349+ Polish Last Names (BEST Guide to Surnames)
Polish last names hold a rich history of their own, revealing fascinating aspects of Poland’s culture, heritage, and traditions. Delving into the origins and meanings of these surnames can provide unique insights into your ancestry or even give you ideas when choosing a name for a fictional character.
Many Polish surnames are derived from a variety of sources, such as occupations, regional origins, or personal names. For example, you might find names like Kowalski or Nowak among the most common surnames in Poland. It’s interesting to see how these names have evolved over time and been influenced by other languages and cultures.
Here are a few examples of popular Polish last names, each with its unique charm:
- Wojciechowski
- Mickiewicz
- Lewandowski
Exploring Polish last names can be an intriguing and enlightening journey, helping you develop a deeper connection with the culture and heritage of Poland. Happy surname hunting!
Table of Contents
Best Names
Polish last names hold a rich history and unique meanings. They often exhibit the culture of Poland and paint an interesting picture of the country’s traditions. In this section, you will find a list of some of the best Polish last names. We have divided the list of 100 best names into four categories, to make it easier for you to explore and appreciate the beauty of these Polish surnames.
1-25 Best Names
- Nowak
- Kowalski
- Jankowski
- Lewandowski
- Marek
- Ski
- Lis
- Owski
- Cki
- Filipiak
- Filipowski
- Gajus
- Gwózdek
- Jabłoński
- Jagoda
- Janda
- Chlebek
- Dziedzic
- Dolak
- Kopcinski
- Kozłowski
- Krupa
- Kubiak
- Laskowski
- Majewski
26-50 Best Names
- Malinowski
- Marciniak
- Michalski
- Mikołajczyk
- Nawrocki
- Olejnik
- Olszewski
- Orłowski
- Pawlak
- Pawłowski
- Piotrowski
- Przybylski
- Ratajczak
- Romanowski
- Rutkowski
- Sienkiewicz
- Sikora
- Sikorski
- Sobczak
- Sobczyk
- Sokołowski
- Stasiak
- Strzelecki
- Szczepański
- Szymański
51-75 Best Names
- Tomaszewski
- Trojanowski
- Urbaniak
- Walczak
- Walentynowicz
- Wasiak
- Wesoły
- Wieczorek
- Wierzbicki
- Witkowski
- Wójtowicz
- Wozniak
- Wrobel
- Wysocki
- Zając
- Zaleski
- Zamojski
- Zaremba
- Zawadzki
- Zieliński
- Ziółkowski
- Żmuda
- Żuk
- Żurawski
- Żywiec
76-100 Best Names
- Abramowicz
- Andrzejewski
- Augustyn
- Bąkowski
- Baranowski
- Bartkowiak
- Bednarek
- Bednarski
- Białas
- Bielawski
- Biernat
- Błaszczyk
- Bogusz
- Bojarski
- Borys
- Brzeziński
- Bukowski
- Cybulski
- Czerski
- Dąbrowski
- Dębski
- Domanowski
- Drzewiecki
- Duda
- Fijałkowski
These are some of the finest Polish last names that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Poland. As you explore these names, remember that they draw inspiration from a variety of sources such as patronymics, occupations, and even the natural environment. Enjoy discovering the significance and charm of these beautiful European last names and their connection with Polish history and ancestry.
Good Names
In this section, we have compiled a list of some good Polish last names that you can consider using for various purposes. These names have been split into four different categories according to their rank. Let’s take a look at these categories one by one.
1-25 Good Names
- Kowalski
- Piotrowski
- Wiśniewski
- Majewski
- Zieliński
- Nowak
- Wójcik
These names are primarily derived from professions and place names, making them popular choices amongst common Polish last names.
26-50 Good Names
- Lewandowski
- Kaczmarek
- Kowalczyk
- Kamiński
- Szymański
- Dąbrowski
- Jankowski
The names listed here also relate to professions and place names, showcasing the rich history and culture of Poland.
51-75 Good Names
- Filipiak
- Gajus
- Jabłoński
- Gwózdek
- Jagoda
- Janda
- Dolak
These names demonstrate the diverse influences found in Polish last names, from Greek origins to words found within the native language.
76-100 Good Names
- Stępień
- Michalski
- Turek
- Antonowicz
- Olszewski
- Kubiak
- Radzikowski
The final set of names reflects a combination of occupational surnames and place names, providing you with an extensive list of good Polish last names to choose from. Remember, each of these names carries its own unique significance and appeal, so take your time in exploring your options.
More Name Ideas
In this section, we’ve gathered more Polish last name ideas for you. You can explore these names and choose the one that suits you and your family the best. Each subsection contains 25 name ideas. To make it easier, the names are listed in a numbered format and highlighted in bold.
1-25 Name Ideas
- Nowak
- Kowalski
- Wiśniewski
- Wójcik
- Kaczmarek
- Lewandowski
- Dolak
- Filipiak
- Filipowski
- Gajus
- Baldwin
- Bibi
- Kaminski
- Zieliński
- Piotrowski
- Szymański
- Woźniak
- Dąbrowski
- Jankowski
- Pawłowski
- Król
- Jabłoński
- Sawicki
- Kubiak
- Wierzbicki
26-50 Name Ideas
- Urban
- Duda
- Matusiak
- Stankiewicz
- Michalski
- Walentowski
- Stępień
- Zalewski
- Krupa
- Klimek
- Nowicki
- Gorski
- Maj
- Rutkowski
- Kucharski
- Adamczyk
- Turek
- Blaszczyk
- Olszewski
- Jablonski
- Malczyk
- Szulc
- Glowacki
- Matejczyk
- Przybylski
51-75 Name Ideas
- Konieczny
- Stasik
- Baran
- Mazurek
- Trzciński
- Kołodziej
- Grzesiak
- Sobczak
- Górniak
- Leszczyński
- Lipinski
- Chmielewski
- Zawada
- Sikora
- Barański
- Pawlik
- Kucharz
- Marta
- Olejnik
- Witaszek
- Włodarczyk
- Kaczmarski
- Szczepaniak
- Wasilewski
- Furman
76-100 Name Ideas
- Żyła
- Kwiatkowski
- Kowalewski
- Bobrowski
- Jasiński
- Więckowski
- Tomczak
- Róg
- Kacprzak
- Mikołajczyk
- Makowski
- Grzelak
- Borowski
- Kasprzyk
- Wróblewski
- Skalski
- Radziszewski
- Śliwka
- Klimek
- Borkowski
- Misiak
- Skiba
- Świątek
- Kondej
- Kapusta
More Name Ideas (Continued)
In this section, we will provide you with even more Polish last name ideas to explore. We’ve divided them into four subsections so you can easily navigate and find names that might interest you.
1-25 Name Ideas
- Kaczmarek
- Kaminski
- Wiśniewski
- Nowak
- Kowalski
- Wójcik
- Lewandowski
- Zielinski
- Szymanski
- Wozniak
- Górski
- Rutkowski
- Jankowski
- Brzezinski
- Mazur
- Krawczyk
- Piotrowski
- Grabowski
- Nowakowski
- Pawlak
- Michalski
- Zawadzki
- Janik
- Duda
- Majewski
26-50 Name Ideas
- Skowron
- Stasiak
- Kasprzak
- Baran
- Wrobel
- Ryba
- Kościelny
- Olszewski
- Wojciechowski
- Orłowski
- Janiszewski
- Sobolewski
- Krupa
- Kowalczyk
- Zakrzewski
- Małecki
- Szulc
- Walczak
- Konecki
- Czapla
- Urbanski
- Czajkowski
- Tomaszewski
- Urbanek
- Ostrowski
51-75 Name Ideas
- Jasiński
- Makowski
- Czajka
- Szóstak
- Kopacz
- Kubiak
- Romanowski
- Flis
- Kot
- Matusiak
- Orzechowski
- Lis
- Cieśliński
- Gawron
- Malinowski
- Dubois
- Jaworski
- Rosół
- Wyrzykowski
- Klimek
- Bednarek
- Sowa
- Maslanka
- Żurek
- Starosta
76-100 Name Ideas
- Słota
- Kruk
- Włodarczyk
- Chmura
- Gajda
- Łukasik
- Kucharski
- Białek
- Czech
- Bryl
- Bochenek
- Kita
- Łapa
- Pawlik
- Piotrowicz
- Niedźwiedź
- Bartkowiak
- Turek
- Zielińska
- Mirek
- Antczak
- Śliwa
- Trzeciak
- Madej
- Putyra
We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of Polish last names and that it has given you a greater understanding of the variety and uniqueness found in Polish surnames.
Tips For Brainstorming The Perfect Name
When it comes to choosing a Polish last name, there are plenty of options to consider. In this section, we’ll explore some tips for brainstorming the perfect name. Just remember to keep an open mind and enjoy the creative process.
1. Consider occupations:
Interestingly, many Polish last names find their origins in a person’s occupation. For example, a popular last name is Kowalski, which comes from the word for “blacksmith.” Another example is Krawiec, meaning “tailor” in Polish, or Wójcik, which signifies “innkeeper.” So, think about what professions resonate with you or have a history in your family.
2. Explore suffixes:
Polish last names often include unique suffixes that can lend depth and meaning to your chosen name. Some common suffixes are -ski, -cki, and -dzki. These suffixes indicate nobility or connection to a specific place, like Dabrowski, Gorecki, and Wojciechowski. Experiment with different combinations of suffixes to find the right fit for your name.
3. Look at geographical connections:
Many Polish family names are toponymic, meaning they are derived from place names. Names like Mazur and Nowicki have connections to specific regions in Poland, while others like Bukowski and Rutkowski are linked to towns and cities. If you have a strong connection to a place in Poland or Eastern Europe, consider incorporating it into your name.
4. Embrace Slavic traditions:
The Polish language is part of the Slavic family of languages, which also includes Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, and others. In this tradition, certain names are quite popular and commonly found across multiple countries. Examples of these widely-known names are Wieczorek, Nowak, and Krawczyk. Sometimes it’s a great idea to honor this shared cultural heritage when brainstorming a new name.
5. Research neighboring countries and influences:
Poland has a rich history with neighboring countries like Germany, Hungary, and Ukraine. Consequently, many Polish last names reflect these external influences. Be sure to consider names that represent the diverse ethnic and cultural tapestry of Poland when brainstorming.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to finding the perfect Polish last name that captures your identity and connects you to the rich heritage and history of Poland. Good luck on your naming journey!