Surname Doliwa - Meaning and Origin
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Doliwa: What does the surname Doliwa mean?
The last name Doliwa is derived from the Slavic language, namely Polish. The name ultimately stands for Dove, derived from the root "dol" which translates to valley in the Polish language. It was a surname for an individual who originally hailed from an area known as the Dolin, or simply “the valley”. The name was likely an identification given to a person or family who had lived in a valley, likely being bestowed by those who had moved to a different region.
The traditional origin story of the Doliwa surname revolves around a knight returning from a battle in the dark. Unable to navigate his way home in the night, he was aided by the silhouette of a dove which swooped in and out of the valley, helping him find his way.
In the time since the surname's initial formation, it has come to represent a variety of family lineages in Poland. Beyond Poland, the name has spread around the world, to countries such as Germany, United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The root of the surname is still present in many variations: Dol(i)wa, Dolny, Dołowy, Dołowy, Dol(i)wa, Dolak, Dolakiewicz, Dolakowski, Dolata, Doliwa, Dołak, Dołek and Dołkowski.
Today, the name Doliwa is a proud testament of heritage, and the sense of identity and belonging that comes along with that.
Order DNA origin analysisDoliwa: Where does the name Doliwa come from?
The last name Doliwa is a relatively uncommon surname today, with most of its occurrences being found in Poland. Specifically, the name is most concentrated in north-western part of the country. According to research from the University of Warsaw, the majority of people bearing the name are located in the historic Greater Poland region, specifically in the northern part of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship.
The specific origin of the surname is also linked to the area of North-Western Poland, which in the medieval times used to be known as the Duchy of Greater Poland. As such, the patronym itself likely originates from that region, possibly referring to individuals who used to live near the Doliwa settlement in the region.
Today, the surname is still relatively rare but can be found in other parts of Europe, including in Germany, where there is a significant Polish diaspora. In terms of North America, the surname is even more rare, with only a handful of individuals bearing the name registered in the United States and Canada. It would thus appear as if the name is slowly dying out outside of its ancestral homeland.
Variations of the surname Doliwa
The surname Doliwa is of Slavic origin and first found in Silesia, an area in present-day Poland. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Doliwa include: Doliwa, Doliva, Dolliva, Dolivva, Dollivva, Delwa, Delywa, Dälle, and Dällinger.
The Doliba or Doliva variants are the oldest and are found in putative documents found in Silesian archives from the 14th century. The surname was a patronymic ending that is derived from the name Doliwa, which is a short form of the Slavic personal name Dobiliu (of Germanic origin). It was used by commoners in Silesia as a name at the time when most of the population was of Slavic origin.
Dälle and Dällinger are variations of the Doliba and Doliva forms, believed to have first been used in the 17th Century, at a time when Germany occupied much of Silesia. It was during this period that German-influenced names were used more frequently in order to be associated with the occupying power.
The surname was also adopted by some Polish nobles in the 16th century, who merged it with their own names, forming surnames like: Doliwa-Brzozówka, Doliwa-Chodków, and Doliwa-Głogowski.
Today, most of the people bearing this surname come from Silesia, and many have spread across Poland and other parts of Europe. It is also found in small numbers in North America and other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Doliwa
- Marek Doliwa: Polish film, television and theatre actor.
- Kuba Doliwa: Polish ski jumper.
- Michał Doliwa: Polish long distance runner.
- Jacek Doliwa: Polish football player and manager.
- Karol Doliwa: Polish footballer and manager.
- Łukasz Doliwa: Polish football player and manager.
- Mikołaj Doliwa: Polish chess player and coach.
- Agata Doliwa: Polish actress.
- Poleksandra Doliwa: Polish long-distance runner.
- Zdzisław Doliwa: Polish modern pentathlete.