Forum | PolishOrigins :: View topic

Author

Message

Bernadette

Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Replies: 12

Back to top

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject: Grabowski

Does anyone know the origin or meaning of the name 'Grabowski'. From what I've heard so far the Grabow was a kind of tree and the Grabowski's were tree cutters. Oddly enough I've always had a love of trees. Smile

Zenon
PolishOrigins Team Leader

Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1532
Location: Poland
Back to top

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:05 am Post subject:

Bernadette,

You are right, Grabowski may derive from Polish grab - hornbeam, or from grabie - rake, grabić - to rob. Grab is also seen as an old first name, as well as in many places names.

Grabowski is a very popular surname. In 2002 there were almost 58 000 individuals using it living in Poland. Detailed map of the surname distribution, Grabowski: https://nazwiska-polskie.pl/Grabowski .

In 19th century there were 13 noble families settled mainly in the Mazovia and in the Greater Poland.

Listen how your surname is pronounced in Polish (speakers turned on): http://say.expressivo.com/jacek/grabowski .

Click here http://polishorigins.com/databases/index?s=grabowski to check how much about Grabowskis can be in Polish Genealogy Databases tool.

And here in PolishOrigins Surnames Database you will find other PolishOrigins members interested in your surname: http://polishorigins.com/surnames/search/string/grabowski .

Sources

Bernadette

Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Replies: 12

Back to top

Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:38 am Post subject:

Thanks Zenon - I thought my name was derived from some thing about trees. Although I was born in UK and English is my first language I did go to Saturday school to learn Polish for a while. Unfortunately, it didn't last long as there was a lot of changes and moving about and the school closed down about 6 months after I started. It was run by the local Polish priest at the time. But I did learn the basics of Polish pronunciation and I can get by when I go to Poland - Jestem Glodna being my first phrase!!! And 'Ja chce spie' being the second!

As for my name well my father was very irritated that I was called Grabowski because I'm female. But in UK you are given whatever name your father has, and there are no male/female aspects to names here. So it also became a source of irritation for me too, Polish family wondered why I had the masculine version of the name. So I changed it by deed poll to Grabowska about 10 years ago and I feel much better about it myself.
Very Happy

PolishOrigins Forum