Surname Karwowski - Meaning and Origin
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Karwowski: What does the surname Karwowski mean?
The last name Karwowski is believed to be of Polish origin. It is likely derived from the Polish word ‘karw’ which means cart, carriage, or wagon. This suggests that, in the past, the ancestors of this family may have made or worked with carriages and wheels, or they may have been cart makers or drivers. Alternate spellings of the name include Karwowsky, Karvowski, and Karvosky.
People with this surname are found in many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, Germany, Russia, and other countries in Europe and beyond.
There are many notable members of this family. In Poland, the Karwowski surname is most commonly found in the area of Greater Poland, which is located in the west-central part of the country. It is a large region with a long history, having been a part of the Kingdom of Poland, then the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and then Prussia.
Some members of the Karwowski family have had notable successes in academia, the arts, sports, and politics. Among them is Jan Karwowski, who was a member of the Polish Sejm (parliament) from 1965 to 1969. There is also Jan Karwowski, an astronomer who discovered a new comet in 1950. In the United States, Donna Karwowski is notable for her work as a poet and playwright.
The Karwowski name has an illustrious history, and those who bear this surname can be proud to be part of a diverse and interesting family.
Order DNA origin analysisKarwowski: Where does the name Karwowski come from?
The last name Karwowski is a Polish surname that is common in many countries today, primarily in Europe. It is most commonly found in Poland, where it is one of the most popular surnames in the country and is estimated to be the twelfth most populous name in the nation. The name is also found in many Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic States, as well as many other countries with significant Polish diasporas, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, the Karwowski surname is the 958th most common name, making it one of the most frequent surnames amongst the Polish American population. It is most heavily concentrated in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, with the most names found in Cook County, Illinois. There are also numerous small pockets of Karwowski families found around the country, from cities in Texas and Florida to towns in Pennsylvania and New York.
Though Karwowski is a common Polish surname, there is debate as to the etymology of the name. Most theories point to a combination of two common elements: “kar-” which is the root for “oak” in some Slavonic languages, and “owski” meaning “belonging to.” While the debate goes on, one thing is for certain— the Karwowski name will remain a prominent one in Eastern Europe and anywhere its descendants reside.
Variations of the surname Karwowski
The surname Karwowski is usually spelled as Karwowski, but there are some variants of the spelling including Karvowski, Karwoski, Kervo, Karvoski, Kervsky, Kervusky, Karovsky, Karvosky, Karvuski, Kervusky, and Karvinsky.
Karwowski is also known to have numerous derivative surnames from other countries in Eastern Europe. Examples include Karowksi from Ukraine, Karwoska from Poland, Karvoschenko from Russia, and Karvacki from Belarus.
The surname Karwowski is believed to have been derived from the Slavic name Karwiel, which translates to "the son of a strong man". It is also believed to be derived from the Slavic word Kar, which means "a horn". The surname thus means somebody who has horns, symbolic of physical strength, which is likely why it became used to describe powerful individuals such as knights and warriors in the Middle Ages.
Karwowski is also known to have been used as a toponymic surname, referring to individuals hailing from places such as Karwoski in Poland, or Karvacka in Belarus.
Other variants of the surname include Carvoski, Kervuski, Karnowski, Karwielewski, Karwowskii, and Karwoszewski.
Overall, Karwowski is a popular surname with numerous variants and derivative surnames, all of which originate from the same Slavic roots. The most common variant of the surname in Eastern Europe is Karwowski, though there are numerous other variants which can be found all over the world.
Famous people with the name Karwowski
- Barbara Karwowski: a Canadian music director, producer, writer, and actor.
- Janina Karwowska: a former Polish sprint athlete.
- Jakub Karwowski: a Polish contemporary artist.
- Dominik Karwowski: a Polish cartoonist, illustrator, and animator.
- Michał Karwowski: a Polish archaeologist and historian of early medieval Eastern Europe.
- Andrzej Karwowski: a contemporary Polish poet and essayist.
- Paweł Karwowski: a Polish politician and diplomat.
- Monika Karwowska: a Polish Olympic medalist swimmer.
- Artur Karwowski: a contemporary Polish entrepreneur and accidental film producer.
- Mikołaj Karwowski: a Polish aristocrat, writer and poet.