Surname Olschowski - Meaning and Origin

Olschowski: What does the surname Olschowski mean?

The last name Olschowski has German-Slavic roots and is derived from the Polish name Olszewski. It is derived from the Polish word olsz, which means spruce, and the suffix –ewski, which indicates a connection to a place of origin. The name can also be linked to the city of Olszyny, which is located in the valley of the upper Vistula river in southern Poland.

The Olschowski last name is generally associated with someone living in or near a spruce wood in southwestern Poland near the Czech and Slovak border. Historically, the Olschowski surname was very commonly found in the area of modern-day Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and southwestern Poland.

The Olschowski name is typically seen as one of noble origin, and can be found in records of landowners and members of the Polish nobility as far back as the mid-1600s. To this day, the Olschowski name is a very common one in Poland and other parts of Europe connected to Polish culture.

People who have the last name Olschowski often display a strong sense of independence and intelligence, as well as a natural skill at leadership. They tend to be very creative and resourceful when it comes to problem-solving and achieving goals. Oftentimes, they also display a social and creative side, as well as a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the world around them.

Olschowski: Where does the name Olschowski come from?

The last name Olschowski is commonly found today in Poland, Germany, and Austria. It is also found, to a lesser extent, in Czech Republic, Denmark, and Slovakia.

In Poland, Olschowski is the 149th most common name. The vast majority of bearers live in the western and northern parts of the country, especially in Greater Poland voivodeship (or province). Smaller pockets are also found in Masovian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, and Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Olschowski is also prevalent in the cities of Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, and Kraków.

In Germany, the name Olschowski is concentrated mainly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, with the highest concentrations in and around Stuttgart. The Olschowski family is believed to have originated from the old Germanic regions of Galicia and Habsburg Poland.

Across German-speaking Europe, there is a larger concentration of Olschowski in Austria. As of June 2020, the name was the 41st most popular in Vienna. The Olschowski surname is also found with small numbers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, especially in eastern parts. In Denmark, the name is quite rare, but there are a few hundred families with the surname.

Variations of the surname Olschowski

The surname Olschowski is derived from the Polish name Olszewski. It is a topographic name for someone from a location where there are alder trees, derived from the Polish word “olsza” meaning alder. Variants of the surname include Olechowski, Olek, Oleszewski, Olecki, Olchowy, Olschowy and Olszewski.

The surname is found in Poland, where it is most common. It is also found in countries with a Polish history, including the United States, Germany, Canada, Austria, Hungary, and Brazil. Spelling variations of the name Olschowski include Alschowski, Olechowski, Olschowsky, Olschovski, Olszewski, and Olszowski.

The usage of surnames in Poland changed over time, and some families adopted a form of their patronymic as their surname. So there is a good chance that other spellings and last names with similar origin (even unrelated surnames) may contain in their core the same patronymic “Ole-”, which is a common root of the name “Olszewski”, and may be a variation of the same origin.

The surnames inherent in the patronymic “Ole-” include Olech, Oleksy, Olender, Olewnik, Oleszewicz, Oleska, and Oleszynski. Other similar foreign variants of the same origin can be found in Italian (Alce), French (Allé), Irish (Ailish, O’Loughlin) and Dutch (Olij, Olie).

Famous people with the name Olschowski

• Joe Olschowski- Football player who was a defensive end for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s.
• Jason Olschowski- Hockey player who played for the Chicago Blackhawks.
• Chris Olschowski- Former soccer goalkeeper who made 35 appearances in Major League Soccer.
• Robert Olschowski- Director of the School of Business at Northeastern University.
• Max Olschowski- Drummer and percussionist for the instrumental rock band Tortoise.
• John Olschowski- Influential contemporary sculptor and photographer.
• Brian Olschowski- Pennsylvania Attorney General from 1979 to 1983.
• David Olschowski- Professor of Computer Science at the University of Michigan.
• Elizabeth Olschowski- German sculptor and painter.
• Matt Olschowski- Professional skateboarder who competed in the X Games in 2012.

Other surnames

Olschowsky