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. [246]

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 [237]

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 [220]

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? [143]

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) [50]

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.

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

Merged: hot stuffed eggs in shells -- superb!

One of the nicest and most uniquely Polish dishes are hot stufed eggs in shells. Anybody out there ever try them?
You cut the nard-boiled eggsthrough, shell and all and carefully scoop out the contents, settinn aside the empty shell halves. Fry up some minced onion in butter, add the chopped whites and yolks, season with salt & pepper and chopped fresh dill. Then the reserved shells are stuffed with this mixture, sprinkled with bread crumbs and fried in butter (cut side down) until a golden brown crust forms. Enjoy with bread of choice!

Food / Polish Sour Milk / Maślanka [44]

Zsiadłe mleko (clabbered sour milk) is now commercially available and packaged as such in Poland and in Polish shops abroad.

Twaróg (white curd cheese or farmer cheese), whether home-made or shop-bought*, undergoes what is known in Polish as zgliwienie. That means it is on the verge of fermentation and starts getting a bit slimy round the edges. In that form it is fried until melted. Traditonally it is seasoned with pepper, sweet paprika, possibly caraway and simmered a while longer. When it cools the gooey, rubbery mass can be spread on bread or, if it is stiff enough, sliced. It's not bad, esp. with generous vodka or beer accompaniment.

*Nowadays the comemrcially sold white cheese may be lace with spoilage retardants and may therefore not produce a palatable end-product.

Genealogy / Poland Genealogy Resources [130]

Here are some leads that may help point Polish root-seekers int eh right direction:

PIAST Genealogical Research Centre
Warsaw's oldest genealogical firm accepts family-research assignments (records, family trees, coats of arms and related research.
Ośrodek Badan Genealogicznych PIAST
Dr Andrzej Sikorski, Director
Skrytka Pocztowa 9, 00-957 Warsaw 36, Poland
phone: (48-22) 646-5526
e-mail: obgpiast@wp.pl
website: piast.waw.pl

Institute of Genealogy
Researching family records, histories, outstanding ancestors; locating living relatives; interviews, photo documentation, family trees, coats of arms and related services all over the territory of pre-partition Poland.

Andrzej Zygmunt Rola-Stężycki, Director
Aleja Niepodległości 3, 05-600 Grójec, Poland
Office tel/fax: (48-48) 664-1717, (48-48) 664-4415
e-mail: instytut@instytut-genealogii.com.pl; website: instytut-genealogii.com

PolGenResearch genealogical-research firm
Researching vital records (family, military, land, school, census, etc.); family/homestead/cemetery photographs in Poland and neighboring countries; document translation; gen-trips in Poland for visiting Pol-Am root-seekers.

Michał J. Marciniak, General Manager (fluent English)
cellphone: (48) 507 030 334
office@polgenresearch.com
polgenresearch.com

Professional genealogical research
Historian searches archives, provides facsimiles of documents, photos (families, homesteads, graves), accepts other assignments.
Emil Krasnodębski, ul. Pawińskiego 28/7
02-106 Warsaw, Poland: cellphone: (48) 506-152-129
polishgenealogy@rubikon.pl
polishgenealogy.com.pl

Cyndi's List of Polish Genealogical Sites
Extensive listing of Polish genealogy, history and culture sites: archives, libraries, museums, records press resources (obits), mailing lists, newsgroups, chat groups, useful publications, maps, software and other resources facilitating ancestral exploration.

cyndislist.com/poland.htm

Online Polish family-history service operated by US-based Norman J. Pieniążek and his associates in Poland, conducts family research all over Poland (also Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania) and can help clients obtain family records and documents;

Norman@PolishExpress.com
polishexpress.com

Polish/E.European locality-searching site
Contains listings of Polish localities and detailed maps of Poland, former Polish territory now in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and other Central and East European countries.)

jewishgen.org/ShtetlSeeker/loctown.htm

Old Documents Archives

Genealogical research unit indicates whether sought-after information is available and provides research-cost estimate: before accepting assignments.
Archiwum Akt Dawnych
ul. Długa 7, 00-950 Warsaw, Poland
phone: (48-22) 831-5491>93
chagad@poczta.onet.pl
archiwa.gov.pl

Central State Archives Authority
Located next door to the Archiwum Akt Dawnych [at left] it provides the addresses of regional archives across Poland.
Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych
ul. Długa 6, 00-950 Warsaw, Poland
phone: (48-22) 831-3206
archiwa.gov.pl

Professional translation of family correspondence, documents, etc. from Polish, Russian, German and Latin into English: Andrew Gołębiowski
109 Rosemead Lane, Cheektowaga, NY 14227
phone: (716) 892-5975
andywbuffalo@yahoo

Polish Red Cross Tracing Service
Traces WWII victims living & dead free of charge.
Biuro Poszukiwań Polski Czerwony Krzyż
ul. Mokotowska 14; 00-950 Warsaw, Poland
phone: (48-22) 326-1264; fax: (48-22) 628-4348
pck.org.pl/poszukiwania/
tracing.service@pck.org.pl

Tracking down church/parish records
Poland's Roman Catholic Church website (opoka.org.pl) may help track down diocesan archives, museums, libraries, organizations and individual parishes around the country.

Polish locality and general data base
This site locates Polish localities, contains zip codes, area codes, train schedules, weight, measure & temperature conversions, namedays, etc.

bazy.hoga.pl/kody.asp

Information Access Department
This official Polish government agency has on file the addresses of all Poles currently living in Poland or who
have died since 1990. Addresses are provided upon written request with the consent of the sought-after party.
Wydział Udostępniania Informacji
ul. Domaniewska 36/38, 02-672 Warsaw, Poland
phone: (48-22) 610-1839 Tracing long-lost relations

Poland's best-known private detective agency engages in locating relatives and others in Poland and abroad:
Biuro Doradcze Krzysztof Rutkowski
phone: (48-22) 654-0062, 620-5033
website: rutkowskidetektyw.pl
e-mail: biuro@rutkowskidetektyw.pl

Other Internet sites of interest to Polish root-seekers:

- rootsweb.com/~polwgw/
- jewishgen.org/databases/galicia1891.htm
- infobel.com/teldir/
- genealogyunlimited.com
- hamburg.de/LinkToYourRoots/english/welcome.htm

Tracing long-lost relations
Poland's oldest private investigation bureau tracks down long-lost relations, keeping tabs on business partners, spouses, children, etc.:
Protect Agency
phone: (48-22) 750-6151
cellphone: (48) 502-709-773;
website: protect-ochrona.com

Tracing Soviet victims
This organization researches and documents the fate of Poles victimized by the Soviet authorities in WWII:
Fundacja Ośrodka KARTA
ul. Narbutta 29, 02-536 Warsaw, Poland
phone: (+48 22) 848-0712, fax: 646-6511
e-mail: indeks@karta.org.pl

Tracing Nazi victims
This foundation documetns and assists victims of Nazi atrocities and their families:
Fundacja Polsko-Niemieckie Pojednanie
ul. Krucza 36, 00-921 Warsaw, Poland; phone:
(+48 22) 695-9941
website: fpnp.pl
e-mail: informacja@fpnp.pl

Genealogy / Last Name: DOWGIALLO from Poland [44]

The original Lithuanian form of this name was probably Daugela.

Life / Famous / Iconic Polish Women [48]

Thread attached on merging:
OUTSTANDING POLISH FEMALES...

How about Pola Negri (Apolonia Chałupiec), Stephanie Powers (Fiderkiewicz), Gail Kobe and Martha Stewart (Kostyra)