Surname Colczynski - Meaning and Origin
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Colczynski: What does the surname Colczynski mean?
Colczynski is a Polish surname, and it is believed to have originated from the region of Mazowieckie in the northeastern part of Poland. The name is derived from the word "kol", meaning "ignore," suggesting that individuals with this surname were known to disregard the rules or expectations of their community. The origin of this name is uncertain, however, other theories suggest that it may be derived from the verb "colczic," which means "to ignore rules or laws."
The name is likely to have been born by people with noble rank who weren't afraid to stand out from the crowd. People with this surname are said to be independent, strong-willed, and brave; they will not abide by unfair rules and authority. It is believed that these individuals have a strong sense of justice and often work towards fairness and equality of people within their community.
Colczynski is said to be a distinguished and respected name in Poland, and those who bear it are known to be proud of their heritage and family history. It is a marker of distinction for those who carry this last name, as it marks people with a strong identity and robust character.
Order DNA origin analysisColczynski: Where does the name Colczynski come from?
The last name Colczynski is most commonly found today in the Upper Midwest of the United States, particularly in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It is also appears with some frequency in other parts of the United States including in Pennsylvania and parts of Michigan. It is also found in tangible numbers throughout most of Canada, particularly in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
Colczynski is believed to be of Polish origin, and is a derivation of the Polish word “Colcziński.” According to one theory of origin, the Colczynski's are descendants of Zygmunt I Stary, a King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1467–1548). It is possible that the family left Poland sometime in the 19th century and made their way to North America. Today, the name is one of the most common patronymic surnames in Poland.
Tracing the genealogy of the Colczynski family, a few distinct sections can be identified. One of the more well-known branches is the Baruch-Rapoport family, whose members are direct descendants of Zygmunt I Stary. Other branches include the Madlin-Colczyński family of southern Poland, the Trzosa-Colczyński family in Wielkopolska, the Gąsiorkowski-Colczyński family in Pomerania, and the Harzechowicz-Colczyński family in Upper Silesia and Austria.
As a result of Colczynski emigrations to the U.S., the family is now scattered around the world with smaller numbers living in Germany, France, Australia, Italy, and across South America.
Variations of the surname Colczynski
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Colczynski include Colcak, Colcek, Colchen, Colchuk, Colchukow, Colcyk, Coldak, Kopczynski, Kolchak, Kolcak, Kolcek, Kolchak, Koleczynski, Kozak, Kozakiewicz, Kozicki, Kolczak, Kolczuk, Kolczynski, Kolkowski, Korsczynski and various other spellings.
Colczynski is a surname of Polish origin and is a derivative of a word meaning ‘coalman’. Making the assumptions that those with the surname were descendants of someone whose occupation was that of a coalman, or possibly that they lived in a region where coalmining was prominent, which today would be Krakow and surrounding area. This occupational surnames is derived from the trade or occupation of the original bearerof the name.
The suffix -ak, which is quite common in Polish surnames, is a diminutive, indicating that the original surname was likely Colczak or Colczuk. The spelling of the surname has changed over time through various dialectal and translational influences. This is mainly because the Galician and Silesian dialects of Polish did not observe strict spelling rules, which is why this surname has so many possible spelling alternatives today.
Colczynski is found most commonly in Poland, where the surname is held by many, and still has a significant presence there. However, it is also found in other countries, such as Germany, Belarus, Ukraine and the United States, where descendants of those who immigrated later in history have since settled.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Colczynski include Colcak, Colcek, Colchen, Colchuk, Colchukow, Colcyk, Coldak, Kopczynski, Kolchak, Kolcak, Kolcek, Kolchak, Koleczynski, Kozak, Kozakiewicz, Kozicki, Kolczak, Kolczuk, Kolczynski, Kolkowski, Korsczynski and more.
Famous people with the name Colczynski
- Dave Colczynski: former Tier II junior hockey coach and co-founder of a leading hockey education school, the Total Skills Hockey Academy.
- Paul Colczynski: decorated American soldier who fought in World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart.
- Corey Colczynski: former professional baseball player who played in the minor league from 1998-2011.
- Marcus Colczynski: renowned American choreographer, having choreographed for big stage works such as West Side Story and the Captain Marvel movie.
- Mark Colczynski: A veteran of the United States Air Force, and is currently a professor at the University of California, San Diego.
- Eddie Colczynski: Former Minor League baseball player who played from 1993-2005.
- Don Colczynski: retired police officer who later worked in the intelligence division of the New York City Police Department.
- John Colczynski: American-born racecar driver, participating in various series such as Formula Ford and SCCA.
- Andrew Colczynski: pediatrician who specialized in childhood vaccinations and treatment of children with cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- Erika Colczynski: award-winning music composer, who composed music for the DC Comics movie Aquaman.