Polish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Meanings

Polish last names, often called surnames, are a fascinating window into Polish history and culture. They often reveal ancestry, place of origin, profession, or even personal characteristics. This comprehensive list delves into the rich meanings behind some of the most common Polish last names, providing insights into their etymological roots and cultural significance.
1. **Kowalski:** A very common surname, meaning "blacksmith" (from "kowal" - blacksmith). It reflects the importance of blacksmithing in Polish society for centuries.

2. **Nowak:** Meaning "new," this surname refers to someone who was a recent arrival in a village or who was born after a significant event, such as a war or plague.

3. **Wiśniewski:** From "wiśnia" - cherry, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near cherry trees or perhaps owned a cherry orchard.

4. **Kowalczyk:** A diminutive form of "Kowalski," meaning "little blacksmith." It could have been given to a son of a blacksmith or to someone who was a particularly skilled blacksmith.

5. **Zieliński:** Meaning "from the field" (from "pole" - field), this surname indicates a rural origin.

6. **Jankowski:** From "Jan" - John, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named John, or perhaps lived in a village named after John.

7. **Szymański:** From "Szymon" - Simon, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Simon, or perhaps lived in a village named after Simon.

8. **Wójcik:** Meaning "little mayor" (from "wój" - mayor), this surname suggests that the original bearer was a village leader.

9. **Lewandowski:** From "lew" - lion, this surname suggests that the original bearer was either courageous or strong, or perhaps had some connection to a lion symbol.

10. **Michalski:** From "Michał" - Michael, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Michael, or perhaps lived in a village named after Michael.

11. **Pawłowski:** From "Paweł" - Paul, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Paul, or perhaps lived in a village named after Paul.

12. **Woźniak:** Meaning "wagoner" (from "wóz" - wagon), this surname indicates a profession related to transportation.

13. **Kamiński:** From "kamień" - stone, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near a stone quarry or a stone building.

14. **Dąbrowski:** From "dąb" - oak, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near an oak tree or in a forest with oaks.

15. **Majewski:** From "maj" - May, this surname could have been given to someone born in May, or perhaps someone who was a leader (from "maja" - a term for a leader in some Polish communities).

16. **Kwiatkowski:** From "kwiat" - flower, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near a flower garden or perhaps owned a flower shop.

17. **Zając:** Meaning "hare," this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was agile, quick, or even shy.

18. **Sikorski:** From "sika" - roe deer, this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was graceful or quick.

19. **Urban:** Meaning "urban," this surname indicates that the original bearer lived in a city or town.

20. **Borkowski:** From "bór" - pine forest, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near a pine forest.

21. **Wróbel:** Meaning "sparrow," this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was small or quick.

22. **Górski:** Meaning "mountainous" (from "góra" - mountain), this surname suggests that the original bearer lived in a mountainous region.

23. **Wasilewski:** From "Wasyl" - Basil, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Basil, or perhaps lived in a village named after Basil.

24. **Sadowski:** From "sad" - orchard, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near an orchard or perhaps owned an orchard.

25. **Olszewski:** From "olcha" - alder, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near an alder tree or in a forest with alders.

26. **Mazur:** A surname referring to a person from Mazovia, a historical region in central Poland.

27. **Sobczak:** Meaning "little dog" (from "sob" - dog), this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was loyal or friendly.

28. **Wojciechowski:** From "Wojciech" - a name meaning "warrior's joy," this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Wojciech, or perhaps lived in a village named after Wojciech.

29. **Kwiecień:** Meaning "April," this surname could have been given to someone born in April.

30. **Kacprzak:** From "Kacper" - Casper, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Casper, or perhaps lived in a village named after Casper.

31. **Marciniak:** From "Marcin" - Martin, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Martin, or perhaps lived in a village named after Martin.

32. **Stachowiak:** From "Stach" - Stanislaus, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Stanislaus, or perhaps lived in a village named after Stanislaus.

33. **Tomczak:** From "Tomasz" - Thomas, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Thomas, or perhaps lived in a village named after Thomas.

34. **Andrzejewski:** From "Andrzej" - Andrew, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Andrew, or perhaps lived in a village named after Andrew.

35. **Głowacki:** From "głowa" - head, this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was intelligent or clever.

36. **Mikołajczyk:** From "Mikołaj" - Nicholas, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Nicholas, or perhaps lived in a village named after Nicholas.

37. **Grześkowiak:** From "Grzegorz" - Gregory, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named Gregory, or perhaps lived in a village named after Gregory.

38. **Jasiński:** From "Jan" - John, this surname suggests that the original bearer was named John, or perhaps lived in a village named after John.

39. **Wróblewski:** From "wróbel" - sparrow, this surname could be a descriptive nickname for someone who was small or quick.

40. **Malinowski:** From "malina" - raspberry, this surname suggests that the original bearer lived near a raspberry bush or perhaps owned a raspberry orchard.