Many Polish surnames end in -ski (or -cki), historically meaning “of” or “from” a place, and once associated with the nobility (szlachta) who took their names from their estates — Zieliński “of the green place,” Kamiński “of the stony place.” The feminine form ends in -ska: Kowalski, but Kowalska.

Occupations and patronymics

Others come from trades (Kowalski, “smith”; Krawczyk, “tailor”), from a father’s name (Szymański, “son of Szymon”), or from nature and nicknames (Nowak, “the new one”).

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Polish surname?

Nowak, meaning u201cnewcomer,u201d is the most common, followed by Kowalski (u201csmithu201d).

What does -ski mean in Polish surnames?

It historically meant u201cofu201d or u201cfrom,u201d often a place, and was linked to noble families who named themselves after their estates.

Why do Polish surnames change for women?

Many take a feminine ending: a man is Kowalski, a woman Kowalska.

All last names A–Z