Surname Brodowsky - Meaning and Origin

Brodowsky: What does the surname Brodowsky mean?

The last name Brodowsky is of Jewish (Ashkenazi) origin, and is derived from the Yiddish word brud (ברוד), meaning ‘traveler’ or ‘wagon driver’. Thus, this surname generally indicates a person who made their living as a Lancastrian or driver of a covered wagon, long before the advent of cars and trains.

The use of this last name as a surname originated in the early- to mid-19th century, when many Jewish people started taking on surnames out of economic necessity. It was most common in southern Poland, where the population was largely made up of poor Jews who would often hire out their services as concepts, ferrying goods from place to place in a wagon. There, the term ‘Brodowsky’ became relatively common, although it only spread to other regions later on.

In modern times, the surname Brodowsky is still quite common, although it has a much wider geographic spread. Its footprint can be seen across Israel, Europe, the United States and many other countries. Today, the name is generally associated with independence and a strong work ethic; traits that define the Brodowsky family.

Brodowsky: Where does the name Brodowsky come from?

The last name Brodowsky is most common in Germany, especially in the northern regions. It is believed to have originated from the region of West Prussia, which is now part of Poland and Russia. In the 1800s, many families with the surname Brodowsky emigrated to the USA, Australia, and Canada, with a few of them settling in other parts of the world such as Argentina and South Africa.

Today, Brodowsky is fairly common in Germany, with most of the people living in Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. This name is also spread throughout other parts of Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Most people who share this rare last name can trace their roots to the countries in the former West Prussia.

In the USA, Brodowsky can also be found scattered throughout the country. The majority of the Brodowskys who settled in America during the 1800s are ancestors of those from West Prussia. In the US, the most often found states with people sharing this surname are New York, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Outside of Europe and the US, there are a few Brodowskys living in South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and Canada. As a result of the high level of emigration from West Prussia in the 19th century, the Brodowsky name has been spread throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Brodowsky

The surname Brodowsky is a Jewish surname of Ashkenazic origin and is derived from the Yiddish word “brud” which means “brother.” There are various variants and spellings of the same origin for this surname, including Brodovski, Brodewsky, Brodovksy, Brodovskij, Brudavski, and Brudawsky.

The name Brodowsky is also found in a variety of other nationalities, mainly on the Eastern European border with Poland. It can also be found in other countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania. The variants of the surname Brodowsky will often have local spelling variations, which can be due to the particularities of each country’s language or alphabet.

In some cases, the surname Brodowsky may be used in combination with another surname. For example, some of the surnames found in Russia and Lithuania include “Brodovsky-Lavreniev,” “Brodovsky-Volodin,” “Brodovsky-Shtukner,” and “Brodovsky-Komaro.” Additionally, the surname Brodowsky may have an additional ending in other countries, such as “Brodovskiy” in Ukraine, “Brodovskian” in Armenia, or “Brodowski” in Poland.

In the United States, the Brodowsky surname is found mainly among Jews who immigrated during the mid-to-late 19th Century. Immigration records also indicate that the spelling of the surname was changed to Brodsky upon entry to the United States.

Overall, the surname Brodowsky has a variety of variants and spellings that are found globally, and in some cases combines with other surnames for added local flavour.

Famous people with the name Brodowsky

• Sam Brodowsky: American film director, story artist, and animation industry executive. He has been a story artist for animated features such as ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ and ‘Big Hero 6’.
• Alexander Brodowsky: Artist and Professor of Art History at the Russian Academy of Arts whose artwork has been featured in several European museums.
• Robert Brodowsky: A prominent German psychiatrist whose clinical work focused on psychosomatic illnesses, behavior modification techniques, and the biopsychosocial model.
• Joe Brodowsky: Baseball player and coach who was instrumental in the development of the US National Baseball team.
• Vince Brodowski: Professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who became the first American super heavyweight kickboxing champion in 1990.
• Carl Brodowsky: German expressionist painter known for his vibrant and colorful landscapes that drew upon the imagery of the German romantic era.
• Max Brodowsky: German-American war sculptor who created dozens of heroic military monuments that can be seen in cemeteries and memorial parks around the United States.
• Steven Brodowsky: Canadian animator and director who is known for his work on television shows such as ‘Futurama’ and ‘Family Guy’.
• Alfred Brodowsky: German-Jewish composer who fled persecution during WW2 and made a career for himself in the United States composing for a variety of films and television series.
• Yosef Brodowsky: Yiddish poet and journalist who was one of the first to apply Yiddish language to the modernizing of Hebrew literature.

Other surnames

Brodowski