Every name \u2013 and surname in particular \u2013 has a story of its own. However, the naming system as a whole must also have its history, rules and particularities, which in the case of Polish surnames makes it a fascinating story of social, ethnic, and cultural intricacy. For the start, let’s remember that most Polish surnames were originally formed as one of these three categories (however, as you will you see, with surnames nothing is simple):<\/p>\n
Cognominal \u2013 created from a nickname, usually based on occupation (so-called occupational surnames), a physical description, or character trait. Compare Kowalski, G\u0142owacz or Bystro\u0144.<\/p>\n
Toponymic \u2013 these names are derived from place of residence, birth or family origin. Like: Brzezi\u0144ski.<\/p>\n
Patronymic \u2013 usually derived from a person’s given name and usually ends in a suffix suggesting a family relation. Think of: Piotrowicz or Staszczyk.<\/p>\n
We’ll use them to show you that a surname is a quite complicated thing. Where do we start? Of course with the most popular Polish name suffix \u2013 the -ski.<\/p>\n
What’s in a Polish name? Why did the Slavic names of yore almost die out? And what are Polish names…<\/p>\n
The -ski names: Objet du d\u00e9sir that Became the Ultimate Polish Surname<\/p>\n
The -ski names are by no means the oldest, but they’ve become by far the most recognizable type of Polish last name worldwide. It’s also the most popular type of surname in the country today: structure-wise, surnames with the -ski suffix (and the cognate -cki and -dzki) comprise some 35% of the 1000 most popular Polish names. Where did this kind of name come from and what does it tell us about Poland?<\/p>\n
The Polish -ski suffix was originally used to denote topographic location or possessive relation. Thus, the oldest of these names, which started to spread in Poland around the 13th century, signify that their bearers harked from a certain locale: Tarnowski is from Tarn\u00f3w, Chom\u0119towski from Chom\u0105t\u00f3w, Brzezi\u0144ski from Brzezie, etc.<\/p>\n