3 tablespoons salt flat
· 7 tablespoons sugar
· bay leaves
· allspice
· grainy pepper

Wash the tomatoes and peppers, onion OBRAĆ.POMIDORY slice, and onions and peppers cut into PÓ£PLASTERKI.WARZYWA TOTAL TOTAL WYMIESZAĆ.SK£ADNIKI the lagoon mix and pour PRIMING ZAGOTOWAĆ.GORĄCĄ salad and let stand for 2 GODZINY.PO EXPIRATION OF 2 HOURS FOR SALAD impose jARS, AND pasteurized POZAKRĘCAĆ APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES.

Genealogy / Seeking Czarniecki family members and ancestors from Lublin, also Margiewicz, Danilowicz and Andrulewicz [77]

Nickidewbear
The patronymic -wicz ending was typical of the NE reaches of the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth where Polish, Ruthenian and Lithuanian influences intermingled. Its Russian equivalent was –вич. Jews also accepted that linguistic solution, eschewing the Hebrew ben (son) and giving us things like Manischewitz (a well-known wine brand). After the Russian partition of Poland-Lithuania (late 1700s), most of those lands coincided with the Russian Pale of Settlement, the area in which Jews under tsarist rule were forced to live. With that in mind:

MARGIEWICZ: patronymic tag possibly derived from Hebrew name Margolis (pearl).

DANI£OWICZ: patronymic = Danielson or Danson

ANDRULEWICZ: patronymic probably from the Lithuanian name Andrulis.

CZARNIECKI: toponymic nick from numerous localities called Czarna or Czarne (Blackville, Blackton, Blackly, etc.)

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Kimber

CHAJEC: (ptronounced HA-yets) probably from obsolete verb chajać (to mope about as if aimlessly seeking something), ergo 'the moper'.

MAĆKOWIAK/MACHOWIAK: both originated as patronymic tags and both trace back to such first names as Maciej/Maciek, (the now obsolete) Matyjasz, Mateusz, possibly even Marcin.

JĘDRZYCZYK: More common is Jędzryjczyk or Jędrzejczyk = son of Jędrzej (a variant form of Andrzej)

DZIADURA: pejorative augmentative for dziad (homeless old beggar), heightening it emotively to mean something like good-for-nothing, flea-bitten old beggarman.
The other forms (Dridolura/Driadura/Driadzna/Driadnza) listed probably reflect an American misreading of the lower-case 'z' in Polish script which they take for an 'r'.

For more information on the above, please contact me

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

There is also a Tarnopol in Podlasie and may be or have been others, since merged, renamed or defunct.
Tywoszewska was probably the way someone misread and consequently misspelt the name, taking thw 'm' for a 'w'. Did you ever hear her pronounce Tyvoshevska?

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

It probably should have been Tymoszewska, a toponymic tag from several localities called Tymoszewka and similar in what is now Ukraine. Tymoszenko is also possible, in fact that is the name of the former Ukrianian prime minister, 'the divine Julia', now under arrest on corrutpion/mismanagement charges.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

BRACH: topo nick froim places such as Brachów, Barcholin or similar or derived from the old first name Bratumił. To this day in Polish slang the term brachu (bro) is used.

PRUS: nationality tag (Prussian) or topo nick from numerous localities inlcuding Prusy, Prusinów, Prusak, Prusocin, etc.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

FELIKS: from Latin felix (happy, joyous). The first name Feliks as well as its polonised equivalent Szczęsny are encountered in Poland, and both have also been used as surnames.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

BARTKOWIAK: patronymic nick meaning "Bartek's son (Bart's kid).

MARTINSKI? In Polish it would have to be Marciński. The Czech spelling would be Martinský. This probably also originated as a patronymic tag, English equivalent: Martinson.

For more information on this please contact me

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

FELZENSZTEJN: This is the Polonised sepllign of the German/Yiddish name Felsenstein. It means 'rock stone'. Only one person in Poland uses it and lives in Wrocław.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

SZYMAŃSKI: An extremely popular Polish surname which originated as a topo nick from places such as Szymany, Szymanów and similar (roughly translatable as Simonville).

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

ZYCH: hypocoristc (pet) form of Zygmunt-turned-surname. Other endearing forms of Zygmunt include Zyga, Zygmuś and Zyguś.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

GRUDZIŃSKI: root-word is grudzień (December). The adjectival form Grudziński could have emerged as a patronymic tag to identify the 'son of Grudzień'. The dad may have been called that because he was born or converted to Catholicism in Decmeber. A toponymic source linked to such places as Grudna, Grudno, Grudze or similar is also possible.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

TYTUS: is one of the first (given) names that have evolved into surnames. It was the name of a Roman emperor and became popular in Old Poland in aristocratic circles. The Lithuanian version is Titas, Тит is in Russian, Titus is German and English. No coat of arms in Polish heraldry.

Genealogy / Meaning of surname Wlodarski [26]

A włodarz can be a ruler, head man, person in authority including an estate steward or manager. Włodarski could be either patronymic (the son of włodarz) or toponymic from Włodary.

No coat of arms goes with Włodarski. There is one for Włodawski called Murdelio.

The only one I could find online is this: polish-gifts.com/murdelio-coat-of-arms.html

A more authoritative armorial (hard-copy) version shows the shield to be red and has a white griffin in the crest above the crowned helmet.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

KASPEROWICZ: Yes, this is a name of patronymic origin which means Kasper's son or (in English) Casperson. The noble line of the Kasperowicz family was entitled to use the Aksak coat of arms. It originated as a Tartar heraldic emblem. Here are the other families' noble lines that shared it:

Aksak, Akszak, Assanowicz, Białocki, Downarowicz, Erbejder, Erbreiter, Grużewicz, Hurko, Janczura, Kardasewicz, Kardaszewicz, Okieńczyc, Okińczyc, Seliminowicz, Selimowicz, Szaguniewicz, Szahuniewicz & Talkowski.

You can view the heraldic device at: naukowy.pl/encyklopedia/Aksak_I_(herb_szlachecki)

Po polsku / Szukam / Poszukiwani [25]

MAJCHER: peasant version of Melchior, the name traditonally ascribed to one of the Three Kings. The remaining two were Kasper i Baltazar.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

SMYKA: derived from smyk (bow used to play stringed instruments; also a young whippersnapper). Toponymic soruce is also possible to identify soemoen from Smyków, Smyczyna or similar.

The -a ending for women applies only to names that are adjectival (smyk is a noun), especially those ending in -ski. So it is Tadeusz Smykalski but Barbara Smykalska.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

GRACZYK: from verb grać (to play, gamble), hence either a diminutive (little gambler) or patronymic tag (gambler's son); also possible toponymic from Gracze. Scattered all over Poland, the biggest concentrations being in and around Poznań and £ódź.

For more information please contact me

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

DOLLA: used in Poland but double consonant is rare in Polish so it suggests foreign, probably German origin, eg Polish adpatation of the German surname Dolle. Such names are typical amongst the Kashubs. In Polish dola means fate, lot, human condition. In German the adjective doll (a dialectal version of toll) means raving mad, foolish, senseless, etc.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

GENDEK: Alternative spelling of Gędek (fiddler, country musician).

For more information on this surname please contact me

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Doesn't appear so. Nobody in Poland uses this surname which appears maybe Baltic (Lithuanian or Latvian) or Greek (???).

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

KRENCIK/KRĘCIK: from the verb kręcić (to twist or turn; colloquially to swindle, lie or deceive).

For more information please contact me

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]

Błasik was definitely in the cockpit. However, recordings show that he was the only one who knew the plane's correct altitude since from where he sat he had access to a barometric altimeter. The pilots probably couldn't hear him becuase of their headphones. They were reading a radio-altimeter which is far less acuurate. The conclusion is that if they had or had been able to listen to Błasik, the crash may not have happened.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Indeed. Esp. the 'trz' combination is typically Polish.

It seems rather likely that the name could have been derived from the village of Pietrzwałd (German: Peterswalde) in the Masuria reigon's Ostróda area. In German it means Peterswood, whilst Pietrzwałd is a translation with no meaning in Polish.

The adjectival form would be Pietrzwałdzki in Polish, but considering that was an area of mixed Germanic and Polish interaction, many spelling variants could have been possible. Since things got recopied in centuries past by generations of semi-literate priests and village scribes, letters could have been added (the 'y' for instance), whilst the 'dz' could have got dropped with '-wałdzki' ending up as

'-walski'.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Petrzywalski
couldn't find this name in any Polish database. The closest are Petrzycki, Petrzyk, Petrzykowski and similar. They all are traceable to the first name Piotr.