Surname Ostrawski - Meaning and Origin

Ostrawski: What does the surname Ostrawski mean?

The last name Ostrawski is derived from a location in Poland, where the very first person from the Ostrawski family was born. The town of Ostrowo is located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, and the surname is typically seen as a toponymic surname derived from the area. Although the exact meaning is unknown, it is believed to be related to the Polish words “ostro” meaning sharp, pointy, or fond of gambling, and “owo” or “owy”, which can mean deer, buck, or hill.

The Ostrawski family is thought to have an ancient history, as the last name has been found in records dating back to the 13th century. It is not uncommon to find multiple variations of this surname, such as Ostrowski, Ostrowska, or Ostrowsky, as these all imply the same meaning.

Typically members of the Ostrawski family used to live in rural areas in Poland, which was strongly reflected in their traditional occupations such as farmers, craftsmen, millers, forestry workers, and merchants. In more recent years, family members have become moretextured and varied as they have spread across the world, but the surname still conjures up strong connotations of loyalty, creativity, and strength.

Ostrawski: Where does the name Ostrawski come from?

The last name Ostrawski is likely of Polish origin and is still found most commonly in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland and Slovakia. This name likely originated from Ostrow, which means “fortress” in Polish, and the -ski suffix is a common ending for a last name of Polish origin.

In the 20th century, Ostrawski was one of the most common surnames in Poland and Slovakia and was found concentrated mainly in the Polana region of southern Poland. It was also common in the capital of Slovakia—Bratislava—and in the regions of Galicia and Bukovina.

Today, the Ostrawski name is still popular in Poland and Slovakia, as well as in other countries typical of emigration from the region. This would include Germany, America, Russia, and other parts of Europe. According to some records, Ostrawski is the most common surname in the Polish and Slovak populations in America, where there are estimated to be over 2,500 individuals with the name. In the UK, Canada, and Australia there is also a significant population of individuals with this surname.

Overall, the Ostrawski name is still quite common and is found most prevalently among individuals with connections to the areas of southern Poland and Slovakia.

Variations of the surname Ostrawski

The surname Ostrawski is derived from the name of the city of Ostrava, in the Czech Republic. It is a Slavic variation of the surname "Ostrow" or "Ostrów", which means "fortified settlement." The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Ostrawski are:

Ostrawský, Ostravský, Ostravski, Ostrofski, Ostrovski, Ostrowski, Ostrowský, Ostrawsky, Ostrowsky, Ostrovský, Ostrawskii, Stravski, Stranski, Stravský, Stravsky, Stransky, and Stranskii.

Ostrawski is a Slavic surname, which is common among Slavic nations, and various localized spellings are used in different regions of Europe. For example, in the Czech Republic, Ostrawski appears as Ostrawský, whereas in Poland, Ostrawski is spelled as Ostrowski or Ostrowsky.

The name is also prevalent among other Slavic nations. Ukrainians, Belarussians, and Russians may spell the surname as Ostrofski, Ostrovski, or Ostrovský. In terms of the particular spelling used by members of the Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian territories formerly part of Eastern Prussia), the surname may be spelt as Ostrawsky or Ostrawskii.

It is also important to note that many Slavic surnames also have other versions, which may not be related to the Ostrawski spelling. For instance, in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Ukraine, the surname may also be spelled as Stravski, Stranski, Stravský, Stravsky, Stransky, or Stranskii.

In total, there are up to fifteen variations of the surname Ostrawski, most of which originate from different occasions and regions throughout Eastern Europe. Regardless of the specific spelling, all variants signify the same Czech city of Ostrava as their ultimate origin.

Famous people with the name Ostrawski

• Bartosz Ostrawski: a Polish footballer who currently plays for I-League 2nd Division side Aizawl Football Club.
• Szymon Ostrawski: a Polish alpine skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Charles ‘Chuck’ Ostrawski: a former professional American football player who played for the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1960s.
• Mike Ostrawski: a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for six seasons.
• Don Ostrawski: a former American football player who played professionally in the National Football League for seven seasons.
• Joanna Ostrawska: a Polish model, TV host, and actress.
• Wojciech Ostrowsk: a Polish actor and director who has appeared in films such as Theri and Munna Michael.
• Mark Ostrawski: a former American basketball coach who served as head coach of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Washington Mystics in 2000.
• Damian Ostrawski: a Polish actor and singer known for films such as Anna and Janosik and TV series such as Czterej Pancerni I Pies.
• Tadeusz Ostrowsk: a prominent Polish composer, conductor, and professor who founded the Warsaw Philharmonic and created the weekly program Muzyka Polska for Polish Radio.

Other surnames

Ostrawsky