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

KĘCKI: one of the toponymic nicks from Kęty (root-word kąt); hence Corners, Cornerville.
Variant from is Kącki.

Food / Traditional Polish Soups. [85]

Czernina is a true gourmet treat. No-one has ever made it like my late Babcia (God rest her soul) once did. There's only about 1-2 cups duck blood per big pot of soup. Some US-born Pol-Am kids woud call it chocolate soup with bullets (the latter being potato dumplings). It is choclatey in appearance with a rich, deep, winey, sweet-sour flavour and fruity undertones or (for those who use lots of prunes, dried apples, pears, raisins, etc.) overtones. Niebo w gębie (heaven to the palate)!

Life / Smoking vs. Grilling on Balconies / High Rises in Poland [66]

Apr 24, 10, 16:03 - Thread attached on merging:
Polish barbecuing

As the warm season approaches, will many Poles be engaged in grillowanie? Is this a class thing -- uban middle class mainly -- or does if crisscross Polish society? What are the favourite grilling items: chicken, steak, karczek, shashlik, fish, bangers, kaszanka, etc.?

I have seen people in Poland grilling on the balconeis or their high-rise apartment blocks. Do neighbours find that smoking up the place is a nuisance? Is there a law against it?

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

MAZURKIEWICZ: patronymic nikc = son of the Masurian

BACHUR: unruly, misbehaved child

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

WALL: As such this does not appear to be a name of Polish origin, although more than 300 people in Poland today use it. It could have originated as a short form of Wałach (Valachian= Rmanian shepherd) or such first names as Walenty and Walerian. The German word Wall means a rampart or embankment and as a loan-word it entered Polish as wał. Only 15 people sign themselves Wał.

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

KOCH: occupation nick; German-Jewish for cook

DOBRIANSKY: the dobr- root means good, so thsi could be the rough equivalent of such English srunames as Goodwin, Goodman, Goodly, Goodson, etc.

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

GURBA£A: variant of Garbała (humpbacked person); synonyms include Garbus, Garbacz and others.

WO-NIAK: patronymic nick = court crier's son

LECH: name of legendary founder of Poland; synonymous with Poland itself; Ukrainians contemptuously onced called Poles Lachy. Turks once called Poland Lechistan

TUSK: origin obscure; the current Polish PM claims to be a Kashub so maybe it means something in that dialect.

WIŚNIEWSKI: topo nick = guy from Wiśniewo (Cherryville)

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

Please note the qualifier 'possibly'. The apple connection was simply one hypothesis, not a dogma. Back when most people were illiterate and handwriting was shaky, we cannot rule out that someone did not close the top of the letter 'a' in kasztelak and someone else copied it down as kusztelak. A kasztelak would be the son of someone (caretaker, gardener, handyman) attached to a castle-town (kasztel), maybe even the son of the castellan (kasztelan) himself.

Yes, BARTKOWIAK and JANKOWIAK are patronymic nicks meaning Bartson and Johnson respectively.
SZULIST: possibly from szul (Yiddish for Orthodox synagogue)
STROIK: friom stroić się (to dress in a fancy way), hence = fancy dresser
DOMOGA£A: regional pronunciation of Domagała from domagać się (to demand); hence a demanding person
KASPERZAK: patronymic nick from Kasper (Casperson)
ICZEK: variant of Icek, endearing form of the Jewish name Izak (English: Isaac).

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

ŚWIERDZA: Since so many different things have happened to Polish names, including many unique-case scenarios, there may be an off-chance that Świerdza may have originated centureis ago as a Polish peasant adaptation of Sforza.

More likely is its derivation from świerdziołek (dialectic for świderek) or even świerg -- a bird of the sparrow family (Anthus aquaticus).

Kusztelak: possibly from kosztela, a Polish variety of apple; kosztelak might have been someone raising or dealing in such apples and kusztelak would be a variant dialectic pronunciation

Sadowski: topo nick from Sadów or Sadowo (Orchardville)
Jasinski: topo nick from Jasin (Johnstown)
Prill, Pryla, Prylla: most likely from German name Prill or Brill but possibly also from Polish place-names Prylin or Pryłowo
Czaplewski: topo nick from Czaple; root-word czapla (crane), hence Cranton or Craneville
Görgel, Gergel: definitely Germanic but of obscure meaning; in peasant dialect Gör means a small child or brat; Gergel may contain the Old German root ger (spear) found in such names as Gerhard and Gerald.

Pacek, Pazek: diminutive of Lithuanian name Pac meaning little Pac or patronymic (Pac's son); Pazek is a German spelling of Pacek
Grzymski: patronymic nick from now obsolete first name Grzymisław or topo nick from Grzymki, Grzymisław, Grzymały, etc.
Wierzba: Indeed, this is the Polish word for willow.

Food / What's your favorite Polish coffee? [73]

There are dozens, maybe hundreds of palarnie kawy (coffee-roasting firms) in Poland. They inlcude:

Astra. Poznańska Palarnia Kawy Sp. z o.o.
61-757 Poznań, Garbary 114
Branża: Kawa, herbata - produkcja, hurt
sale@astra.com.pl

K Astra Sp. z o.o. Palarnia kawy. Poznańska
70-244 Szczecin, Krzywoustego 9-10
Tel.: 91 488 41 03

L Basia. Palarnia kawy
39-200 Dębica, Żuławskiego 9
Tel.: 14 681 78 38

M Bast. Palarnia kawy
40-027 Katowice, Francuska 15
Tel.: 32 209 13 64
kontakt@bast.com.pl

O Celmar. Palarnia kawy
64-920 Piła, Rodakowskiego 94
Tel/fax: 67 212 33 59
info@celmar.pl

Coffee Service Sp. z o.o. J.v. Maszyny pakujące, palarnie kawy i opakowania
05-806 Pęcice Małe, Leśna 22
Tel.: 22 759 02 00

Q Emona. Palarnia kawy
93-035 £ódź, Piotrkowska 293/295

Look on the coffee packet under Producent. I have before me a packet of MK Premium which names the producer as.
Strauss Café Poland Sp. z o.o.
Swadzim, ul Poznańska 50
62-080 Tarnowo Podgórne.

Food / What's your favorite Polish coffee? [73]

Coffee comes mainly from Latin America, Africa and Asia and is divided into mellow Arabica and strong-tasting Robusta, often blended in various proprotions to combine flavour and body. It is the local blenders and roasters that create the different varieties. For instance Italians prefer darker roasted blends, Scandnavian coffee is somewhat on the sour side, American mainstream brands are lightly roasted (some would say underroasted) and mild-tasting. Is there any discernible type of coffee preferred in Poland?

Food / What's your favorite Polish coffee? [73]

Inka?

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

Fabiś, Fabuś, Fabek, Fabunio and others are all hypocoristic forms (endearing pet names) of the first name Fabian. English Mragaret has even more quite differetn hypocoristic variants: Meg, Maggy, Peg, Peggy, Madge, Marge, Margo, Gretchen and maybe a few more.

A good English patronymic example is WIlson. Will is short for Williamaand Will's son is where the English patronymic surname Wilson came from. Hence also Fabisiak.

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

PEAR = GRUSZKA

Żurawno is the correct spelling (-urawno is impossible in Polish!). This soundsn more like a place-name (toponym) than a surname. Its basic root is żuraw (crane, a long-legged wading bird). The no is just a typical toponymic suffix with no meaning of its own.

Example: White in English means white but what about a locality called Whitely or Whiting? what does the ly or ing mean?
So Żurawno might be trasnlated as Cranton, Craneville, Cranly, etc.

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

WĄSIK: little moustache

RUCHNIEWICZ: inhabitant of Ruchna might have got the topo nick Ruchny or Ruchno; the son he fathered would have become Ruchniewicz

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

BASIŃSKI: topo nick from Basinów or Basie (Babsville); less likely but not impossible metronymic nick from Basia (short for Barbara); Józek Basiński would mean Babs' (bastard?) son Joe.

ŚLIWOWSKI: root-word śliwa (plum); topo nick from Śliwow (Plumton); Slibowski probably came about through a mistransliteration of the Cyrillic where the Polish "w" sound is rendered by the letter "в".

WIŚNIEWSKI: root-word wiśnia (cherry); topo nick from Wiśniewo (Cherryville)

URBAŃSKI: root-word Urban (man's first name); either topo nick from Urbany or patronymic nick = Urban's son

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

No Tousky or Touski in Poland. The ou combination is rare in Polish and appears only in the following T-starting surnames: Toubert Toubor Toufar Toulas Touma Tounsi Tousciuk Toussaint Tousta Toustochowicz Tousty Touszek Touścik Touściuk. Could it have been Towalewski or Towalski?

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

STĄPOR: crushing tool (pestle used in a mortar or a log for crushing grain in a trough)

GRELA: a type of peat or an old peasant game using wooden clubs which are called grele; possibly also a pet name for Grzegorz.

MAKIELA: from makielki, a sweet dish served on Wigilia containing poppyseed, nuts, fruit, bread, milk and honey

KACZOCHA: an augmentative form of kaczka (duck); the diminutive kaczuszka means a cute, little duckling whilst kaczocha or kaczysko suggests a big, old, mangy duck.

Life / How would you describe the Polish sense of humour? [66]

My subjective impression is that today's younger Poles (japiszony and the like) are not really into traditonal jokes (Did you hear the one about... or Polak, Niemiec i Rusek, etc.). The communist system and the USSR were the source of a great many jokes in the past. Nowadays yougner Poles prefer situational humour -- amusing repartees, put-downs, ridiculing people and situations.

But in our global era, (if the Internet is any indication) there is a huge volume of Polish jokes online -- blonde, Góral, Ślunzak, szkockie, teściowa, etc. Do Poles still tell such jokes at nameday parties and other meet-ups? Maybe only the OAPs do?

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

DOWGIEWICZ: the one certain thing here is that this is a patronymic nickname, indicating the son of someone. That someone may be Dowgird, the Polish version of the Lithuanian name Daugirdas. The "daug" syllable in Lithuanian means "much" and "gird" has to do with hearing, so Daugirdas may have originally meant something like "all-hearing". But my knowledge of Lithuanian is limited, so maybe someone else will have a better explanation.

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

A toponymic nickname is oen based on someone's palce of residence. Eglish does this to a limited degree (Londoner,Chicagoan, Bostonian, etc.), but Polish extends this to even the smallest hamlets.

So Józef Bieńkowski would mean the Józef from Bieńki or Bieńków.

Work / Qualifications - Mgr Title on my business card? [17]

Aren't tytuł magistra and master's degree synonymous? If not, what is the difference?

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

BIEŃKOWSKI: root-wiord Benedykt (hypocoristic form Bieniek); topo nick from Bieńki, Bieńków or similar (Bennyville)

WOJTAL: one of many derivatives from either the first name Wojciech/Wojtek or the word wójt (village mayor)

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

BUTWI£OWSKI(?): The closest surnames used in Poland is Butwiłowski; others include Butwił, Butwiłło, Butwiło and Butwiłowicz and. The –owski ending usually indicates a topo nick; possible root-word butwieć=to rot, mildew; butwiałka refers to a piece of rotting wood that has fallen off a tree.

LONTKOWSKI: possible root-word lont (fuse – originally from German loan-word Lunte);
or topo nick from £ądek, misspelt or phoneticcally re-spelt.

I've never encountered anyone surnamed Ira, but here is the distribution of the 112 Iras in today's Poland. Maybe it'll help you track down the one you're looking for:

Wa:11, BB:2, By:1, Cz:11, JG:3, Ka:28, Ki:1, Lg:1, Ls:2, Op:17, Pt:13, Ra:1, Sz:3, To:7, Wb:8, ZG:3
Śląsk (Silesia) encompassing Katowice, Częstochowa and Opole appears to be their main stronghold.

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

NAJWERT: polonised version of German surnames Neiwert or Neuwert

RA-NY: now archaic adj. meaning timely, beneficial, lively, spritly

RADOWSKI: topo nick from Radowo or Radów (Counselton, Gladbury)

Life / Any "wet" plans for Śmigus-dyngus? [51]

Initially the drenching custom was limited to eligible young maidens. In a more citified version, young men would lightlly sprinkle their sweethearts with cologne. Now Polish TV regularly shows hordes of bucket-wielding teenagers prolwing the streets and drenching anyone in sight, pouring waters into buses and trams at stops or cars waiting at traffic lights. The custom has taken on a hooligan twist, Polish police insist.

Food / Polish v Western farm produce? [14]

What do you think of the notion that from a standpoint of health and nutruition one should eat mainly local produce in season. Everything imported from distant places is picked green, chemically treated, stored for extended periods, wax-sprayed to enhance shininess, etc., etc. Naturally from an economic stadnpoitn, this makes sense for those peddling this industrially prodyuced and artificially ripened stuff and the consumer who prefers to pay less for nutritionally inferior produce. But the human organism is the loser.

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

LUBASZEWSKI: more likely than not originated as a topo nick for someone from Lubasz, Lubaszew or Lubaszewo. The 'lub-' root indicates love, affection, liking, etc. hence Lovington, Loveville...

Genealogy / Auberzinski family name [18]

The only surnames currently used in Poland starting in “aub” are: Aubek, Aubick, Aubrecht, Aubrecht-Prcdzinski and Aubrecht-Prondziński.
But if your document was handwritten in that fancy old-style script, sometimes the ‘u’ or ‘w’ have been known to be taken for the letter ‘m’. Maybe it was actually Ambroziński?