Life / Polish Nursery Rhymes [253]

nieboraczek is diminutive of nieborak = poor wretch, poor soul

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

HERSZKOWICZ
This is a patronymic form derived from the Jewish first name Hirsz, Hersz, Girsz, Gersz, Herszel, Herszko, etc. (from German/Yiddish Hirsch = stag). There is no one correct form, only variants. The famous compsoer Gershwin traces his surname to the same root. Naturally, it can be spelt the English (Hirsh, Hersh, Gersh, etc.) or German (Hirsch, Hersch, Gersch) way. The famous composer Gershwin traces his surname to the same root.

PĄCZEK/PONCZEK
Pączek is the original spelling and Ponczek and was a typcial example of how many Polish immigrants phonetically respelt their surnames in America to retain something close to the original.

Without that change the person would have to go through life being called PAY-zack.
You know how little kids in school would taunt someone like that: "Don't pay Zack, pay Bill or Tom!"
The primary meaning of pączek is a flower bud, the doughnut is a secondary meaning.

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

Its root is definitely głowa (head). It could have been a nickname as in Jędrek Głowacki (Big-headed Andy) or a toponmyic nickname derived from such localities as Głowa, Głowy, Głowno, Głowaczów, etc. (roughly: Headville, Headbury, Headmont).

Life / Polish Nursery Rhymes [253]

Kiedy byłam jeszcze mała myszki bałam się,
chociaż myszka uciekała bo się bała mnie.
Teraz ja się jej nie boję i nie kryję się
Kiedy biegnie przez pokoje i do dziurki mknie.

Life / Funeral Traditions in Poland [67]

Perhaps you'll find what you were referring to in the following:

Death
Many people nowadays -- in Poland, America and elsewhere -- say they would prefer to 'go' quickly: die instantly in an accident or drift away peacefully in their sleep. Such an attitude runs counter to traditional values. Our immigrant ancestors used to pray: 'Od powietrza, głodu, ognia, wojny i nagłej, niespodziewanej śmierci -- zachowaj nas Panie!' ('From pestilence, famine, fire, war and sudden, unexpected death, preserve us, o Lord'). The worst thing that could happen to one was to meet death unprepared -- away from home, lacking funds for a proper burial or, above all, in a state of sin. People planned ahead for their death. The poor would save up for years for a coffin and decent clothes to be buried in. To be on the safe side, some even stored their coffin in the loft of their cottage for years, using it as a kind of storage bin until the time came.

Harbingers of death
A variety of folk beliefs were associated with death, although many of them were only half-believed or treated tongue in cheek. The even person at Wigilia supper was thought not likely to see another Christmas. The girl who picked the pot containing a clump of sod on St Andrew's Eve was said to have chosen death. The ominous hooting of an owl, the family dog howling and tugging at his chain, a mole hill just beyond the threshold, a mysteriously tapping on the window -- were all regarded as signs of impending death in the household. Nowadays many people die in hospitals: drugged, plugged and surrounded by strangers. The goal of most everyone was once to die in their own bed, after having received the Sacraments, with family and neighbors in attendance.

As we can see in Władysław Reymont's 'The Peasants' ('Chłopi'), even homeless beggars, who rarely had a roof over their heads and slept wherever they could, hoped to have a bed to die in. There was nothing more demeaning and undignified than to breathe one's last 'pod płotem' (next to a fence), like a dog, forsaken by God and man. The priest would be called to the deathbed, and as he made his way through the village, villagers would kneel and make the Sign of the Cross as the Blessed Sacrament he was carrying passed. Everyone would leave the room to enable the priest to hear the dying person's last confession, administer Holy Communion and Ostatnie Namaszczenie (Extreme Unction -- (now called the Anointing of the Sick -Namaszczenie Chorych). Relatives would then return and pray for the one not long for this world. A lighted gromnica (candle) would be placed in the dying person's hand to light his or her way to the afterlife.

Funeral preparations
When death finally came, the women round the deathbed would give out a plaintive wail and begin praying more fervently than before. Doors and windows would be flung open to allow the soul of the deceased to leave for eternity. Mirrors would be covered and clocks would be stopped. A woman known to perform such services was called in to wash and dress the corpse. In the peasant cottages of yore, the deceased would be laid on a board between two chairs or tables flanked by tall candles and would be placed in a coffin only on the day of the funeral. (This is reflected by the humorous, albeit death-related drinking song in Mazurian dialect which goes: 'Umarł Maciek umarł i lezy na desce; gdyby mu zagrali podskocyłby jesce...' Matty's dead, he is, and he's lying on a board; he'd jump up again if he heard a lively chord). Among the upper classes, the deceased was displayed in a coffin, and eventually that custom trickled down to the peasantry as well. The body was never left unattended. Most of the day the elderly women of the village would sing and pray, recite rosaries and litanies, but family members and neighbors would keep a vigil all night long. Traditionally, the body was kept in the home for three days, the funeral usually being held on the third day after the person's death.

Funeral, burial
On the day of the funeral, the lid (which had been standing in a corner of the room or elsewhere out of sight was placed on the coffin and it was carried out feet first. The threshold of the house was struck with the coffin three times before being placed in a horse-drawn vehicle and taken to church. Following the Requiem Mass, the coffin was carried at shoulder height to graveside, if the cemetery was adjacent to or very near

the church, or placed back into the vehicle if is was some distance away. This could be a rude farm cart drawn by an old nag or ox or, among the nobility, a magnificent glass-sided hearse draw by four to six elegant horses draped with black mourning cloths with black plumes protruding from their heads. The deceased in his/her coffin was led along this final road by a crucifer and a black religious banner of mourning, with mourners following behind the coffin on foot. The prayers at graveside included the supplication: 'Wieczny odpoczynek (or the more modern form: wieczne odpoczywanie) racz mu/jej dać, Panie,' to which the mourners replied: 'A światłość wiekuista niechaj mu/jej świeci na wieki wieków. Amen.' ('Eternal rest grant unto him/her, o Lord -- And may the perpetual light shine upon him/her. Amen.) After the burial, mourners were invited to a stypa (post-funeral banquet) or konsolacja (meal of consolation), whose sumptuousness depended on the family's financial means.

Contemporary Polish funeral customs
Here are some features of traditional Polish funeral customs that have survived down to our times. There are both similarities and differences between those prevalent in Poland and among Polonia. Each reader should decide for himself which Polish customs deserve wider exposure on the Polish-American scene.

· The initials Ś.P. (Świętej Pamięci -- literally: of sacred memory), often separated by a cross preface the name of the deceased in obituaries and funeral notices. For example, 'Ś.+P. Andrzej Kowalski' could be translated as 'the late lamented Andrzej Kowalski'.

· In addition to the obituaries published in the press, copies of a funeral notice known as a klepsydra (literally: hour-glass -- a symbol of the passage of time) are posted outside the deceased's place of residence and employment as well as parish church. The press obituary and funeral notice are similar in content if not identical, except that the latter is larger -- roughly the size of a standard sheet of typewriter/copy paper. A typical obituary/funeral notice might run as follows:

Z głębokim smutkiem zawiadamiamy,
że w dniu 6 listopada 2008 roku zmarł w wieku 79 lat

Ś. + P.
Tadeusz Adamczyk
wieloletni działacz Stow. Aptekarzy Polsko-Amerykasńkich
oraz Związku Narodowego Polskiego
***
Nabożeństwo żałobne odbędzie się 10 listopada 2008 r. o godz. 10.00 w kościele pw. Św. Stanisława Kostki, po którym nastąpi wyprowadzenie na cmentarz miejscowy

***
O czym zawiadamiają pogrążeni w głębokim żalu żona Krystyna, syn Jacek, synowa Beata, córka Małgorzata, zięć Tomasz Pawlak oraz wnuczęta Marek, Ania i Piotruś

TRANSLATION: In deep bereavement we wish to inform that on November 6th, 2008, the late lamented Tadeusz Adamczyk, a long-standing activist of the Polish-American Pharmacists' Association and the Polish National Alliance, died at the age of 79. A funeral mass will be celebrated on November 10th, 2008, at St Stanislaus Kostka Church, after which the transfer to the local cemetery will take place. This information has been provided by the deeply bereaved wife Krystyna, son Jacek, daughter-in-law Beata, daughter Małgorzata, son-in-law Tomasz Pawlak and grandchildren Marek, Ania i Piotruś.

· Unlike the common American-style rectangular, flip-top, split-lid casket, the traditional Polish trumna (coffin) is usually wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. Rather than being hinged, the lid is removable. The lid, always in one piece, is often quite built up, so that it accounts for one-half or even more of the entire coffin. A plain cross usually adorns the top of the lid. Oak coffins are regarded as the most elegant, and those made of pine are the cheapest. Often the less expensive ones are doctored-up to convey the impression of solid oak.

· It was once common to display the deceased in an open coffin at home for three days ahead of the funeral. (This practice is still encountered in the Polish countryside). Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly more common for only the nearest of kin to briefly view the deceased in his/her coffin, usually in the hospital mortuary or at a 'sala pożegnań' farewell (room) at the cemetery chapel. Others coming to pay their respects at the funeral see only the closed coffin and remember the person as he was in life.

· Especially if the deceased was a political figure, cultural celebrity or otherwise prominent individual, an honor guards of his colleagues often take turns holding a silent vigil round the closed coffin; uniformed comrades-in-arms or fellow-members to take turns forming an honor guard and/or color guard next to the coffin of military officer, war veteran, member of a uniformed formation (fireman, postman, scoutmaster, etc.) or some prominent organization.

· The coffin is carried shoulder high by four our six men, not suitcase-style the American way. Those carrying the coffin have no special name (there is no Polish word for 'pallbearer'). The honors may be done by neighbors or friends in the countryside or by the undertaker's attendants in cities.

· Chopin's renowned 'Marche Funèbre' is often performed by a band marching in the funeral cortège or a recorded version thereof is piped over a public-address system. Considering that our Polish heritage rightly claims the world's most beloved and revered funeral march, performed at the burials of heads of state and other VIPs as well as ordinary people around the globe, it surely deserves wider exposure at Polish-American funerals.

· Especially at the funerals of veterans, members of uniformed formations or prominent individuals, a gun salute by a uniformed honors detachment is often fired at graveside prior to interment. A uniformed color guard at graveside will make the event more memorable.

· An integral part of the graveside prayers is the priest's invocation: 'Wieczne odpoczywanie (or: wieczny odpoczynek) racz Mu/Jej dać, Panie' (Eternal rest grant unto Him/Her, o Lord), to which the mourners respond: 'A światłość wiekuista niechaj Mu/Jej świeci' (And let the perpetual Light shine upon Him/Her).

· The prayers end when the priest blesses the coffin with holy water and throws a clump of soil on it saying: 'Prochem jesteś i w proch się obrócisz, ale Pan Cię wskrzesi w dniu ostatecznym. Żyj w pokoju' (Dust you are and to dust you shall return, but the Lord will raise you on the last day. Live in peace).

· At the funerals of the Polish-born in Diaspora, a handful of Polish soil (brought from Poland and specially kept for this final occasion) is often sprinkled upon the coffin prior to interment to symbolize the deceased's return to the earth from which he/she had sprung. This ritual may be performed by the officiating clergyman, a family member or close friend. A secular invocation at burials of the Polish-born goes: Niech Mu/Jej ziemia amerykańska/kanadyjska lekką będzie (May the American/Canadian soil weigh down lightly upon Him/Her).

· A family member, close friend, co-worker, employer, fellow organizational member, etc. may say a few words about the deceased and bid him farewell. He may throw a clump of soil on the coffin and other mourners may follow suit.

· The best-known Polish funeral hymn, 'Witaj Królowo Nieba', is usually sung as the coffin is being lowered into the grave. It is intoned by the priest, with the mourners joining in.

· After the coffin has been lowered into the grave, more distant mourners often disperse. The closest of kin remains until the grave has been filled in by gravediggers.

· A post-funeral reception, known as a stypa or konsolacja is often held after the burial. It may be held at the home of the deceased or at a public dining establishment. A prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased may be led by a clergyman and a few words about the person whose memory is being honored are said. A toast may also be raised 'za spokój duszy....' (for the repose of his/her soul) or 'za pamięć' (in memory of....), but this should not be the occasion for serious drinking and the frivolity it often produces. Lively music would also be out of character, but the performance of a hymn or piece of more serious music beloved by the deceased might be appropriate.

· A one-year period of mourning is customarily observed. Unlike the black arm-bands of yesteryear, nowadays it is more common to sport only a small black ribbon across the lapel of one's suit coat or dress. Lively celebrations and entertainment are avoided, and the widow or widower generally do not remarry until the period of mourning is over. If the deceased is a younger person whose premature demise has orphaned small children, an exception to this rule is sometimes made.

· A memorial mass is celebrated on the first anniversary of a loved one's death. It is attended by relatives and close friends of the family, and a memorial dinner is usually held after mass. In some families each subsequent anniversary is marked in this manner. In others, the commemoration is limited to the first anniversary and later to round (5th, 10th, etc.) ones.

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



Cham has various meanings in Polish -- all pejorative -- including
boor, lout, swine, uncouth slob, crudball, etc. The -czyk is a patronymic
ending, so taken together Chamczyk means "son of the slob, lout, swine, etc."
Re: Paper, There is only 1 Paper living in Poland today. A more likely spelling is Papier, a name shared by 187 people in today's Poland . Incidentally the Polish and German spelling of paper is the same: Papier, except in Polish it is pronounced PAHP-yer and in German -- PAH-peer. Both the surname and the first names indicate Jewish ancestry.


Mularski from mularz (archaic form of murarz = stonemason, bricklayer). Adjectival form Mularski could mean the mason's son or helper.


This arose as a typical patronymic nickname, but we must bear in mind that an alterantive version of the first name Fabian (formerly Fabjan) was usded: Pabian/Pabjan. So all this name originally meant was 'Fabian's kid/boy/son'. There exists the posssiblity that someone was nicknamed Pabian because he hailed from Pabianów, Pabianice or the like. When he fatehred a son, the lad would have been dubbed Pabiańczyk/Pabjańczyk (possibly also Pabiańczak or Pabianowicz) all the same.


Most likely originated as a toponymic nickname traceabale to Kusiory in Kujawy region, a dialectic pronunciation of Kosiory. Etymology of place-name possibly kęs~kus (bit, morsel). Other possible toponymic source: Kusowo (also in Kujawy), the -or being a masculine noun ending (eg gąsior, kaczor, etc.)


The spelling is wrong. Can you check in any family documents what it was originally; Waniowski, fro intance?


Karalus – At first glance my erroneous spot association was with “karaluch” (cockroach). Actually, it probably arose as a Ruthenianised version of Latin-derived Old High German Carolus (Charles, Carl, Polish Karol).


Waniowski -- Possibly a patronymic nickname meaning “son of Wania” (short for Iwan, eastern-borderland version of Jan/John). There are 2 localities in Poland called Waniewo and more than 400 Waniewskis meaning the guy from Waniewo. Couldn't find any place called Waniowo in today's Poland, but there are 180 people named Waniowski. Maybe there was once such a locality or maybe it's now beyond the borders of today's highly truncated Poland. Or maybe someone took the "e" of Waniewski in that fancy, curlicue-rich script to be an "o" and it stuck and spread.....????


Kostur -- a crooked, gnarled walking stick of the kind once used by itinerant beggars.

The Boguckis (from one of several localities in PL called Boguty) were a well-knighted breed who besides Krzywda included other noble lines entitled to stamp their possessions and documents with the Abdank, Radwan and Dębno c-o-a.


The root of Gapiński appears traceable to the term gapa (dope, gaper, someone fooishly and open-mouthedly staring but understanding little of what he sees). The verb for this is gapić się. A gapa is also a stoway (non-paying passenger) and a crow. Most -ski names are of toponymic origin and this one may have been derived from the locality of Gapinin.

News / Original cars manufactured in Poland [64]

For those interested in the Mikrus:


pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikrus

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


Might be the Polonised version of the Lithuanian surname Kacinelis? As far as I can tell, it has no meaning in Polish, and my Lithuanian ain't that hot.

Re Głodowski, Głóg is the hawthorn shrub, but 90% or more Polish surnames ending in -owski are of toponymic origin, ie traceable to place-names. In this case it would be places such as Głogów (at least 3 such localities), Głogowa, Głogówek, Głogówiec, etc. (Hawthornville, Hawthornshire?).

That should be Głogowski, not Głodowski. Sorry!


85 people named Dragulski in Poland. Possibly someone from such places as Dragacz, Dragany et al acquired a toponymic nickname such as Dragosz, Draguń, Dragut, Dragul or something along those lines. When Dragul sired a son, villagers would refer to the offspring by a patronymic nickname: Dragulewicz, Dragulicz or Dragulski.


There are 42 people named Kubrycht in Poland, and 95 people named Kübrich in Germany.
The meaning is unknown, as far as can be determined.

Travel / Poland wildlife and similar wild life where you live. [243]

What about the black cocks and heath grouse -- cietrzewie and głuszce?

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


Chojnacki from Chojna (evergreen) or localities such as Chojnatka; Mroziński (frost, cold) or toponym derived from Mrozy; Światowy = worldly or place-name Światonia.

''What does the last names of Florek and Brandys mean?''

The root of Florek is of Latin origin (flora), but it most likely arose as an endearing diminutive of the once quite popular first name Florian. It could have been a patronymic nickname for Florian's son.

Brandys is the Polonised version of the German/Yiddish Brandeis. The 'brand" root in German/Yiddish is akin to English "burnt". Brandwein (literally burnt wine) is brandy in German, so Brandeis should have meant "burnt ice", although that would be quite an oxymoron.


Breaks down into wsze (all) and bór (coniferous forest), so together it would create sometime like Allpine or Allfir. Most likely it originated as a toponymic nickname derived from the locality of Wszebórz near Poznań.


the word dudło (now obsolete) once meant a rotted-out hollow log.
verb dudłać - to scoop or gouge out wood (to make it hollow)
dudlić - to play a primitive shepherd's flute or (pejoratively) play any instruemnt badly.
If the name had originally been Dudłowski, then its source would probabkly have been a village called Dudłów or Dudłowo.


Nobody currently using Lates as a surname in Poland. Somewhat reminds me of latkes (Jewish potato pancakes). There are people named Latoś (the word means this year) and Latus (a book-keeping term meaning the transfer of one column to another). The "S" is a common ending for Lithuanian masculien surnames, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

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

Someone is being given a grand tour of hell. In huge cauldrons different nationalties - Frenchmen, Swedes, Russians, Brits, Italians, Czechs, Scots, etc. -- are being boiled in oil, guarded by a cordon of fork-wiedling devils. The visitor asks the guide: "Why has that cauldron been left ungaurded?" "Oh," replied the guide. "Those are Poles. When one of them tries to get out, the others pull him back in!"

Genealogy / Need help with family history/surnames: Netzel, Petke, Gruzlewski [24]

Netzel is obnviosuyl of German origin (Netz is German for ent), hence it migth have originated to mean netman - someone who made a living making or mending nets for fishermen.

There are around 150 Netzels in Poladn today and more than 550 who bear the Polonised version Necel.
Petke, like most (maybe all?) German surnames ending in -e, it is of Slavonic origin. Example Lipke from lipka (no meani, in German, little limetree in Polish).

Petke could have originally been Petka, one old hypocoristic (endearing diminutive) of Piotr. Of course, etymology is not necessarily tantamount to nationality. There are countless Germans named Kowalski and numerous Poles named Szulc and Szmid, some of whom have retained the original German spelling: Schultz/Schulz and Schmidt/Schmied.

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

Since all words and names in Polih starting with the letter 'F' are of foreign (non-Slavonic) origin, Feresz must also be.
Please note: Franciszek, fiołki, feretron, fartuch, framuga, firanki, frędzel, Filip, etc. Some appear indigenously Polish such as fala, but that is only because of the compete Polonisation of a borrowing (from German Welle) which occurrede a very long time ago.

USA, Canada / Are there any Polish persons living in Louisiana? [19]

Chicago Al's
Home of great hot dogs and Polish sausage
670 Oneal Ln
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
(225) 275-1966

News / Dalai Lama says: "POLAND HAS RETAINED ITS SPIRIT" [77]

I simply asked for a comment whilst withholding any remarks of my own.. Judging by some of the things about Poland we see on this forum...well, you know what I mean.

At all anniversary assemblies, ceremonies, presentations, etc. there is plenty of diplomatic courtesy, high-sounding slogans, etc.

Genealogy / Surname Krzyszczuk [35]

Krzczuk is monosyllabic in Polish and pronounced more or less like: KSHCHOOK. Probably every third American who heard it would reply with "Gesundheit" (Bless you).

Genealogy / Surname Krzyszczuk [35]

That's not much to go on. Both the name's -uk ending and the fact that the largest concentration is in eastern Poland's Zamość area indicate that this is an eastern (Ruthenian-influenced) surname. If it was changed to Krzczuk in America, his fellow-Americans must have had quite a time dealing with that tongue-numbing, multi-consonantal mouthful.

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

The closest now sued in Poland is Truszczyński.

Genealogy / Last Name Information - Lewandowski [16]

Actually there were four lines of noble Lewnadowskis, each entitled to use a different coat of arms. One of them called Dołęga has got have arrows on it. The crowned knight's helmet is a typical emblem found in teh crest (upper section) of most Polish coats of arms.

Food / Fermented Oatmeal Soup from Poland - Recipe? [67]

KESELITSA is not a Polish spelling. Presumably it is derived from kisiel (pronounced: KEy-shell) -- a potato-starch gel, pudding or thick soup) and would have to spelt something like kisielica? It must be a highly local concoction. Has anyone seen the word in print?

USA, Canada / Polish Community in Atlanta? [8]

Atlanta is not a strongly Polish part of America, but some glimmers of Polishness can be found even there including:
· Polish Club of Atlanta at 3661 Southpoint Court
· Polish Restaurant at 3425 Medlock Bridge Rd. in Norcross, GA
· Polish Sunday Mass at 2PM at St Marguerite D'Youville Catholic Church
85 Gloster Road NW, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30044
· People trying to get together to cultivate Polish projects, etc.: /cities/us/ga/atlanta/

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

Jakiel (or Jakel) is one possible hypocoristic (endearing diminutive) form of such first names as Jakub or Joachim. The adjectival "-ski" ending may indicate patrimony, so Jakielski (Jakelski looks to be a misspelling or mistranscription from the Cyrillic)* would mean Jacobson. This does not mean the name is necessarily of ethnic Poilish origin, as the same principlel applies to Russian, Belarussian, Ukrainian and Slovak names.

* A semi-literate priest or village scribe (and such predominated back when) could have easily transcribed the Cyrillic Яакел as Jakel, forgetting that the Russian "e" palatalises (softens) the preceding consonant and should be transcribed into Polish as "ie".

Jakiel (or misspelt Jakel) could have arisen as the hypocoristic form of the first names Jakub or Joachim. The adjectival -ski ending could have indicated sonhood, so Jakielski would have meant "Jake's boy".

Lesko is the name of a town in Poland. The "les" root could have also been derived from las~les (forest) or the first name Lech/Leszek.

Ryczek is the diminutive form of ryk (roar, bellow, low -- the loud sound made by different animals). I could have origianted as a nickname for someone known to emit such sounds or toponymically to identify someone as an inhabitant of Rycza, Ryczka, Ryczki, Ryczów etc. ropughly translatable as Roarville, Lowton, etc.

The KOTKOWICZ surname may have evolved as follows. When someone nicknamed Kotek (kitten) for whatever reason fathered a son, fellow-villagers would have instinctively referred to the offspring as Kotkowicz or Kotkiewicz. The father might have been nicknamed Kotek because he had something about him that reminded people of a young cat or because he hailed from some such locality as Kotki, Kotkowo or Kotków (Kittenville, Kittenton, Catshire).

Witowski

It may have been butchered or changed from Witkowski, but Witowski is also a bona fide surname used in today's Poland. Mateńkowski is also known and can be found in official registries, however its sole surviving bearer (a female) has died.

Szczerbacki from szczerbaty (gap-toothed like Madonna who can eat spaghetti without opening her mouth!) or a toponymic nick for someone from such places as Szczebaków, (szczerbin or Szczerbowo (Gapville).


Probably from szczerbaty (gap-toothed) or toponymically from the locality of Szczerby or Szczerbowo (Gapville).

The szczerb- (shcherb-) root is common to different Slavonic tongues. There are surnames and place-names incorproating it in all those countries.


It could have also come from the hypocoristic form of Konstanty -- Kostek. Incidentally, that is the root of Kościuszko's name which means "little Connie".

Szymkowiak, Ignasiak

Both surnames are the most common in western Poland's Wielkopolska region. The largest Szymkowiak concentration is in the Poznań area and Ignasiak -- in and around Kalisz. Both names are also well-represented in the region's surrounding areas such as Piła, Leszno and Konin.


Nobody in Poland currently uses the Muławka surname, but there are several hundred people named Mulawka. Their major concentrations are in southern Poland including the Tarnobrzeg and Katowice areas. The mulawka (aka malawka) is a fresh-water fish that buries itself in muddy lake bottoms (from the word muł = muck, mud) when startled. Possibly a folk name for the tench (lin). It is not inconceivable that the word/name also exists in neighbouring Slavonic countries such as Ukraine and Slovakia.


The basic root is koza (goat), of which one spin-off is koziarz (goatherd). The adjectival Koziarski nickname probably originated to indicate the goatherd's son.


Wikarski - the vicar's son
Piechiowiak - the foot-soldier's son or the bloke from (the village of) Piechów
Kurkowski - the guy from Kurków (Spigotville, Tapton)

Sowiński, Dolniak

Both are probably of toponymic (place-name) origin. There are several localities called Sowin (Owlville, Owlton. Owlboro, etc.), so Sowiński would mean "the bloke from Owlshire".

There are many paiors of localities, eg Brzeziny Górne and Brzeziny Dolne (Upper Birchville and Lower Birchville). Dolniak would be used for someone hailing from the latter.


Indeed, this is a stumper. The closest word to Czyczyn is czyczucha meaning either a type of silver-handled sword or a sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), a fish of the sturgeon family.

Among toponyms within today's truncated Poland the only thing that even comes close is Czyczkowy. Unless it was originally Czyżyny which would have produced the Czyżyn surname and it got misspelled somewhere along the line


Possibly from the marud- root which has generated such words as marudzić (to dawdle, grumble, pester) and maruda (a dawdler, grumbler, ne'er-do-well). In final position voiced consonants are devoiced so Marud and Marut would be pronounced identically. If someone's name had been Marud, he would pronounce if MAH-root and the semi-literate village scribe would write it down as Marut.


Probably it was Truszczyński. Possibly from truś/trusz - rabbit, coward, scaredy cat
or truszczelina - a tree species (eolutea).
Ideal toponymic source: Truszczyny in Masuria.


The vast majority of -owski surnames arose as toponymic nicknames, in this case probably from Wadów or Wadowo (Faultville, Flawton?) and Mirów or Mirowo (Peaceboro?) respectively.


Krajewo --at least a dozen such places in Poland, hence Krajewski = the bloke from Krajewo.
AS to what Krajewo means...well, the root "kraj" may mean country as in foreign country or edge, rim, border. So if we were to hazard a guess it could have meant something like Counryville, but even more likely Edgerton, Edgeville, Rimburg, etc

Law / How to register a foreign Non-EU car in Poland? [25]

Would soemone having US number plates on a car really get stopped over that in Poland? Anybody had such experience?

Life / Why there is always around a horrible smell of sweat in Poland [188]

Wasn't it Queen Elizabeth I who said she took a bath once a month whether she neeed it or not?

Language / Dziadzia / Babcia - help me with spelling/pronunciation [81]

In Polish-American speech it has been common to use non-standard Polish insertions in English speech.
Terms such as busia, babci, baci, dziadzi, dziadzia, and cioci, ciacia are widely used as in:
Cioci is coming round today. We're going by baci's this evening. My busia used to work in a cigar factory. Hi, Dziadzia!
Many of those that use these are totally unfamilair with Polish spelling and may write jaja, chacha, busha and bopchee.

Food / Healthy polish food? [134]

The Polish food of the 19th-century peasants who went to America was quite healthy:
-- whole-grain bread, high-fibre groats, root vegetables (beetroot, rutabaga, carrots, celeriac, etc.)
-- high-cholsterol foods such as meat, eggs, cream, cheese, butter, lard, etc. were consumed in moderation and people aet theri fill only on special occasions, and their negatvie effects were more than offset by hard physical labour

-- enough Vit. C in fruit, sauerkraut and vegetables to prevent scurvy.
Only after coming to America, the once-in-a-while dishes, esp. lots of meat, become a steady diet and high cholesterol and its consequences followed.
The same holds true for Italians. Heart atacks were rare in Italy thanks to the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, but once in America the once mainly vegetable-based pasta sauces got loaded down with meat, and the Anglo steak fetish took hold and....

Food / Seven Sisters Cake (Polish style cookin) [49]

Lost Polack -- you have piqued my curiosity. What island is it you live on?

Food / Stuffed eggs (Polish-style recipe) [17]

No, the shells are not eaten. The hot contents are scooped out. No, this dish does not cause flatulence (that's the high-class way of describing your "F" word!). And , to my knowledge, every Anglo, Yank or other foreigner who has sampled this treat has taken to it instantly.