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

Bajdo: first recorded in 1789, from Old Polish bajda "blabber, gossipmonger." No apparent meaning in contemporary Polish. Currently, 128 Bajdos live in Poland.
Woloszyn: from Slavic first name Wolimir or from verb woleć "to prefer" or from noun wola "will." Currently, only 4 Woloszyns live in Poland.

If originally spelled Wołoszyn: first recorded in 1359, from Wołoch "a member of pastoral people in Carpathian Mountains of Romanian origin. Wołochs were mistakenly thought to be from Italy, hence the name of Italy and Italians in Polish is Włochy. Currently, 6682 Wołoszyns live in Poland.

History / Is there a list of those in the Polish Army during WWII? [192]

@vodopad
My mistake. Thanks.


No, the list is not searchable this way. You'd have go name by name. But when I randomly searched few hundred names on the list I noticed that there are very few young soldiers born in 1926, and I found only one born in 1927 (but not Stanisław). So there is a good chance you will find very few Stanisławs born in 1927, and luckily only one. Unforunately, vodopad is right and the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division was also a part of the II Corps and fought at MC. It was a huge division too, and I didn't find a list of its soldiers on the internet. Such lists are in books published long time ago.

History / Is there a list of those in the Polish Army during WWII? [192]

If he fought at Monte Cassino, he was in the Polish II Corps. If he was in infantry, he had to be in the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division. The division was 29000 strong. Here's the list of all names, followed by birth date, rank, etc.:

stankiewicz.e.pl/index.php?kat=42&sub=644
I have no idea how to find your father's name there. There are many sites dedicated to the Polish soldiers who fought in the II Corps, at Monte Cassino, etc. (some in English) - with personal stories perhaps worth checking out.

Language / -ski/-ska, -scy/ski, -wicz - Polish surnames help [185]


They do. The ending -ski creates an adjective. All ski-names are adjectives. The name of Poland in Polish "Polska" is originally also an adjective (since the 19th century also used as a noun). However, Polish ski-names started to form not earlier than the 13th century and became very popular only in the 16th century. The equivalents of Slavic -ski and -cki in English are -ic and -ish. Celtycki=Celtic; brytyjski=British.

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

Szybkowski: first recorded in 1747, root word szybki "quick, swift, fast." Currently, 114 Szybkowskis and 111 Szybkowskas (females) live in Poland:

Life / Halloween vs All Saints' Day in Poland [48]

Celtic All Hallows' Eve is closely related to Slavic Zaduszki. Zaduszki, an ancient pagan festival, has nothing to do with All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday. All Saints Day celebrates martyrs for Catholic faith, not dead relatives. All Saints Day is on November 1, Zaduszki on November 2. Poles often confuse the two holidays. For some unknown reason All Saints Day is a state holiday in Poland, while more ancient and more Polish Zaduszki is not.

Language / -ski/-ska, -scy/ski, -wicz - Polish surnames help [185]

Dziemieszkiewicz: from first name Damian, first recorded in Poland in the 12 century as Damijan (1178), Doman (1250), Demijan (1405). The name came to Polish from Latin Damianus, which came to Rome from Greece and to Greece from Egyptian godess Damia. All in all, Dziemieszkiewicz is the son of an Egyptian godess. Currently, 50 Dziemieszkiewiczs live in Poland.

Rychorcewicz/Hychorcewicz: No such names in Poland. Both most likely misspelled. There are many similar names to "Hychorcewicz": Hryhorkiewicz, Hryhorkowicz, Hryhorowicz, Hryhorowski. They all mean "son of Gregory."

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]


Well, it does make sense because there is Lipnica Wielka in Orawa region. In fact, there are 2 villages of the same name in Lesser Poland Voivodeship:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipnica_Wielka,_Nowy_Targ_County
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipnica_Wielka,_Nowy_S%C4%85cz_County

There are over 50000 villages in Poland, so if you are down to 2 that's a good start.

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]

It's not Lipiniki, it's most likely Lipinki. There are 10 villages called Lipinki in present day Poland, 3 - I think - in former Galicia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipinki,_Lesser_Poland_Voivodeship
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipinki,_Bia%C5%82a_Podlaska_County
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipinki,_Che%C5%82m_County

It's not much, but it's a start. The rest is up to you. Good luck.

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]


You're approaching it the wrong way. You cannot search for your ancestor among 3116 Wilczaks living in hundreds of localities and parishes in Poland. First you have to find out which locality your ancestor came from and in which year. If, for example, your ancestor came to the USA through Ellis Island, you have to search the archives there, ships' logs. Only when you have the locality and the year, then you can try to contact the local government or parish. Or you can try ancestry search sites on the internet; there are many.

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

Kendik: from Proto-Slavic kąd-, kędr-, later kądek "curl, lock, bride's hair after cutting." Currently, 28 Kendiks live in Poland: 27 in Nysa and 1 in Krosno.

Dombec: root word dąb "oak." Currently, 4 Dombecs live in Poland: 2 in Nowy Dwór Gdański and 2 in Elbląg.

No Dombyk, but Dombik "little oak." 11 Dombiks live in Poland: 6 in Kluczbork and 5 in Namysłów.

No Parasczuk, but Paraszczuk: probably from the name Paramon used in Eastern Orthodox Church, from Greek Parámonos "faithful." Polonized Ukrainian name. Currently, 138 Paraszczuks live in Poland, most in Krasnystaw on the border with Ukraine.

Paraszczynsk/Paraszczyński: Currently, no one uses this name in Poland.

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]


It depends on the language:
English (Wikipedia): Oświęcim=Oświęcim
Czech: Oświęcim=Osvětim
Slovak: Oświęcim=Osvienèim
Yiddish: Oświęcim=Oshpitsin
Russian: Oświęcim=Освенцим
Latin: Oświęcim=Osswencimen or Osviecimensis
Only in German: Oświęcim=Auschwitz
Oświęcim is an ancient Polish town dating to the 12 century. Auschwitz-Birkenau was a German built and operated extermination camp located in and around Oświęcim in occupied Poland.


There is a connection between Wilczaks and Auschwitz-Birkenau: a dozen Wilczaks were inmates there. One was Jewish - Lejb Wilczak. He was murdered. The rest were probably all Polish Catholics. One survived, five were murdered, according to A-B Museum records:

pl.auschwitz.org/m/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=97


I'm not an expert on that. But first you have to find out which localities in Poland your relatives came from. Then you can contact relevant local governments or parishes and request records.

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]


Oświęcim: 218
Chrzanów: 177
£ańcut: 130...
Here is the map for Wilczak by county and city:
moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/wilczak.html


Yes. This is the official Wilczak Coat of Arms:


I don't know. Most likely in a parish document.

Genealogy / Wilczak; Mary and John came from Lipinki [13]

Wilczak: first recorded in 1426; from wilk "wolf." Currently, 3116 Wilczaks live in Poland.

Genealogy / Surname: Basaraba, Koscian - is it Polish or Tatar? [5]

Kościan: from kość "bone" or in Eastern Poland from the name Konstanty (diminutive Kostek). It's a Polish name, but can be used by a person of any ethnicity or religion.

Genealogy / Andreij Ulicki or Andrés Ulicki Ancestors [2]

4 - 6 Ulickis and 1 - 3 Ulickas live in Augustów County. None in Suwałki. Most Ulickis and Ulickas live in Warsaw:

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

Siwecki: root word siwy "gray", "gray-haired"; from place named Siwce, Siwica, Siwki, etc. Many similar names: Siwek, Siwiak, Siwicki, Siwiecki, Siwielec, Siwienko, Siwień, etc.

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

Dukacz: root word dukać "to stammer" or from duk "hollow, hole." Currently, 116 people named Dukacz live i Poland, mostly in Lubaczów on the border with Ukraine:

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

Wyrembelski: from wyrąb/wyręb/wyremb "clearing (in the forest)", "felling trees" or from a village called Wyrąb. Currently, 27 Wyrembelskis and 31 Wyrembelskas (female version) live in Poland.

Genealogy / Does anyone have any information about the surname Marciniszyn? [2]

Marciniszyn: from first name Marcin, this from Latin Martinus "belonging to the god of war Mars". 1079 people in Poland are named Marciniszyn:

Robak: first recorded in 1340, from robak "worm, insect." 7386 people in Poland are named Robak:

Robakova: Czech or Slovak, wife or daughter of Robak. In Polish, it would be spelled Robakowa (wife of Robak, but not daughter) - dated. In Poland, your mother couldn't be Robakowa because she was the wife of Marciniszyn, not Robak. As a daughter of Robak she would be Robakówna.

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

Chudywa, Dukasz, Chygyrinski: Currently, no one uses these names in Poland; possibly misspelled Polish names.

Genealogy / Bernatowicz surname? (I am starting to wonder if anyone in my family was American?) [85]

Bernatowicz: first recorded in Poland in 1507, from first name Bernard which was first recorded in the 12 century, of Germanic origin from Bernhard: beren "bear" and hard "strong". The ending "wicz" is Polish and means "son of". Currently, 1172 people named Bernatowicz live in Poland.

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

Dubiel: first recorded in 1424, from Old Polish dubiel "fool; a kind of fish".

Sources:

a/ Kazimierz Rymut, "Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno - etymologiczny", Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN, Kraków 1999
b/ Kazimierz Rymut, 'Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno - etymologiczny, Wydawnictwo Naukowe DWN, Kraków 2001
c/ Zofia Kaleta, "Słownik etymologiczno-motywacyjny staropolskich nazw osobowych. Odmiejscowe nazwy osobowe", Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN, Kraków 1997
d/ Aleksandra Cieślikowa 'Słownik etymologiczno-motywacyjny staropolskich nazw osobowych. Odapelatywne nazwy osobowe', Wydawnictwo Naukowe DWN, PAN, Instytut Języka Polskiego, Kraków 2000
e/ Maria Malec 'Słownik etymologiczno-motywacyjny staropolskich nazw osobowych. Nazwy osobowe pochodzenia chrześcijańskiego', Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Języka Polskiego, Kraków 1995
f/ Zygmunt Klimek, 'Słownik etymologiczno-motywacyjny staropolskich nazw osobowych. Nazwy osobowe pochodzenia niemieckiego', Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Języka Polskiego, Kraków 1997

Genealogy / Is Witkowski A Common Polish Surname? [4]

Witkowski: moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/witkowski.html

Witkowska: moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/witkowska.html

101-150 Witkowskis and 151 - 200 Witkowskas live in Rypin County.

Life / Would getting a Polish eagle tattoo be frowned upon?? [38]

I know a Polish guy with a big tattoo on his forearm: Made in Poland.

Work / Farming jobs in Poland? I've studied animal science in university, plenty of experience [9]


You answered it yourself: because these jobs are seasonal. And they are specific: simple, manual jobs mostly in agriculture and construction. Work permits are for steady jobs all year round; any jobs.


The farmer has to declare that he can't find Polish pickers. Then his declaration is checked in the regional unemployment office if it is true. At least in theory, because in practice everyone knows that there are not many Poles willing to do seasonal work in agriculture in Poland. The government has to approve most of farmers' declarations because there would be a shortage of some 200,000 seasonal workers in agriculture. But it doesn't mean that the government is encouraging Ukrainians to work on Polish farms. The government would prefer Poles doing low paying seasonal jobs to lower unemployment or to discourage many of them from taking early retirement and working off the books.

Work / Farming jobs in Poland? I've studied animal science in university, plenty of experience [9]


Seems logical. The government doesn't encourage Ukrainians to work on Polish farms. It's the farmers who want cheaper foreign labor. The farmer has to prove that he can't find Polish fruit and vegetable pickers - which is easy, despite high unemployment, because Poles don't want to do these jobs for wages paid to Ukrainians. Same story with Poles in Germany and UK. Ukrainians usually pick fruits and vegetables, and anticuy would easily find legal or illegal employment doing that, but jobs like that are seasonal. To work for 2 years on a Polish farm he would probably have to work with animals, for which he's qualified, but these jobs are full time, pay better, and have Poles doing them,so there's no need for foreigners.

Work / Farming jobs in Poland? I've studied animal science in university, plenty of experience [9]

12.9% of Polish labor force is employed in agriculture producing miniscule 4% of GDP. Any additional employment in agriculture (especially foreign) is highly discouraged by the government.

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

Paderewski: first recorded in 1580, toponimic from the village Paderew in Masovian Voivodeship. Paderew from German Pader or Bader meaning "barber" who also specialized in simple medical procedures such as bloodletting. Currently, 202 Paderewskis and 211 Paderewskas live in Poland, most just north and west of the ancestral village. A typical Paderewski:

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

Kuberski: first recorded in 1626, from the village Kubra, £omża County, Podlaskie Voivodeship. Kubra first recorded in 1497, has no meaning in Polish as it is of Baltic origin (Old Prussian or Yotvingian). 917 Kuberskis and 914 Kuberskas (females) live in Poland. Surprisingly, none of them live in southeastern Poland as this map shows: You have a Polish name with Old Baltic roots.

Chmielewski: root word chmiel or "hops", first recorded in 1415, from one of many localities called Chmielów or "Hopsville." Popular: 16646 Chmielewskis and 17780 Chmielewskas live in Poland.