Language / WHY IS SATELITA MASCULINE? [25]

But satelita in a cosmic sense was first -- satellite TV came much later. WHy at that time (in the late 1950s and early 60s as far as artifical satellites are concerned) was it decided and by whom to make satelita masculine?

Language / WHY IS SATELITA MASCULINE? [25]

If true, that's interesting. I never thought "ten planeta" could have ever been correct.

Genealogy / Kosakiewicz family / Sochowski [29]

Only 299 people in Poland answer to Kosakiewicz which may make it easier to tack down your ancestry. Chances are you are related to all or most of them. At least it's better than being a Nowak (more than 200,000 users) or Kowalski (140,000).

The Kosakiewiczes are widely scattered without any one obvious ancestral nest visible. Larger clusters are found in the Świętokrzyskie Mt area (Kielce) area (77) of southern Poland, in and around Ostrołęka (32) NE of Warsaw, the central cities of Sieradz (32) and neighbouring £ódź area (13) and in the Kalisz area (33) due west of Sieradz. Another 39 reside in and around the inland Baltic port of Szczecin.

Name origin: someone got nicknamed Kosak either because he was associated with a cabbage-coring knife by that name or hailed from the village of Kosakowo. When he fathered a son, fellow-villagers instinctively gave the offspring the patronymic nickname Kosakiewicz.

Life / Funeral Traditions in Poland [66]

Contact me

History / What Was Poland like in the year 1988? [50]

Czemu płacesz, pyta czyżyk młody?
Masz tu lepsze niż w polu wygody.
Jesteś młody, przeto ci wybaczę.
Byłem wolny, teraz w klatce i dlatego płaczę.

I'm not sure if I have quoted it exactly, but a little cage bird asks the older bird why he is crying when he's got things much better than outdoors.

The older one replies: I was free and now I'm in a cage and that is why I am weeping.

Genealogy / Kosakiewicz family / Sochowski [29]

Kozakiewicz (son of the Cossack) is etymologically unrelated to Kosakiewicz although in rapid speech they may sound alike. No wonder you are familiar with Kozakiewicz. There are more than 5,000 in Poland and perhaps another 1,200 in N. America and world-wide, but fewer than 300 Kosakiewiczes.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]


Dmuchowski, Dmóchowski and Dmochowski probably started as a toponymic nicknames from at least six localities called Dmochy (Blowton, Gustville).


Regional toponymic adjective Śląski (pronounced: SHLON-skee) from the southern region of Śląsk (Silesia). Others include the nouns Ślązak and Ślęzak


A stumper indeed! Not only is there no-one named Firomski in Poland, but I have also struck out with a number of hypothetical spelling variants such as: Fieromski, Piromski, Pieromski, Wiromski, Wieromski, Chwiromski, Chwieromski, Kwiromski, Kwieromski....

Please check your ancestor's Old World documents (preferably birth/baptismal or marriage certificates if possible for the original spelling which may have become deformed over the years.

Genealogy / Waraksa surname: how to find an emails in Poland? [12]

Waraksa is a name of Jadvingian origin (if you read Polish visit:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%C4%87wingowie

The Jadvingians (Jadźwingowie) were a pagan Baltic people wedged in between the Lithuanians and pagan Prussians. The name's meaning is obscure (my Jadvigian isn't that good!). Half of Poland's 660-some Waraksas live in and around the NE town of Suwałki on the Lithuanian border.

Life / Russian rap vs Polish rap [87]

ALL RAP IS CRAP!!!!

USA, Canada / Why no Polish stuff in Chicago? [41]

Around Wausaukee, WI

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Jankowski might have arisen as a patronymic nickname meaningson fo Janek, but the majority of -wski surnames are toponymic in origin, so more likely than not it emerged to identify someone as a native of Janków, Jankowo or Janki.

Siedlarz is dialectic for siodlarz (saddle & harness maker)

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Waszak and Wasiak are both patronymic nicknames from the Ruthenian first name Wasyl (Polish: Bazyli), ie "Basil's boy".

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]


Fabiszewski = toponymic nickname for native of the locality of Fabiszew (probably from the hypocoristic or endearing form of Fabian -- Fabiś, Fabuś, Fabek)
Więczykowski = toponymic nickname for native of the locality of Więczyków or Więczykowo (probably from "więcyk/więczyk" -- an archaic dialectic from of the word "więcej" = more).


Kavtievski or its Polish phonetic rendering Kawtiewski (except for the -ski which could be of other-Slavonic origin) does not look Polish nor does anyone in Poland use it. It may have been misspelt.


Niemczura might be roughly translated as that "kraut *****", "Teutonic slut", "Hitlerite hag", etc.

Re Niemczura -- yes, -ura is usually a pejorative suffix as in "szlachciura" -- old, broken, down, good-for-nothing, set-in-this-ways petty nobleman.


Re Stankiewicz -- patronymic nickname meaning Stanek's boy (Eng. Stanson)

Re Samsel -- German/Yiddish hypocoristic of Samson, less likely Samuel.


Re Narodowiec = nationalist; rather strange for a nickname-turned-surname.


Re Pałęski -- topnymic nickname for someone from Pałęgi in the Świętokrzyski Mts; a pałęga is a clearing or not overgrown section of a garden.


Re Czwakiel -- obscure. Possibly from szwak (archaic term for brother-in-law) or German/Yiddish adj. schwach (weak), ergo a weakling? But this is all very dubious.

Genealogy / Waraksa surname: how to find an emails in Poland? [12]

There are some 7,000 Sobańskis which will make it difficult to track anyone down. This link shows you the distribution: moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/soba%25C5%2584ski.html

You wrote Sobańska/Sobanki -- is that supposed to be a hyphenated surname name, an alternative spelling or what?

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Indeed, these concocted examples were intended only to convey the general flavour of negativity to English speakers. One could have added something like szwabska zdzira and translated it as Teutonic tootsie.

No sweat about Niemczura and its etymology. With the exception of the most outrageous or obscene-sounding names (Moczymorda, Pierdoła or Kutas), the meaning of most surnames in all lanmgauegs has undergone lexicalisation. That means they are treated simply as surnames regardless of their original meanings. In English too if we meet someone named Baker, Cooper or Cartwright we do not usually ask them how many loaves, barrels or carts they have produced that day, because these are only names.

That also applies to words, and the Russian word for hair-dresser (perukmacher) comes to mind. It's original meaning was wig-maker but today it means only hairdresser.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

The -czyk ending usually indicates a patroynmic nickname-turned-surname, so Niemczyk probably originated to mean "son of the German" or (toponymically) "son of the bloke from Niemce, Niemcz, Niemczewo, Niemcowizna, Niemczyn or Niemcówka" (all those localities exist in Poland).


The root is szczygieł (goldfinch, bird species), but Szczygliński originated most likely as a toponymic nickname traceable to a locality called Szczyglin (Goldfinchville).

Janas is one of a plethora of surnames derived from Jan (John). Others include: Janek, Janik, Janiak, Janda, Janczak, Jasik, Jasiak, Jaśkiewicz, Janowicz and many more.


Witko, Witek and Wituś are hypocoristic (endearing dimunituve) forms of the first name Witold.
In America, it might have been a shortened version of Witkowski, which would be a toponymic nickname identiying soemone as a native of Witków or Witkowo.

Food / Polish head cheese [46]

Although head cheese, also known in English as pork brawn, and jellied pig's knuckles (feet, trotters) may seem similar at first glance, they are not the same.

The jellied feet are an aspic dish containing pork trotters and hocks and maybe pork meat. Some add a cooked sliced sliced or hard-cooked eggs for nicer colour. The Brawn is a more compact sliceable lunch meat made largely from the pig's head (jowls, lips, ears, brains with maybe some trotters added).

The head cheese is known as sacleson in Polish.
The jellied pig's feet are: nóżki wieprzowe w galarecie, galareta z nóżek wieprzowych, zimne nogi or studzienina in different parts of Poland.

Food / Polish head cheese [46]

Head cheese or brawn is not only encased in a bladder but is far less gelatinous. In fact it is compact enough to be sliceable. It would be difficult to cut zimne nogi into slices, that's why it is seved in squares.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Marzec (March) and other months as well as days of tenved as nicknames marking someone's time of birth or conversion (usually from Judaeism to Catholicism). It could have also orignated as a toponymic nikcname traceable to such localities as Marzęcin, Marzecice, Marzewo or Marcówka.


Bejma most likely originated from one of the following two sources:
1. As a version of Bem or Bema which came from German Böhme (Bohemian, Czech).
2. The Yiddish word bejm (tree) from German Baum.


Spejcher is the Polish phonetic respelling of the German word Speicher (granary). There is no-one in Poland by that name at present, but there is one person who spells his/her surname Spejchert. Incidentally, the Polish language borrowed the German word to create spichrz which subsequently evovled into spichlerz (granary).

Food / I need my Black Boss Porter beer - where to buy in Poland? [8]

I had never heard of Black Boss Porter so I looked it up. In adition to rave reviews I also found that the Witnica Brewery also produces a "bath beer" which supposedly provides relaxant and cosmetic effects. You pour 4/5 of the large bottle into your bath and drink the rest!!??

browar-witnica.pl/pages/posts/uwaga-nowosc-pierwsze-piwo-kB1pielowe-w-polsce.14.php

Life / The Polish Wedding - What is it Like in Poland? [338]

Anyone know why at Polish weddins in America guests clang glasses and cups wtih spoons raising a loud din as a sign for the bride and groom to kiss (often with their mouths full of food)? In Poland, they chant gorzko, gorzko instead.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Toponymic nickname for an inhabtiant of Latuszew or Latuszewo. Possibly translatable as Summerton, Summerville, Summerburg?

In a follow-up to the Latuszeski query, most likely some immigrant to the English-speaking world prudently dropped ther "w". If it had been left Latuszewski, the Anglos would have Anglo-mangled it into some such atrocity as "lotta-SHOE-ski". In primary school a young child with such a name might well get taunted with: "So you've got a lotta shoes, eh?"

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

It is a myth that -ski names are those of only the gentry. Yes, more famileis of noble ancestry have -ski names than any other single group of surnames, but the vast majority were commoners. Jan Brzeziński could indeed have been Sir John of Birchwood, but all the peasants living in that village would also be called Brzeziński by outsiders, ie inhabitants of surrounding villagers. WHere soemoen was from was ocne an important qualifier. To determine whether your ancestors were Lords of Latuszew or simple, dirt-poor peasants, you need to enlist the services of a professional genealogical firm.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Szurpicki – toponymic from Szurpice (Featherton, Slovenville); probably derived from szurpa (peasant dialect) for a curly-featured fowl or slovenly housewife.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Indeed, dirt-poor Podlasie was known for its inordinate number of impoverished petty gentry, who hitched their old lady up to plough but had a heraldic crest and sword to show they were nobility. That was probably because often entire villages were ennobled for defending the lord's castle or manor house against an invasion or some other service rendered to a prince or king. Do you really believe most Kowalskis, Nowakowskis, Brzezińskis, Jaworowskis, Kapuścińskis, etc.

Let's imagine there were a number of people named Jan in a hamlet called Jaworów. One was Jan Kowal or Kowalski (blacksmith or native of Kowale), Jan Ciemięga (clumsy oaf), Jan Stasiak (Stan's boy), Jan Piekarczyk's (the baker's son or helper), etc, etc. But to residents of surrounding villages any of those might have been called Jan Jaworowski. At the nickname stage (before surnames took root) one person might be called different things: Adam Garbed (humpbacked), Adam Gwizdała (the whistler), Adam Jasiewicz (Johnny's kid) or Adam WiIkowski (the bloke from Wilkowo). Which name ended up as his surname that got passed down to his children is a good question. The whole area of surname emergence is full of meanders, complexities and confusion.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

No, I haven't got a doctorate in szlachtology, but I have inforamlly studied this and other aspects of Polish history and culture for years. Podlasie was a place they called "laski, piaski and karaski". The latter is the cruceon (karaś -- a small fish that can survive in evaoporating, very-low-oxygen pools. They can be all head, tail and backbone covered with skin but little if any meat). Little more than potatoes grew in the sandy soil. "Boso lecz w ostrogach" (barefoot but in stirups) was also applied to the impoverished, soil-tilling gentry. Probably the percentage of szlachta in Podlasie was higher (12-15%) at different times in centuries past.

Gumishu -- I think you may find this item about the pettry gentry of Podlasie interesting.:
koc.pl/szl_podl.htm


No-one by that (Sopneski) spelling in Poland. Someone probably changed the spelling so it wouldn't get Anglo-mangled into sop-NOO-ski. Must have originally been Sopniewski -- toponymic nickname describing somerone from the village of Sopniew or Sopniewo. Possible etymolgogy: sopel (icicle) or sopeń (dialectic for supeł -- knot); hence Icicleville or Knotbury.


KUZDEBA: Could well be Russian. There are no suitable localities in Poland as possible toponymic sources, and the only word anywhere near that in Polish is kuzdroń, a dialectic name for common ivy (a plant).

There is only 1 Kuzdeba in Poland who lives in SW Poland's Opole area.


ŻAK: Etymology could incldue the following:
1. żak -- schoolboy, student, scholar
2. Żak -- Polish spelling of French Jacques
3. Zak -- Jewish rabbinical name from Hebrew contraction meaning "holy seed"
4. Toponymic nickname for someone from Żakowiec, Żakowo, Żakowice, Żaków, etc.


Eastern Polish patronymic nickname-turned-surname -- the equivalent of Stevenson.
The ethncially indigenous version would be Szczepaniak.

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

First Holy Communion is yet another celerbation that has been stripped of its spiritual dimension and subjected to agrgressive pop-culture commercialism which brain-washed go-with-the-flow families feed and perpetuate. Like Sandy Clutz (Santa Claus) Christmas, it is all about spend through the nose and shop till you drop -- zero substance and mega-glitter and packaging so the filthy-rich exploiters can get even richer!

Genealogy / Looking for information on the name BUCZYNSKI / Todorowski / Trocki [16]

Buczyna (root-word buk = beech) is the Polish word for a grove of beech trees or beechwood timber. There are seveal localities in Poland called Buczyna and probably some in the Lwów (Lviv) area as well which well could have generated the Buczyński toponymic nickname to indicate a local inhabitant.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Duszek and Duczek are Polish names (the first meaning little ghost, the 2nd -- a lidded barrel for storing flour, groats, etc.). Dušek or Duèek would be their equivalents in Slovak and Czech and in the Cyrillic tongues it would be Душек and Дучек respectively.

Pińsk was part of eastern Poland until Stalin annexed one-half of Poland's territory. It became part of the Belarussian Soviet Republic and after the collapse of the USSR -- the Republic of Belarus.