Popular Polish Surnames (with Meanings)

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares some of the most common last names in Poland

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Devin McSween

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

• Common
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• Patronymic
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• Toponymic
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• Occupational
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• Descriptive
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• Surnames in Other Cultures
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• Video

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Polish last names are rich with history, as they are usually derived from an ancestor’s first name, place of origin, or profession. Whether you have Polish ancestry or are simply curious about the surnames from this European country, keep reading. In this article, we’ve compiled the most common last names in Poland and what they mean, with help from naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson.

The Most Common Polish Surnames

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson says some of the most common Polish surnames include:

• Kowalczyk: “Smith.”
• Kowalski: “Blacksmith.”
• Lewandowski: “From Lewandów.”
• Nowak: “Newcomer.”
• Szymański: “From Szymon”
• Wójcik: “Little leader” or “from Wojciech.”
• Zieliński: “From Zielin or Zielonka.”

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Section 1 of 6:

Common Polish Surnames

1. 
   Popular Polish last names include Nowak and Kowalski. Most Polish last names come from an ancestor’s past, whether they’re derived from their first name, where they were born, or their profession. Because Poland is bordered by many countries, including Germany, Ukraine, and Slovakia, these languages also have an influence on Polish surnames. Check out the most common Polish last names below, including what they mean:

   • Dąbrowski: From the word dąbrowa, meaning “oak grove.”
   • Grabowski: “Hornbeam tree” or “gravedigger.”
   • Jankowski: “Son of Jan” (John).
   • Kamiński: “Stone cutter.”
   • Kowalczyk: “Smith” or “descendant of the kowal (smith).”
   • Kowalski: “Blacksmith,” from the word kowal, meaning “blacksmith.”
   • Lewandowski: “From Lewandów,” or from the word lewanda, meaning “lavender.”
   • Mazur: “From Mazovia,” a region in north-eastern Poland.
   • Nowak: “Newcomer” or “novice,” from the word nowy, meaning “new.”
   • Piotrowski: “Son of Piotr” (Peter), or “From Piotrów or Piotrowice,” cities in Poland.
   • Szymański: “From Szymon” (Simon).
   • Wiśniewski: “From Wiśniewo,” a town in Poland.
   • Wojciechowski: “Son of Wojciech.”
   • Wójcik: “Little leader,” from the word wójt, meaning “village headman.” Or, from the name “Wojciech.”
   • Zieliński: “From Zielin or Zielonka,” or from the word zieleń, meaning “green.”

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming expert and consultant. She shares name meanings and naming tips with her over 20k followers on her Instagram, @little_name_library.
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Section 2 of 6:

Patronymic Polish Surnames

1. 
   Surnames like Adamczyk are named after a male ancestor. Patronymic surnames, or surnames based on a male ancestor’s first name, are quite common in Poland. Historically, some prominent women also passed down their names as surnames. These last names often end in suffixes like -czyk, -czak, -iak, -ek, -icz, and -wicz, which loosely translate to “son of.” Some common patronymic names include:

   • Adamski: “Son of Adam.”
   • Adamczyk: “Son of Adam.”
   • Andrysiak: “Son of Andrzej” (Andrew).
   • Antonowicz: “Son of Antoni.”
   • Bartosz: “Of Bartosz” (Bartholomew).
   • Bartoszek: “Son of Bartosz” (Bartholomew).
   • Filipek: “Son of Filip” (Philip).
   • Kaźmierczak: “Son of Kazimierz” (Casimir).
   • Kubiak: “Son of Kuba” (Jacob).
   • Michalski: “From Michal” (Michael).
   • Pawlak: “Little Paweł” (Paul).
   • Pawłowski: “From Paweł” (Paul), or “From Pawłowo,” a city in Poland.
   • Note: Since there are several common suffixes for patronymic last names, there are usually many variations of the same root last name. For instance, Adamczak, Adamecki, Adamek, Adamiak, and Adamkiewicz are all common variations of Adamczyk.

Section 3 of 6:

Toponymic Polish Surnames

1. 
   Last names like Bukowski are based on a place or region. Toponymic last names, also called habitational surnames, refer to geographical places. These surnames are usually derived from a city or region in Poland where an ancestor was from, which are often based on geographical features like forests or islands. Lots of these names have the suffix -ski, which Dr. Wilson says means “from” or “associated with.” Check out these common toponymic names:

   • Baranowski: “From Baranowo,” or from the word baran, which means “ram.”
   • Borkowski: “From Borkowo,” or from the word bór, which means “pine forest.”
   • Brzeziński: From the word brzezina, meaning “birch forest.”
   • Bukowski: “From Bukowo” or “from Bukowiec.” Or from the word buk, meaning “beech.”
   • Czajkowski: “From Czajki,” a town in Poland.
   • Czarnecki: “From Czarne/Czarnca,” or from the word czarny, meaning “black” or “dark.”
   • Dankowski: “From Danków,” a town in Poland.
   • Dubanowski: “From Dubinowo.”
   • Górski: From the word góra, meaning “mountain” or “hill.”
   • Korpalski: “From Korpale or Korpal.”
   • Kwiatkowski: “From Kwiatków or Kwiatkowo,” or from the word kwiatek, meaning “flower.”
   • Lewicki: “From Lewiczyn,” a town in Poland.
   • Mazurek: “Person from Mazury” (the Masurian region in Poland).
   • Nowicki: “New place” or “people from there,” from the word nowy, meaning “new.”
   • Olszewski: From the word olcha, meaning “alder.”
   • Ostrowski: “From Ostrowiec,” a town in Poland, or “from the islet or small island.”
   • Rowiński: “From Równa,” a town in Poland.
   • Różański: “From Różań or Różańska,” from the word róża, meaning “rose.”
   • Sikorski: “From Sikory,” or derived from sikora, meaning “tit bird.”
   • Sobolewski: “From Sobolew or Sobolewo.” Or, from the word sobol, meaning “sable” or “marten.”
   • Urbański: “City-dweller” or “from Urbanowo.” From the Latin urban.
   • Zalewski: From the word zalew, meaning “inlet,” “flood,” or “bay.”
   • Żakowski: “From Żakowo or Żakowice.” Or, from the word żak, meaning “student,” “scholar,” or “church student.”
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Section 4 of 6:

Occupational Polish Surnames

1. 
   Surnames like Rybak are based on an ancestor’s profession. Lots of Polish last names are occupational, meaning they come from an ancestor’s trade or career. Some surnames even refer to an ancestor’s title, like “king.” Check out some of the popular Polish occupational surnames below:

   • Chlebek: “Baker,” from chleb, meaning “bread.”
   • Chmiel: From the word chmiel, meaning “hops.”
   • Cieślak: “Carpenter,” from cieśla, meaning “carpenter.”
   • Dziedzic: “Heir,” “successor,” or “landowner.”
   • Kaczmarek: “Innkeeper,” from the word karczma, meaning “inn” or “tavern.”
   • Kołodziej: From the word kołodziej, meaning “wheelwright.”
   • Kozłowski: “Goat herder.”
   • Krawczyk: “Tailor,” from the word krawiec, meaning “tailor.”
   • Król: “King.”
   • Kucharczyk: “Cook.”
   • Młynarczyk: From the word młynarz, meaning “miller.”
   • Piekarski: From the word piekarz, meaning “baker.”
   • Ryba: “Fisherman.”
   • Ślusarski: “Locksmith.”
   • Stolarz: From the word stolarz, meaning “carpenter” or “joiner.”
   • Szewczyk: From the word szewc, meaning “shoemaker.”
   • Woźniak: “Usher” or “clerk.”

Section 5 of 6:

Descriptive Polish Surnames

1. Last names like Bańka are based on an ancestor’s looks or personality. There are also lots of Polish surnames that are descriptive in origin, meaning that they come from an ancestor’s appearance, characteristics, or personality. Check out these common descriptive surnames:

   • Bańka: “Short and fat.”
   • Banach: “Clumsy” or “son of man.”
   • Białas: “White.”
   • Bosko: “Barefoot.”
   • Głowacki: From the word głowa, meaning “head.”
   • Konieczka: From the word koniec, meaning “end” or “finish.”
   • Lis: “Fox.”
   • Sikora: “Tit bird.”
   • Stępień: From the word stepień, meaning “grade” or “step.”
   • Wieczorek: “Little evening” or “evening person.” From the word wieczór, meaning “evening.”
   • Wilk: “Wolf.”
   • Wysocki: “High” or “tall,” from the word wysoki, meaning “high” or “tall.”
   • Zając: “Hare.”
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Section 6 of 6:

Surnames in Other Cultures

1. Curious about other common last names around the globe? You’re in luck! We’ve compiled lists of popular surnames in other cultures and countries around the world, like:

   • German Last Names
   • Russian Last Names
   • Dutch Last Names
   • French Last Names
   • Italian Last Names
   • Japanese Last Names
   • Australian Last Names
   • Hawaiian Last Names
   • Canadian Last Names
   • Native American Last Names
   • Southern Last Names

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