A lot of times my friends ask me what does my maiden last name mean. It actually doesn’t mean anything. Also, it is not a typical Polish last name (it is Poterek). However you can definitely recognize a lot of typical Polish last names.

Like all European cultures, the Polish last names are passed on from the father to his children.

Polish last name or nazwisko (pl. nazwiska) is used as a family name like all European cultures. The personal name of an individual, imię, is always followed by the Polish last name. The original Polish surnames were used to associate someone with something. For example, a profession was used as the basis of surname, like a carpenter was called Cieśla. In some cases, when a child was born, a suffix would be added to his name. For example, Symański, as in son of Simon. The Polish surnames have been developed from four major sources.

Polish Last Names Origins:

The four sources that lead to the development of Polish last names are as follows:

Description: A unique quality of an individual or a physical feature that was prominent, was used as a pet name or nickname. These nicknames slowly got converted into Polish surnames.

Patronymic and Metronymic Surnames: This name was based on the surnames that were derived from the first name of a well respected ancestor’s first name. Most of the surnames were derived from the father’s name, though few names came from the first name of a well respected or wealthy female ancestor. These surnames often have endings with -icz, -wicz, -owicz, -ewicz, and -ycz. These endings usually mean ‘son of’. Other suffixes like -czak, -czyk, -iak, -ak, -ik, and -yk also mean something like ‘son of’ or ‘little’.

Place Surnames: This is one of the most common sources of Polish last name origins. The last name was usually derived from the area or location where the first bearer of the family lived. The names of towns, countries or geographical features were converted into Polish last names. However, not all surnames lead to the ancestral villages as most of the place names in Poland have been changed or disappeared over time. However, the suffix -owski is derived from place names that end with -y, -ow, -owo, -owa, etc.

Occupation: There are many Polish last names that have been derived on the basis of a person’s job or trade. Thus, a person was recognized by his family profession.

A lot of Polish last names will have deifferent endings depending on the sex of the person. Let’s say female could be Nowakowski, but his wife could be Nowakowska. I don’t think there is a special rule, because in other family both male and female will have last name: Nowakowski.

Some of the common Polish last names that have the most widespread use:

• Wiśniewski
• Wójcik
• Kowalczyk
• Kamiński
• Lewandowski
• Zieliński
• Szymański
• Woźniak
• Dąbrowski
• Kozłowski
• Jankowski
• Nowaczek
• Wojciechowski
• Kwiatkowski
• Krawczyk
• Kaczmarek
• Piotrowski
• Bagiński
• Grabowski
• Kowalsi
• Nowak

Famous Polish Last Names

Polish last names have originated since the middle ages, but it was only about 200 years ago that use of surnames became compulsory. Some of the Polish last names became popular of over the years. These names were derived from profession, some names came from trees and few originated from place of origin. The following are a few popular and famous Polish last names.

• Nowak
• Kowalski
• Wiśniewski
• Wójcik
• Kowalczyk
• Kamiński
• Lewandowski
• Zieliński
• Szymański
• Woźniak
• Dąbrowski
• Kozłowski
• Jankowski
• Mazur
• Wojciechowski

There are many Polish last names that I may have missed out in the above list. But, you can find your family tree over the Internet through sites that offer information on genealogy and family history.

Please let me know if you have questions in comments below.

Do następnego razu! (Till next time…)