AF-276: Do You Have Polish Genealogy? | Ancestral Findings Podcast

Do You Have Polish Genealogy? You will almost certainly recognize it if you do, as Polish surnames look unlike any other surnames in the world. Knowing their meaning can tell you much about your Medieval Polish ancestors. Join me today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast, and I’ll talk about Polish surnames.
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[@Ancestralfindings]

Thank you for listening to the podcast and subscribing... I really appreciate it.

[@terrynstasha]

My great grandmother Maiden name was Wolkowitz. She was from Poland but she spoke Ukrainian (she might've spoke polish as well but I'm not sure) like her later Ukrainian husband my great grandfather. I haven't figured out how to get family documents from Poland and Ukraine or how to read them once I do. They're a horrible road block for me!

[@bobafett7356]

I think Kolimaga is but idk

[@Vielenberg]

@@terrynstasha What religion was she? Catholic? Eastern Orthodox? Greek Catholic?

[@terrynstasha]

@@Vielenberg she was eastern orthodox

[@Vielenberg]

@@terrynstasha If she was Eastern Orthodox by birth she was probably Ukrainian. Possibly from Volhynia. If that's true then the records are also in Ukraine.

[@Vielenberg]

0:55 I think you were trying to pronounce Brzęczyszczykiewicz (approx. B-ZHEN-CHI-SH-CHI-KIE-VICH). But that is not an actual surname. It was made-up for a movie. And even in that movie it was a made-up name, invented be the protagonist to annoy a German official. 2:50 The evolution of the "-ski" names is quite the opposite of what you said. When a family was living in a particular village for ages, they started to adopt an adjective -ski name from the name of that village, so people living in Borki were Borkowskis. And in the 1500s all the residents of Borki would be named like that - whether they were related or not. But when they moved to another village, let's say - Wola, they often changed their "surname" to match the village - so they were now Wolinskis. Only in the late 1600s and mostly in 1700s the names stuck for good. And only from this period we can talk about actual surnames or last names in Poland. Of course this only applied to noble class. Note that the "-ski" names of nobles only came from village names, never town names. Gentry or nobility were people owning land, so they were not living in towns. And you could be stripped of your noble status for living in a town for longer than 1 year. Of course there were some towns that developed from villages, so it may very. Zamoyski is definitely a noble coming from the family owning Zamość, but Zamość was a village before the Zamoyskis developed it into a city. Tarnowski - the example you used is also a noble name, coming from the town of Tarnów which was their early possesion. However, Krakowski is definitely not a noble name. It's a typical Jewish name created probably in the middle 1800s. Similar to Warszawski, Poznański etc.

[@theonethatgotaway3475]

Say do u know anything about the surname/lastname kluska? After all you seem pretty informed

[@Vielenberg]

@@theonethatgotaway3475 Kluska is a popular surname (over 5.000 people in Poland). "kluska" is a common word meaning a small dumpling. Google the plural form "kluski" for details. As a surname its a typical peasant name created from a common thing - in this case a dish. "Kluska" may also be used in reference to a fat person (as a slightly derogatory term) but this is probably not the origin of this name. This name is shown in written records as early as late XIII century.

[@izqaa1141]

@@theonethatgotaway3475 you are a very delicious kluska so. Maybe your ancestor used to be a cook. Try kluski śląskie.. Silesian Dumpling. Polish people don't really pay attention to names thought and their meaning. We're very nationalist and focus on our very confusing and important history instead.

[@2d40]

How about Slazinski.

[@fox570808]

@@2d40 I suppose you mean Ślaziński - originate from word "ślaz" meaning a plant - malva.

[@andrewczuba498]

my surname is Czuba. From what I've learn from my father, relatives and people from Poland, it means a hilltop, crest or peak, it can also mean a tuft of wheat or grass likened to the hair on top of a person's head. I found a small mountain in south eastern Poland with this name. My dziadek /grandfather came from southern Poland..

[@Ohhiohh]

What state?

[@geraldbrefka1145]

I found a trick to find your Polish family coat of arms. The 1st thing you need to know in order to keep your surname is that it must have been won in battle. If you were too young to join in battle or defense, then when the warriors returned, they would give you a new name that your family would keep until you won it in battle. 2nd, then look for the closets name with a coat of arms attached to then loom how many names are attached to that coat of arms, which are all decended from that coat of arms, then how many battles it took for your name to appear. Then, there are coats of arms attached to each name separate from the original. In my case my name is fourth down the list and the battle and year is attached to my coat of arms. The year was 1400 a d when a massive Tartar invasion took place, my family still being with their horse herd clan were found by the Hussars. While the women led the horses to Poland the clansmen join for defense of all Slavic lands. As well with all herds and herdsmen that were found. The herdsmen were not trained as Hussars so they formed the Archers unit. My namesake was the Commander of the Archers defending all Slavic lands during that campaign and won his coat of arms. We Slavs are decended from the Sarmatian knights and the Amazon women. You will find Sarmatian symbols on most of Slavic coat of arms regardless of what nation or tribe.

[@NoahBodze]

Very helpful, thank you.

[@tjmaci1863]

Many Polish names originated at the end of a long line of serf or serf-like positions in society. When Poland was partitioned, the Germans and Austrians...later Russians...required surnames for tax role purposes. Many landholder names were adopted or assigned to the labor on estates of that noble or aristocrat as the surname. This was the same in the USA when slavery existed and/or was abolished. Aristocrats might have had estates in various parts of Poland even after partition, with laborers on those estates bearing similar last names but being entirely different genetic stock totally unrelated from either the landholder or people with the same surname. This makes genetic tracing in Eastern Europe mostly dependent on following baptismal and church records...provided they are still extant and you know the region of origin.

[@TotusTuus85]

I come from Grusczynski and Fifelski lines. My 2x great grandfather was a gardener on a large estate in Poland and my 2x great grandmother, his wife, was a keeper of some sort at the estate. Both my Grusczynski and Fifelski lines come from the central and northwest part of the country. I’m able to trace the Fifelski line all the way to my 10x great grandfather Andreas Tyzyk who was born in 1580.

[@bartp4788]

What's your take on Popowski? My gr-gr-grandpa emigrated circa 1872, and had to renounce his loyalty to the Austrian Empire, so, southern Poland.

[@alauda1840]

Pop in Polish means an orthodox priest.

[@Vielenberg]

"Pop" does mean "an orthodox priest" in modern Polish, but the name Popowski probably comes from one of many Polish villages called "Popowo". The name "Popowo" in turn comes from "pop" which in medieval Polish meant "a priest" (not necessarily an orthodox one, it could have been a catholic priest).

[@staciehill8659]

When my dad moved to here Australia he and his mother (my babcia) had to change their surname, so it was hard to explain why to other people that we not related to another family that had the surname lol

[@JP-uj8wk]

My grandparents did the same x

[@williammartin2842]

My wife's old step father, born in 1921, was working out of a New York union hall after he got home from WWII. He noticed that a Polish immigrant was there every day to get called to work but never went out on jobs. Being a busy body of Italian decent he noticed so he goes to him and says, "What is your name?" He then brings him to the union boss calling men to work in rotation and finds the Pole's name on the list. He tells the man calling workers names that this guy name is now Joe (something?) and crosses off his Polish name and writes "Joe" on the list. He figured that the list reader kept skipping his name because he could not understand the spelling. Then he told the Polish man, "When they call out for Joe, you go to work that job".

[@barto4686]

Why the name change?

[@aprilbehnke9611]

Very interesting video. Our family changed the name on arrival in the US to a German one, but it was originally Bemka. Is there a pattern for names with a "ka" or just "a" ending?

[@Vielenberg]

Bemka probably comes from German 'Bohme' (a Czech from Bohemia). Hence the ending is 'ka'. But its possible that originally it was the German ending 'ke' ('Bemke').

[@minmarie4018]

Does anyone know what Placzkiewicz means? I've been trying to find it but I haven't found it yet ;-;

[@shroudedindarkness79]

Someone who cries a lot

[@minmarie4018]

@@shroudedindarkness79 That's very accurate to me tbh xD

[@KiingCasey]

My Grandpa's is Mals, he was born in Lomza.

[@zakstev]

The narrayor must be American as his Polish pronunciations are hugely incorrect. A pity.

[@penguinsfan251]

It was terrible pronunciation.

[@444_starss]

Ikr

[@henryDzieciontko]

Dzillaitko is my grandfathers second name and it doesn't appear anywhere on the internet.

[@mikesaunders4775]

Very interesting , though as a curious Englishman I would like to have seen the naming elements spelt out on screen.

[@TheM.F.]

If you care almost a year later, I’ll tell that the first abomination of a last name that he tried to pronounce is spelled brzęczyszczykiewić.

[@mikesaunders4775]

@@TheM.F. Thank you Michal, I don't think I dare try to attempt that one myself.

[@barto4686]

@@TheM.F. No, it's Brzęczyszczykiewicz.

[@masicily5471]

Hi thank you for making this video I have a question I hope you may be able to help with I'm researching my grandmother on my dad's side her maiden name was seidenberg which I looked up and it's the German name for a town in Poland named zawidow I know that my grandmother and her family were in America before ww2 could this mean she was polish the food she cooked was polish too

[@jimjoseph1656]

My maternal grandmothers maiden name was Zarko, which was changed from her grandfather's original surname of Ziarko who came from Brzozówka, Podlaskie, Poland. I know ziarnko means grain, but I'm not sure if that's the meaning for their surname as well

[@Vielenberg]

Yes. Ziarno = grain, seed. Ziarko = small grain. Ziarnko or Ziarenko = very small grain [ie. grain of sand].

[@barto4686]

Your ancestors were peasants.

[@franknebus4363]

Im Looking for the sir name Nebus from pozen and the mening let me know if you can help Thanks .

[@Vielenberg]

That name is most probably of German origin. Look here: geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=eng&search_lastname=nebus&search_lastname2=&from_date=&to_date=&exac=&rid=B&bdm=B&w=15wp

[@TMio-fj6sr]

@@Vielenberg Yeah there's few options. It got twisted over the years or it might be name with Prussian origin. Not necessarily German. Prussians where actually Slavic people. Their language and culture disappeared because of oppressive germanisation started by Teutonic Order. There's actually a small castle in Silesian district called that name. Silesians where slavic tribes as well germanized in late middle ages. They were part of Polish and Czech kingdoms as well as being independent as a bunch of duchies over the years. However beginning Nie- would suggest Slavic origin. It would be written differently if it would be German. All just guesses. You need to check church archives to actually get some valid data that will lead you in some direction on the beginning.

[@juleksz.5785]

From what i've read Nowak means "new (in the church)", like new baptised kind of new( aka new born), so it propably came from "oh someones kid has been born, and because there were few births now calling him the new one will be easier than remembering his name"

[@Vielenberg]

It's more like: Did you hear? There's a new guy ("nowak") in town. His name's John. And together with John the Blacksmith they got really drunk on Sunday. And broke the window in the church. - Who broke it? -John. -Which John? - John, the New Guy. You're right that 'Nowak' could also mean 'new in the Church' - but not a newly baptized baby (it would be easier to identify the baby by referring to its parents) but rather a Jewish convert to Christianity.

[@kclovelypinky8561]

On my mom's side my grandma's dad his parents r actually immigrants from Poland so their last is Klosinski. My great grandpa's dad was in the polish army which is so cool they knew how to speak fluent polish

[@evolutionangel1]

That beautiful picture above is a star fort.

[@Vielenberg]

That is the Wawel Castle in Krakow.

[@DenpaKei]

Does anyone know what Lazik is derived from?

[@DS-cs8bj]

maybe originally 'Łazik' - man who likes wandering, traveler. But I'm not sure if that's the only possibility

[@alauda1840]

Lazik comes from "Łazik" ,which means wanderer or rambler.

[@chitzz]

@@alauda1840 Do you know what Dejneka is derived from?

[@colestevenosky7207]

My great-great-grandfather was from Galicia, named Stefanoski. Any ideas?

[@michalgalecki5503]

Stefan its man name in poland

[@blankita5411]

It’s an example of making a surname from your fathers first name, Stefan = Steven

[@shion3948]

StefanoWski

[@tjmaci1863]

I am told that some Polish surnames are honorariums granted, sometimes with land and title. Some of these might be variations of a surname that originated outside of Poland in, say German or Russian control and adopted with a 'Polish twist.' This happened with royalty as Poland at times favored foreigners for royalty.

[@ralliz2729]

Does anyone have a guess about what Lizewski means?

[@krisluzem4374]

Lisewo its a town im Poland or IT came from lis meaning fox

[@maggg.a]

It looks that original spelling of Lizewski surname would be Liżewski.

[@beesaregreatyoucanttellmeo5598]

Does anyone know what jadzinski would be?

[@mait8k565]

Jadziński - Most likely from the feminine name Jadzia (diminutive from Jadwiga)

[@jlpack62]

My surname is Polish but nobody thinks it's Polish. It's a simple 5 letter name: Labus

[@davidstepanczuk]

What does Stepanczuk mean?

[@polishgirlnextdoor8447]

I pronounce people's Polish last names on my channel :)

[@yourspookygay]

Kempski! thanks grandpa for an easy name! I think it's something like people from a cluster of trees? haha!

[@johng8355]

My GGF was from Sanok Galicia. The surname got Americanized to Goida we believe it was originally Goyda, Gajda or Gojda . And idea?

[@shion3948]

Gajda sounds the most right to me

[@alauda1840]

Gajda is the most probable form.

[@Vielenberg]

Gajda = bagpipes

[@davidchenze1374]

Does anyone know where chenze comes from

[@Vielenberg]

It sounds Chinese to me. Seriously, if it is a corruption of a Polish name then it is unrecognizable.

[@jennyfinster6639]

My maternal grandmas name was Kalka. I heard they were from Poland. And possibly shortened? Prussian? Wish i knew more

[@DEEMZGTA]

My surnname is Myśliński. I read that the origin of it is a village called 'Myślin' near Warsaw

[@barszczykczerwony176]

"Myśleć" means (to think)

[@DEEMZGTA]

@@barszczykczerwony176 I know, I wonder what my ancestors did to get it

[@penguinsfan251]

Someone thought it sounded good and chose it.

[@barto4686]

Is Nowak a Newman?

[@Theriac33]

Yes.

[@joachimdudczak2380]

Can someone help me identify what my surname comes from. Even though I'm a Pole. The surname is "DUDCZAK" and I was already philosophising where it can be from. Maybe perhaps the bird Dudek, but the ending "czak" always gets me.

[@Vielenberg]

'-ak' suffix means 'son of', so Dudczak simply means 'son of Dudek'; with Dudek meaning the bird. The letter 'k' sometimes changes into 'cz' - in order to avoid two 'k's close to each other ('Dudekak').

[@michaelmazowiecki9195]

The two most common Polish surnames are Nowak and Kowalski. Kowalski is the same as Schmit in German and Smith in England, all three being the trade.

[@summerwall]

The name kotrys is in my family tree and is Polish but I can never find much about it

[@jakebrake9404]

My grandfathers surname was Zawatski and my grandmother was Sienkiewicz. Anybody know what they mean? I suspect that both have probably been Anglicized, since I have relatives who spell their names Zawadzki.

[@maggg.a]

Zawadzki is the correct spelling. Sienkiewicz is a surname of famous Nobel prize winner Polish novelist Henry Sienkiewicz. Both beautiful Polish surnames, very noble sounding.

[@jakebrake9404]

@@maggg.a Thanks. Do you know what the names mean?

[@user-bg4lz8uu9m]

​@@jakebrake9404 Sienkiewicz: (information from Google) is based on name "Sień" (which seems to be really old fashion, country name - currently not used) Zawadzki: may origin from name of the village "Zawada" (there could be a village named like that) or a word "zawada" which means an obstacle or a person, who is disturbing Sorry for my English I hope it was helpful and have nice day!

[@jakebrake9404]

@@user-bg4lz8uu9m Thanks. It was helpful. No need to be sorry. Your English is better than my Polish. I had no trouble understanding you. Have a nice day.

[@jebodeiasque]

My grandmothers family name was Labiak. Any tips on what it means?

[@mileniuszv.b.9127]

I woudl guess its from river Łaba, going trough czech and germany now. It woudl mean "somebody from the river Łaba" maybe someone living next to it

[@jebodeiasque]

@@mileniuszv.b.9127 That's the same conclusion that I came to!

[@shion3948]

It was probably Łabiak originally

[@newyorkocksnewyorkocks3622]

Interesting

[@kazior6521]

Gosiewski and Kuczynski. Gosiewski is from Gosiewo. Kuczynski is from Kuczyn. I know my family is mainly from Masovia with some Kresy roots (mainly L’wow).

[@frankpeletz1818]

I know my grandfather was born in Pozen in the late 1800s but cant find anything about the Peletz name.

[@Ancestralfindings]

Tracing family history, especially with names like Peletz from specific regions like Pozen, can indeed be a tricky journey. It's great that you have some information about your grandfather to start with. Have you tried looking into local historical records or genealogy forums? Sometimes, local archives or even distant relatives can hold unexpected clues. Keep up the search, and don't lose hope! Your family history is out there waiting to be uncovered. 🌳🔍

[@frankpeletz1818]

@@Ancestralfindings I know where my grandfather and great grandfather were and when in Poland. No one has been able to help-or so they claim ((

[@cheliorodriguez7654]

Does anyone know what adameczek mean ??

[@ajryz8]

Son of Adam

[@kclovelypinky8561]

My mom's side her parents have the last name karpinski from my grandpa from my dad's side I got his last name Cudnohowski we actually changed the spelling and saying of it a lot during our history so I'm really curious what they mean or where they come from

[@MrZim-uc6jk]

Karpiński is taken from a fish Carp, but this fish was introduced in Poland in XIX century, so it can be a surname from that period. Cudnohowski is more complicated because ‘cud’ means ‘a miracle’, but then this surname should be ‘Cudnowski’. There is a village in Poland Cudnochy estabilished in XV century. Maybe originally it was Cudnochowski, then changed to Cudnohowski (but this is tricky theory).

[@kclovelypinky8561]

@@MrZim-uc6jk thx yeah Cudnohowski is tricky cause it actually did change spelling a lot but I don't remember what it was we have a whole book about our family on that side

[@damianpolinski5600]

Anyone know where Poliński may come from ?

[@alauda1840]

Pole means field.

[@mattalibozek7258]

My last name is Alibozek, from what I’ve heard from family members and have researched it means elevated god or something, but I’d love to hear your feedback if you have any.

[@Vielenberg]

Alibożek. Bożek = literally: little god - it means a minor god in polytheistic religions. In contrast with Bóg = God. The name Alibożek might come from the expression "dalibóg!" = god willing (literally: if god will give/allow). But this is just a guess.

[@mattalibozek7258]

@@Vielenberg Thanks for the reply! Family members have told me god of gods or something like that, but none of them speak fluent Polish anymore. It’s been somewhat confusing researching because bozek means god or idol in polish according to Google translate. But I can’t find a Polish to English translation for Ali or Al.

[@Vielenberg]

@@mattalibozek7258 Because "ali" doesn't mean anything in Polish*. Hence, my guess that it might be a corruption of "dali" = "da" (will give) + "li" (old Polish particle meaning "will it?"). "Dalibóg!" is now an archaism, but it was a very common expression until ca. XIX century. On the other hand, Dalibożek doesn't really make sense, as it would refer to a pagan idol. * - in this context; "Ali" might mean "of Ala" [Ala = female name, diminutive of Alicja], but that is certainly not the case here

[@mattalibozek7258]

@@Vielenberg Thank you so much for your input, you obviously know more about linguistics than I could ever hope to learn. Advanced linguistics is extremely confusing to me and I know very little about the Polish language. I really appreciate your help, I noticed there’s also a Polish surname Halibożek, but I’m not sure if there’s any correlation or relation to Alibożek or Alibozek. My grandfather came from Jasło, Poland if that’s any help, because I guess they mixed languages near the borders.

[@derekf.8392]

My Polish last name is Wojtek, does that mean that I'm related to Saint Adalbert of Prague? Also how can I research more of my last name?

[@malgorzatakawken]

Idk but you share a name with Corperal Wojtek. He was a fucking brown bear who worked in a artillery regiment. No I'm not kidding.

[@derekf.8392]

@@malgorzatakawken Yes I know, when I first found that out I freaked out. My last name does mean 'brave warrior' in Czech/Polish. Wish I could find out more about it tho

[@angelafeldman5903]

Mines woyciechowski nobility, and warrior high ranking .

[@wojciechbarc5351]

its mean smiling or better happy warrior

[@Mikado8848]

Wojtek is a diminutive of the Polish Wojciech. The Latin equivalent - NOT TRANSLATION - is Adalbert. Due to the fact that these two saints' feast days coincide with the Feast of St. George, those who move to English-speaking countries may go by George, Adalbert, or Albert. Your last name could tie into St. Wojciech or St. Adalbert. Perhaps a distant progenitor's birthday is near their feast day.

[@susanlegeza7562]

Mine is Demski, where is or what is Dem?

[@juvenalolol]

Can you tell me the origin of my surname Wielewski? And Lukaszinski?

[@Vielenberg]

Wielewski = from the village of Wielewo. Łukasiński = from Łukasz - Polish version of the name Lucas.

[@barszczykczerwony176]

Łukaszyński= Son of Łukasz

[@michalgalecki5503]

Wielewski nlp.actaforte.pl:8080/Nomina/Ndistr?nazwisko=Wielewski

[@eli-nz8oe]

does anyone know anything about the surname ‘Jarosz’ ?

[@obserwator1766]

Jarosz = Vegetarian

[@eli-nz8oe]

Obserwator 1 wow cool , thanks 👍

[@Vielenberg]

@@eli-nz8oe Ok... But that's only one possibility. It could also be a derivative of the given name Jarosław.

[@barszczykczerwony176]

Jarosz is a person who does not eat meat and fish; a word less used today

[@lauraloera8118]

i was told im part polish. my surname is Sypien can anybody help? is the last name sypien from poland?

[@Vielenberg]

The Polish spelling is Sypień (with palatal n). Sypień is an archaic (and long forgotten) Polish word meaning a vessel used to draw water from i.e. a river and pour it to a container. Not a popular surname (about a 1000 people with this name in Poland).

[@alauda1840]

Sypien is originally Sypień.A polish name for sure.

[@crimson5664]

Max Factor = Maksymilian Faktorowicz for example

[@user-ud5bz1mo8h]

I could use an assist please. My mothers maiden name was Piorkowski. Her mother was a Garzynski. My Grandfather on fathers side was a Gorecki. Is Gorecki Polish? Went to Ellis Island but we lost they advise unclear.

[@maggg.a]

Yes Gorecki is definitely Polish surname, the original spelling would be Górecki from a world góra which means a mountain. It is quite common surname in Poland, pronounced Goor-ETZ-ki.

[@maggg.a]

Also is the a mistake in your mother's maiden surname, it looks like it should be Piotrowski in my opinion.

[@susannahfox7188]

My great grandmother was a Polzein.......any light that can be shed on that name would be appreciated.

[@MrZim-uc6jk]

It can be some germanized polish surname, or more likely a jewish one.

[@lowkey4500]

Great great great grandfather Last name was something like Lyshnitski

[@abuskiZSRR]

Okay so my name means "funnel" "rain"- ski, i guess it's a great news

[@shaolindreams]

My gran mothers side is Migdał.. which means Almond in Polish. We have Gonka too but not sure what that means.

[@Ancestralfindings]

That's fascinating! The name 'Migdał' indeed carries a beautiful meaning in Polish. As for 'Gonka,' it's always intriguing to explore the origins and meanings of family names. This could be an exciting part of your genealogical journey. If you're interested in diving deeper into the significance of 'Gonka' or any other aspects of your Polish ancestry, our videos might provide helpful guidance. Thank you for sharing your family's unique heritage with us!

[@shaolindreams]

@@Ancestralfindings Thanks for your nice reply. Yeah i will be looking into that more... What got me started was my Polish grandfather had Polish surname of Krajewski... But! it was forcibly changed from Landsman after the war. We have no known German connection so i was intrigued. Finally did a DNA test on my Uncle.. his son.. Found out he could be descended from Swedish Vikings... as he used to live in Lwow perhaps the Ruriks... Also there's a connection with Hungarians.. Perhaps the surname is from Austro-Hungarian empire, or maybe a Scandinavian Landsmann. I'll defo check out the rest of your videos.. Subbed.

[@scpsputnik9730]

I have a nosek in my family which means small nose which is a joke because my nose is giant .

[@JP-uj8wk]

JUST ASKING BUT does this mean my family are named after pontious pilat?🤭

[@n.agustin113]

Where the surname Platek come from & what's its meaning?

[@michalgalecki5503]

petal

[@n.agustin113]

@@michalgalecki5503 Petal of flower?

[@michalgalecki5503]

probably yes

[@n.agustin113]

@@michalgalecki5503 And Moszak & Moskalewicz?

[@patryksuszynski6789]

@@n.agustin113 Moskalewicz could comes from word 'Moskal' - citizen of Moscow

[@eliosterlitz9868]

What if my location is ‘border region’

[@TomStrohOptimalDailyLiving]

My original last name was Stroinski. What could that name possibly mean? The best I know is that I had ancestors from Lipno, Poland?

[@koulematon7359]

There are some names in polish language that don't really have any sense at all. Your original name probably comes from polish verb *stroić* which means 'to tune'. But stroić also means to dress nicely, that comes from the word strój - outfit.

[@TomStrohOptimalDailyLiving]

@@koulematon7359 Thank you! I was thinking about changing my last name to Jedrick (which would still maintain my Polish heritage) which means "a strong man"

[@izqaa1141]

@@TomStrohOptimalDailyLiving Jedrick doesn't sound polish. I like your name Stroh or spelled in polish Stroch. You can always change it to something similar to your original surname..Stoch maybe? It's a bit simpler and we have a ski jumper champion named Kamil Stoch. Either way tho I wonder why you want to change it? Names are relating to our ancestors and history. They are given to us for a reason and I think should be respected. Without your name you might have not known you're half polish.

[@TomStrohOptimalDailyLiving]

Thank you for your comments! To make it sound more Polish, I also considered changing my name back to Stroinski. My family name was shortened to Stroh in the 1940s due to them becoming involved in the furniture business.

[@izqaa1141]

@@TomStrohOptimalDailyLiving see.. beautiful history behind it😊. I love history so it makes me think how they immigrated and struggles they had and obvious success since you're here. I think your children will value their ancestry if you keep the name but you do you 😊 i like the original spelling too since you can tell straight away your Polish. Although I was born in poland I was practically raised in Ireland. I pay attention to the names because its like paying tribute to our grandparents and it's much simpler to identify names historically.

[@melissahernandezm379]

Can someone translate the Americanized last name Marchick

[@shroudedindarkness79]

Marczyk

[@Vielenberg]

Marczyk - son of Marek (Polish for Mark)

[@josie351]

My Polish name is Seilila, any idea what that means?

[@krisluzem4374]

Dosnt sound Polish

[@shion3948]

95% sure it's not Polish

[@oferzilberman5049]

My grandparents from my father's side are full polish, But they have a german surname "Zilberman". Never understood why is that.

[@mileniuszv.b.9127]

Before 2ww there was very big Jewish community in Poland, and this name surely sounds Jewish to me. Its also passible that by bit complicated mariage and born laws, family was not Jewish just somehow stuck to the name by Jewish ancestors. Maybe they were from one from many minorities that during the years mixed with Polish people like silezian, kaszubian or just german. Cheers!

[@blankita5411]

They were very likely from Silesia region

[@oferzilberman5049]

@@mileniuszv.b.9127 It makes sense that it sounds jewish; because they are jewish, And they live here in israel I'll ask them once if they were from the Silesia region

[@alauda1840]

Zilberman,originally Silbermann, is a name of polish jews.Before the WWII they were 9% (2,8 millions) of polish jews - a huge minority with a history looking back to the XIth century.Sadly most of them was murdered by Germans later on.

[@oferzilberman5049]

@@alauda1840 Yes, They are jews. My grandfather was born in Siberia and my grandmother was born in Wrocław

[@sue3745]

My father's family surname was Gierczak.

[@midori4352]

Another one bites the dust for me. Can't figure out what my last name means at all, though supposedly my 2x Great Grandpa got into it with a Russian about something and insisted it "meant nothing". I'm just gonna have to start Rosetta Stoning Polish at this point.

[@SHAWN-rz6vu]

Can anyone tell me anything about the name opozda?

[@jacek222245]

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Opozda

[@Vielenberg]

Opozda has an interesting etymology. The root is "pozdn" = Proto-Slavic for "late" (compare with modern Polish "późno" = late; "opóźniać" = to delay). Old Polish had a verb "opozdować" = to delay, to be slow with chores. So, Opozda = someone who is always late, who procrastinates, who always delays everything.

[@SHAWN-rz6vu]

@@Vielenberg it's correct about me being late, but not for chores, more of a late bloom term

[@Vielenberg]

@@SHAWN-rz6vu Well, the name simply means "the late one" so I guess it might mean either.

[@SHAWN-rz6vu]

@@Vielenberg thanks for the info, I've always been super interested in my heritage and what my ancestors may have been like 😎

[@tylerrebik7700]

My full last name is Graf von Rebik Any ideas?

[@pawelantkowiak7579]

Prussian probably.

[@goldmorning4937]

What would Patronski be?

[@konnamelina697]

This surname would be in Polish with a dash above n (Patroński) with pronunciation close to ni in Ronin Meaning is similar to English "patron saint" or fautor

[@Vielenberg]

It could also mean an art patron or a custodian. But that name is very unusual and very rare. It might be a corruption of some other name.

[@obserwator1766]

Gold Morning Patronski in English sounds almost like the Polish Pietroński. So my guess is that it is written in English (in documents, e.g. at some registration) just like an English-speaking one heard. If I'm right, the surname comes from the name Piotr-Peter, or rather the local form Pietrek. Probably Piotr / Pietrek was the head of the family. pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piotr_(imi%C4%99) pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polskie_nazwiska Such distortions happened quite often, especially if the Polish surname was difficult to pronounce in English or another language. Sometimes the family changed their surname to make it easier to function in another language.

[@johnlabus7359]

My surname is Polish, but it's not common, and it's unusual in that it's not complicated. Nobody guesses that it's Polish.

[@shroudedindarkness79]

Because it was originally Łabuz

[@n.agustin113]

@@shroudedindarkness79 And pronounced wahbus or uabus

[@alauda1840]

Because originally it used to be "Łabuś",which sounds softly and much more polish than stripped down Labus.

[@n.agustin113]

What's the meaning of Moszak?

[@DS-cs8bj]

I was interested because I did not meet such a Polish surname but I found that it may come from names beginning with Mo-, like Mojsław (old Polish), also derived from the name Mojżesz (jewish Moses). But is this the only possibility? It is unknown

[@n.agustin113]

@@DS-cs8bj Oh, I'm sorry, I hoped I'd have known about the surname of my old friend & girlfriend

[@n.agustin113]

@@DS-cs8bj Also, Polish surname are like your girls.... Precious!

[@nele.mcmanus2348]

My Polish surname is Selwa also Arnista and Smryski

[@victoriamcintosh5122]

I just found out my Paternal Grandfather was Polish, his last name was Kochenowski

[@Vielenberg]

It was almost certainly Kochanowski.

[@seabazinga1929]

It could be also from the borders with Germany, and so from the word kochen - cooking.

[@victoriamcintosh5122]

@@seabazinga1929 Thank you for the clarity! much appreciated!

[@victoriamcintosh5122]

@@Vielenberg I think you are right, I seen the certificate spelled this way as well

[@Vielenberg]

@@victoriamcintosh5122 Kochanowski surname is very well known as the XVI century poet Jan Kochanowski is considered the father of Polish literary language. The name itself is derived from the village of Kochanów (one of at least 6 villages of that name).

[@merricat3025]

My paternal grandparents were polish and came from Poland. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was polish sounding but my paternal grandfather's name I would never think it's polish. It's my last name people don't think it's Polish

[@kmahrc7707]

EXACTLY the same as me! I'd really like to know more about my grandfather's last name which of course is also my last name.

[@ewabarbarajagiellostrumill475]

My names date back to 14th centrury, they are Lithuanian /Polish.

[@michelezaremba1351]

Zaremba..goes back to Jacobs line ..Zaremby ..I think it means to hunt or chop 💕

[@ginpok6640]

Mine is similar and I know very little of it's origin .....Rahemba

[@Vielenberg]

a well known noble family: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaremba_coat_of_arms

[@sofiakomarova7803]

My paternal grandfather always tell me that we have bosnian and polish roots, I don't live in any of them but my family name ends with a polish suffix (ak) bochnak , this is so strange like WTF :-!😂💔

[@nvanguy6868]

Sara Bochnak it was probably bošnjak and they changed it to a more english sounding name people could pronounce

[@nvanguy6868]

And its bosnian meaning from bosnia. Ak on the end is a slavic suffix

[@Vielenberg]

That is definitely not a Polish name. As nvan guy said - Boshnak means a person from Bosnia. And nowadays it mostly means the majority Muslim population of Bosnia (see: Bosniaks in wikipedia).

[@TMio-fj6sr]

@@Vielenberg I will argue again, sorry mate. Actually Bochnia is very old town in Poland. It exist since early middle age and was very rich as it was based on sait maining. Bochniak it is actually purely polish word. It means Person from Bochnia. Like Warszawiak, Krakowiak. It is quite popular in Poland as well. There's over 1500 family's with these name. 700 of them are from area of Bochnia town so most definitely you can assume that it is purely Polish name not twist from Bośniak.

[@barszczykczerwony176]

It was probably more like Bośniak- from Bosnia

[@MrBobPilarski]

My ancestors were from Pila.

[@Vielenberg]

Not likely. Piła is also Polish for "a saw". So most probably your ancestors were either making saws or using them.

[@geraldbrefka1145]

My surname means the eyebrow bridge of the Sarmatians

[@-_-1665]

What about FORMELA ?

[@Vielenberg]

That name is of German origin. From the German word Formel = "formula"

[@mateuszjanczynski4116]

@@Vielenberg no, its tipical kashubian surname.

[@qwertyq366]

Can anyone tell me what Brodzinski means

[@wtflol2721]

The surname is derived from the word wade. It can mean a person who wades in water.

[@obserwator1766]

A person who lives next to a ford on a river or town/place called Bród-Ford, Brody-Fords, or similar.

[@PapaPolak]

Woah

[@maciejszymanski2386]

4:40 www.google.com/maps/place/87-820+Kowal,+Polska/@52.5329137,19.1274605,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x471c82af9b4371d3:0x3dd167c21e316b57!8m2!3d52.53015!4d19.14773 There is town called Kowal in Poland!

[@444_starss]

I don’t think they will say anything about my surname “Renduda” because it’s not that common 😢

[@redhawk5887]

My surname is Kot. And I have been trying to research the genealogy for a few years now. And I have to say it's not easy finding out about my dad's side of the family.

[@tejachandramajhi2065]

why?

[@redhawk5887]

Because a lot of the family history wasn't talked about and my dad only remembers a few things that he heard

[@tejachandramajhi2065]

@@redhawk5887 where do you live now? I have a question too

[@tejachandramajhi2065]

@@redhawk5887 it's unbelievable to forget own ancestors, what's the main reson forgetting own ancestors, do you know?

[@alandoman]

Surname Kot means Cat

[@zforzorro8956]

Can someone tell me what Lisiecki means?

[@michalgalecki5503]

Lisiecki means fox or zorro :)

[@zforzorro8956]

@@michalgalecki5503 wow what an coincidence! Dziękuję my friend 😀

[@tedstanek2583]

Stanek baby!!!! 1:52

[@davidjakiela9553]

Would appreciate any information on my last name

[@michalgalecki5503]

very rare last name

[@Vielenberg]

It might be a derivative of a male name Jakub (Polish for Jacob).

[@MrZim-uc6jk]

Problem with polish surnames is that in XIX century a lot of people of peasant or other serf-like descendant changed their surnames adding ‘-ski’. The same did Jewish, especially those who lived in towns or cities. So ‘Krakowski’ means rather a descendant of a Jew from Kraków. For example the family of Poznanski was a Jewish factory owners from city of… Łódź, but their surname suggested they are from Poznań which isn’t true. Nobels didn’t take their names from large towns or cities because they lived in a countryside. The other case are emigrants. Their surnames were often misspelled, mistaken or very deeply changed so get to the original form of such surnames is often impossible.

[@heretyk_1337]

Meanwhile me with my simple, four letter polish surname: Whimpering sounds...

[@hornsby618]

literally same thooo i wish i knew what my family’s original name was cus it was shortened when my family immigrated to the US. now its just Zajda

[@gailsteck2636]

My husband’s surname was originally four letters, but his father actually added the letter k after the c at the end to make it more “American.”

[@DJC57]

How about Czerniejewski?

[@9polio]

You are native american

[@Vielenberg]

Coming from Czerniejów (there are 3 villages with this name in Poland and 1 in Ukraine).

[@penguinsfan251]

That person's nickname is Eye Chart.

[@colten5817]

my surname is Mieczkowski

[@leojanuszewski1019]

Polish genes are the best genes.

[@susanlegeza7562]

Mine is Demski

[@piotrciesielski7907]

4:42 niether is "Ciesiel"

[@susanlegeza7562]

The polish name in my family is Demski or Demsky

[@monikahinson296]

It was or could be originally Dembski or Dębski from word Dąb meaning Oak tree. Lots of polish names where changed little to make it easier for English speaker. I have family in America called Harmacinski. They changed that to Armata.

[@Greg74948]

You should have at least got familiar with the basic rules of the polish pronunciation before making this video. As for Polish people it's very hard to recognize most of the surnames you're talking about. The most striking mistake you keep making is pronouncing the letter 'W' the same way as in English while in Polish this letter is always pronounced like the letter 'V'.

[@notallwhowanderarelost7577]

I agree completely. For this I gave this video a thumbs down. This is basic Polish 101 to know their 'w' is pronounced as a 'v'.

[@NoahBodze]

Yes, but he’s primarily speaking to an Americanized audience who doesn’t already know this stuff. Breathe, dude. Relax.

[@Greg74948]

@@NoahBodze Well, in fact that's another reason why he shouldn't make such mistakes, because it may confuse Americans who decided to learn Polish.

[@JP-uj8wk]

Haha or just not done it 😅

[@keinedaten1640]

@@Greg74948 but if he talks to americans who try to find out where there names come from, they might not recognize the name, when it is pronounced right.

[@konnamelina697]

Very good Podcast, but please don't assume that the lecturer is pronouncing the names correctly. When he said Piekarski I would not be able to figure out what that surname was without him saing baker :) - even though my mother tongue is Polish. And Kowal is a very nice small town in central Poland (it even has English version on Wikipedia).

[@Ancestralfindings]

Thank you. I’m glad you like the podcast. It’s very hard for me to pronounce the names but I do the best I can. Thanks for commenting.

[@konnamelina697]

@@Ancestralfindings We had in a movie famous now name Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz 😂 and a cop in England had to wrote down my two friends names Chrabąszczewska and Chandoszko His expresion was priceless

[@Vielenberg]

There is also a village called Kowale in Opolskie voievodship - this is were the noble Kowalski family comes from (99% of Kowalskis are not noble, but that 1% is).