Surname Maziejewski - Meaning and Origin

Maziejewski: What does the surname Maziejewski mean?

Maziejewski is a Polish surname derived from the given name of Maziej. The root of the name can be traced back to the words macierzysty, which means “belonging to a mother” or “motherly” in Polish. This was a term often used by noble families to refer to their sons. The suffix -ewski that was likely added to the name suggests that the original bearer of the surname belonged to the szlachta, a Polish feudal class of the nobility.

The Maziejewski surname could be seen as a variant of the common Polish surnames ending with -ewski, which are typically associated with noble families. It is believed that these families had descendants who created their own family lineage and adopted custom surnames to distinguish themselves from other nobility.

Maziejewski is most closely associated with certain Polish provinces, with the most popular being Greater Poland. Those with the Maziejewski surname trace their lineage back to the Krakow Bishop Peter von Maziaj, the founder of the Maziaj Dynasty, which dates back to the mid-13th century.

The name itself denotes respectability and heritage, both of which were important to nobles of the time. Generally, families with surnames ending in -ewski were wealthy and well-regarded, and the Maziejewski surname is no exception. Throughout the centuries, those who have carried the Maziejewski surname have grown to be successful members of their communities.

Maziejewski: Where does the name Maziejewski come from?

The Maziejewski surname is most commonly found today among populations living in Poland. It is also present in lower numbers within the United States, where many people from Poland emigrated to in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The surname "Maziejewski" is thought to have originated from what was once the Kingdom of Poland which was partitioned in 1795 under the Partitions of Poland amongst Prussia, Austro-Hungary, and czarist Russia.

Maziejewski is a Polish-Slavic surname derived from the old Slavic root Maziya, which means "mayor". It was most likely used by an official or someone who was a steward of the land, and points to a position of medieval political power and influence.

The surname is first documented to have existed in Poland in 1422 with a Reverend Stefan Maziejewski, and appears to originate from the east bank of the Vistula River.

Today, the last name Maziejewski is popular in Poland with over 20,000 people with the surname living in the country. In America, the last name is found mainly in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan—all states with large Polish populations.

Overall, Maziejewski remains a popular surname in Poland which has endured through centuries of political and social upheaval.

Variations of the surname Maziejewski

Maziejewski is a Polish surname. Variants of the same origin include Mazijewski, Maziakiewicz, Mazikiewcz, Maziakoweicz, Mazurekiewicz, and Mazuriakiewicz.

The name comes from the Polish word “maz”, which means “until, till, or up to.” The ending -ewski is a patronymic suffix and is used to indicate the name of the father. In this case, the name would be a variation of the phrase “up to the son of”, making it a patronymic surname.

Other spellings of the surname can include Mazeyewski, Maziyewski, Maziowiecki, Mazyjevski, Maziuewski, Maziewski, and Maziyovski.

People with this surname may also be referred to as Maziak or Maziar. Some of the surnames associated with this name have also evolved over time. For example, the name may have evolved from Mazeyevski to Mazieyevski to Maziyevski and finally Maziejewski.

Maziejewski is quite a rare surname, and there are not many cases of people with this name. Some bearers of this name can be found in the United States due to emigration from Poland. In general, there is not much known about the history of the surname or of its original bearers.

Famous people with the name Maziejewski

• Eustachy Jan Maziejewski: Polish-Canadian painter and sculptor who was a professor at the University of Manitoba in Canada during the 1920s-1930s.
• Oscar Maziejewski: A Polish-American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Brooklyn borough of New York City from 1949–1954.
• Henryk Maziejewski: A Polish diplomat, lawyer, and author who served as the Polish ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1972-1986.
• Andre Maziejewski: An American neurologist, medical educator and professor at the University of Kansas.
• Stanisław Maziejewski: A Polish art historian and professor of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków from 1936-1949.
• Rościsław Maziejewski: A Polish poet, playwright and author who was also a professor of literature at the University of Wrocław.
• Stanisław Maziejewski: A Polish composer and conductor, known for composing the score for the 1924 film Samson and Delilah.
• Józef Maziejewski: A Polish military leader who held numerous high-ranking posts in the military.
• Wojciech Maziejewski: A Polish astrophysicist and professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
• Andrzej Maziejewski: A Polish actor and theatre director best known for his roles in the TV series "Klan" and "39 i pół".

Other surnames

Maziejewsky