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

SZAR£OWSKI: probably a patronymic nick from the German name Scharl -- Scharl's son. The German name incorporates the same root found in English share (as in ploughshare) -- the blade of the plough that cuts the soil (Polish: lemiesz).

Genealogy / "Krzysik" family from Poland [16]

KRZYSIK: probably originated as a patronymic nick from Krzyś (pet form of Krzysztof). More than 400 users in Poland.

Genealogy / Looking for any and all information on Dabrowski/Dombrowski from Poland [88]

DĄBROWSKI: originated as a topographic nickname to identify someone living in or near a 'dąbrowa' (oakwood) or as a toponymic nick for an inhabitant of a loclaity called Dąbrów, Dąbrowo or Dąbrowa (Oakville, Oakton, Oakwood).

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

There is a fine-point difference between toponymic and topographic nicknames.
Topography has to do with describing the terrain, so if someone was caleld Zaleski because he lived on the opposite side of a forest (za lasem), that would be a topographic nick.

However if he hailed from the village fo Zalesie (Overwood, Edgewood or something along those lines in English), that that would be a toponymic nickname. A toponym is a place-name.

Merged thread:
Dad-derived last names

Many Polish surnames were derived from patronymic nicknames which identified a person on the basis of whose son he was. They were created both from the standard form of the Christian name, eg Stanisławski from Stanisław, as well as from its hypocoristic (pet) versions, eg Stach and Staś > Stachowiak and Stasiak respectively. Other common examples:

ADAM > Adamczyk, Adamiak, Adamowicz
AMBROŻY > Ambroziak, Ambroziewicz, Jamrozik
ANTONI > Antczak, Antoniak, Antonowicz
BENEDYKT/BANADYK: Benedyktowicz, Banach, Banasik
DANIEL > Danielak, Danielewicz, Danielski
GRZEGORZ > Grzegorczyk, Grzesiak, Grzeszkowiak
JERZY> Jurkiewicz, Jurczak, Jurkowski
KAROL > Karolak, Karolewicz, Karolczak
LUDWIK > Ludwiczak, Ludwicki, Ludwikowski
MARCIN > Marciniak, Marcinkiewicz, Marciński
For more information on these and other Polish names please contact me

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

KĄTOWSKI: This is probably the original seplling of Kontowski; its root-wrod is kąt (corner). There are perhaps four dozen localities in Poland called Kąty (corners) and a number with a qualifying adjective such as Kąty Czernickie, Kąty Rybacki, Kąty Wielkie. Kątowski would be the derivative topo nick.

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

CHUDON/CHUDOŃ: This was probably the original spelling derived from the word 'chudy' (thin, lean, wan, skinny). Etymologically similar names include Chudor, Chudol, Chudola, Chudolej and Chudoś which probably originated to describe some local skin-and-bones type.

B£AŻEJEWCIZ: patronymic tag indicating the son of Błażej (Blaise); the single largest concentration is in northern Poland's Kujawy region in and around the city of Toruń.

WIECHA: a bundle of straw, hay or branches; an evergreen bouquet placed at the pinnacle of a newly built house to celebrate the completion of the basic structure; as a surname it is mainly concentrated down south in a contiguous area encompassing Częstochowa, Katowice, Kielce and Kraków and their surrounds.

For more information on these names and their bearers please contact me

News / Poland reveals its new super car. [56]

Here are two other recent Polish entries into the ecological car field:


moto.onet.pl/1569678,1,polski-samochod-na-prad-juz-w-produkcji,artykul.html?node=25

motonews.pl/forum/?op=fvt&t=11276&c=0&f=25

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

JASZCZYŃSKI: root-word jaszcz (ruff, small fish of the perch family). Probably topo nick from Jaszcz, Jaszcze Duże or similar.

LACHOWICZ: patronymic for "son of the Lach (Pole)". Ukrainians used to refer to Poels as "Lachy".

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

SOBIESZCZYK: the ancestrral nest appears to be NW Poland's adjoining Piła and Bydgoszcz area.

IWAŃSKI: probably patronymic from Iwan, Ruthenian form of Jan (John).

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

SZUMSKI: form szum (rustle of leaves, murmur of water); or locality containing that root such as Szum or Szumów.

SIKORSKI: from sikora (coaltit, titmouse - a small bird); or locality containing that root such as Sikorki or Sikorzyn.

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

SOBIESZCZYK: probably originated as a patronymic tag for the son of Sobiesław (endearingly called Sobuś, Sobiesik, etc.)

FLORCZYK: most likely a patronymic tag for the son of Florek (pet form of Florian).

For more information on the above please contact me

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

However, possible Woźniel descendants did achieve noble status and were entitled to stamp their documents and possessions with a coat of arms.

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

WO-NIEL: I reckon it was derived either from woźny (minor law court official) or the verb wozić (to transport like a carter). About six dozen users and a handful that spells it Wozniel (without the accent mark). No coat of arms.

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

NIECZYPEROWICZ: patronymic nick derived from the first name Nikifor, originally from the Greek Nikiforos, but eventually popular as Nikifor through the eastern Ruthenian borderlands.

WAŚ: Short for Wasyl (Ruthenian form of Bazyli). This first name has generated many surnames including Wasiak, Wasiewicz, Wasilewski et al.

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

JAB£ONOWSKI: topo nick from Jabłonów or Jabłonowo (Appleton).

MICHALSKI: a very popular last name in Poland (some 50,000 users and maybe an additional 12,000 or so in N. America and world-wide). Originated as either a patronymic tag (Michaleson) or a topo nick from places such as Michale, Michałki, Michalin and similar.

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

olusia
ZDZIENICKI: topo nick from Żdżenice (Konin area).

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

NINIOWSKI: extremely rare (only 10 users in Poland); most likely originated either as a topo nick (from such places as Ninino or Niniew) or as a patroynmic tag for the son of someone with the now archaic first name Ninosław or Ninomysł who might've been called Ninio or Niniuś for short.

Genealogy / Family name Morwitch (Anglicised) [9]

MORWITZ: No-one using the Morwicz surname in Poland at present, one person in Kraków signs himself Morwitz. Origin uncertain. Possibły a patronymic for the son of someone nicknamed Morwa (mulberry). Or the son of someone named Moryc or Mor for short. Could be Yiddish.

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

RAKOWSKI: topo nick from Raków or Rakowo (Crayfishville, Crabton).

Love / The Pole -- a mummy's boy? [10]

I meant more that young Poles often reckon with their mum's point of view, even accept their advice re their relationships and at times actually side wtih mum agaisnt their girlfriends or fiancées. Actor Adamcyzk goes to exhibitons and performances with his mum and that may have caused his breqk-up with his erstwhile fiancée Czartoryska.

Life / Price of cigarettes in Poland? [192]

Fag prices have risen (like many other things). I understand they start for the cheaper brands at 9.70 z£.

Genealogy / Kasprzak Golab looking for family history [11]

GO£ĄB: I'm sure you know this, but so as not to discriminate, this is the Polish wrod for dove or pigeon.

Life / In need of good Polish jokes about Polish culture, people, etc [226]

Merged: Wąchock jokes still enjoyed in Poland?

Are Wąchock jokes still enjoyed in today's Poland? There actually is such a place in the Świętokrzyski region.

Why do people go to church in Wąchock wearing protective helmets?
Becuase the bell-rope broke and the sexton has to throw stones at the bell to ring it.

Why didn't he just get a new bell-rope?
He did, but it was too long so he dug a three-metre-deep hole which he climbs down into to ring the bell.

Is it true there's a motorway in Wąchock?
Indeed there is. They actually started buiilding a normal two-lane road at oppopsite ends of town but failed to link up.

The world's longest bridge is in Wąchock. It runs parallel to the river.

Merged: Name changing in the GG?

Back during the German occupation of Poland in the truncated General Gouvernement a man goes to the registrar's office wanting to change his name because it's demeaning and people are taking the p*ss.

Clerk: Well,what is your name?
Man: Adolf Srajda.
Clerk: Indeed, that is pretty demeaning. What would you like to change it to?
Man: Tadeusz Srajda!

Life / Do you find any humour in Polish Highlanders' stories? [24]

A ceper sees a góral relaxing under a tree and asks him for the time. The góral jiggles the bollox of a ram grazing next to him and says: ‘It’s 20 past 3.’ Some time later the ceper returns from his trek and again asks the góral for the time. The góral again jiggles the ram’s bollox and declares: ‘It’s five past six.’ The ceper is amazed and asks how he can tell the time by fondling the ram’s genitals. ‘Very simple. There’s a clock tower down in the valley and the ram was obstructing my line of vision, so I had to move his jaja aside to see what time it was.’

Life / Customs - First Holy Communion in Poland [42]

The home and family circle generates a different, more a familiar and intimate ambience with more participation and interaction. A commercial establishment is by defintion less intimate, more institutionalised and less suitable for a family occasion.

This is not to stop or prevent anyone travelling the commercial route if that strikes their fancy -- only a socio-cultural commentary from an observer who feels there is too much hyper-commericlaism in today's world.

Life / Customs - First Holy Communion in Poland [42]

i suppose if the highest value to someone is the quick buck, then you may be right. But shouldn't we be able to rise above the mundane and pedestrian and see the big picture. What is the 'just reach for your credit card' and 'live on credit' mentality, the 'here and now' obsession doing both to individual people and entire societies? Hasn't anyone learnt anythign from the big American fiasco that produced the recent crisis? It's something to think about.

Life / Customs - First Holy Communion in Poland [42]

If you haven't seen many in the past 20 years, does that automaticlaly make the commercialisation of everything good? We now have more drink-driving deaths. Does that make them good? It's surprising how many people have such an underdeveloped faculty of critical analysis.

Life / Do you find any humour in Polish Highlanders' stories? [24]

A highlander sees one of his pee-poor neighbours driving a small flock of sheep. Asked what he was up to, he replied he was taken them home.

'But you havn't even got a shed to keep them in.'
'I know, they'll stay with us right in our cottage.'
'But that'll be a horrible stench!'
'That's their problem -- they'll just have to get used to it!'

Life / Customs - First Holy Communion in Poland [42]

It's a question of degree. Communion parties used to held ONLY in the home, and studniówkas ONLY in schools. Now its all industry and commercialism. Everything is de-intimatised...communion industry, reality shows, tabloidisation of everything... Do you really not see any of this and feel you must be the eternal apologist for the forces of militant commercialism? Maybe you're on their payroll?