Surname · Polish origin
Nowak
Meaning
The surname Nowak means Newcomer, new person.
Origin
Polish
Type
descriptive
The origin of the surname Nowak
Nowak, Poland’s most common surname, comes from nowy, “new” — a newcomer to a place.
What kind of surname is Nowak?
Nowak is a descriptive surname, originally describing a physical or personal characteristic. It belongs to the Polish naming tradition — you can read how Polish surnames were formed on our Polish last names page.
Other Polish surnames
Other descriptive surnames
Family names formed the same way, from different cultures.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Nowak mean?
The surname Nowak means Newcomer, new person. Nowak, Poland’s most common surname, comes from nowy, “new” — a newcomer to a place.
Where does the surname Nowak come from?
Nowak is a surname of Polish origin.
What kind of surname is Nowak?
Nowak is a descriptive surname, originally describing a physical or personal characteristic.
What are other Polish surnames?
Other Polish surnames include Dabrowski, Jankowski, Kaminski, Kowalski, Kozlowski, Krawczyk.