Surname Petrowski - Meaning and Origin
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Petrowski: What does the surname Petrowski mean?
The last name Petrowski is a Slavic surname of Polish origin, stemming from the root word ‘petra’ which means rock. In this context, the name Petrowski most likely references the physical characteristics of the land from which the original bearer of the surname came from. Specifically, that the land contained rocks or that it was rocky, rugged terrain.
The Polish name Petrowski is an occupational name, which refers to a stone worker. It may be possible that the original bearers of Petrowski were stone workers or masons. In an age before modern technology, stone workers were essential for the construction of all kinds of structures and infrastructure, from churches and castles to dams and bridges. They also crafted the ornamental stone carvings that can be seen adorning the facades of many ancient buildings.
The surname Petrowski may also be a patronymic surname, derived from a father’s first name; the surname Petrowski may have been adopted to signify a person related to someone called ‘Peter.’
In its various incarnations, the surname Petrowski is now found throughout the world, due to migration and immigration patterns. Bearers of the surname can still be found in Poland, as well as other Slavic countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Bulgaria. Petrowski is also found in larger numbers across the rest of Europe, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. North America and Canada are also home to many people bearing this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisPetrowski: Where does the name Petrowski come from?
The last name Petrowski is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. The highest concentrations of Petrowski families are located in Poland, with other significant numbers in Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Petrowski is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Petrow, and is the Middle Slavic word for Peter. The name is quite popular throughout the region where it is believed to have originated in the 13th Century.
Today, the majority of Petrowski families in Europe live in Poland. Petrowski is the 19th most common surname in Poland, with the highest concentrations found in Silesian Voivodeship, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, and Łódź Voivodeship.
In Germany, Petrowski is among the most common surnames, with the highest concentration in Baden-Württemberg. The city of Berlin also has a significant number of Petrowski families.
Petrowski is also found in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, where the majority of families live in rural areas.
In the United States, the Petrowski name is much less common. The largest concentrations are found in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and California.
Petrowski is also found in other parts of the world, including Belize, South Africa, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Petrowski
The Petrowski surname is a regional variant of an Eastern European surname, particularly of Polish, Ukrainian and Belarussian origin. Distinguishable variants and spellings of the same origin include Petrovsky, Petrovskij, Petrow, Petrowsky, Petrowskij, Petrovskij, Petrovssky and Petrovskîi. The exact origin of the name can vary depending on the language and the historical period, but it generally refers to a family that came from a 'Petros'/'Piotr' - a Polish form of Peter.
In Polish language, the Petrowski surname is derived from the Slavic personal name of Petar or Piotr, which corresponds to Peter, the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Simon Peter. It is derived, thus, from the word ‘Petros’, meaning ‘stone’, and literally translates to ‘son of Peter’. In Eastern Europe, families often adopted their family name from whichever son had or held the highest-ranking position in the family.
In Polish and Ukrainian, the Petrowski surname is often spelled Petrovskyi or Petrovskyy, while in Belarussian, it is usually spelled as Петроўскі. The same surname has other regional spellings, such as Petrowskij or Petrovskij in Russian, as well as alternate forms in other Slavic languages, such as Petrovskîi in Bulagarian, Petrovsskyy in Ukrainian, and Pyetryovski in Slovenian.
The variations in spelling arose due to the fact that the languages of Eastern Europe existed in different dialects and spoken by different ethnicities. This means that the same surname can be spelled differently in different regions, due to different spellings and accentuations of certain words.
Famous people with the name Petrowski
- Maryke Petrowski: Dutch professional basketball player.
- Marvin Petrowski: German sculptor.
- Jane Petrowski: Australian tennis player.
- Michael Petrowski: Canadian politician.
- Mark Petrowski: American lawyer and philanthropist.
- Steph Petrowski: English singer and songwriter.
- AJ Petrowski: American mixed martial artist.
- Ryann Petrowski: American professional soccer player.
- Steve Petrowski: American former race car driver.
- Frank Petrowski: German goalkeeper.
- Julia Petrowski: American abstract painter.
- Graham Petrowski: Irish professional wrestler.
- Farrah Petrowski: Canadian graphic designer and entrepreneur.
- Tessa Petrowski: American fashion designer.
- Kate Petrowski: French television author.