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Surname Zelewski - Meaning and Origin

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Zelewski: What does the surname Zelewski mean?

The last name Zelewski has both German and Polish origins. In Germany, the name is derived from the Middle High German word “zello”, meaning “white.” Therefore, the last name Zelewski could mean “white person” or at least someone with white features.

In Poland, the name may have originated as a toponymic last name, derived from any of the numerous locations in Poland featuring the name Zelewski. These places could have been named either for a person or family with the last name Zelewski, or may have been named after the Polish word “zlo,” meaning “evil”.

Today, Zelewski is a fairly common Polish surname. There are several coat of arms that belong to branches of the Zelewski family in Poland, suggesting that the family was fairly prominent when the coat of arms was assigned.

No matter its exact origin, the last name Zelewski is a fascinating one with deep roots in German and Polish history. The Mid-High German and Polish etymologies hint at different characters and family stories, suggesting the long and varied history of the Zelewski family.

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Zelewski: Where does the name Zelewski come from?

The last name Zelewski is most common in modern day Germany. German census records reveal that in the past it was most commonly found in the areas of Berlin, Hohensollern, Brandenburg, and Silesia, as well as in the southern part of the former German Democratic Republic.

The surname is likely derived from the given name Zelewow, or Szeles, which was quite popular in the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, during the 16th and 17th centuries. During this period, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth extended from the Baltic to the Black Seas, and included many areas in present day Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine.

Over time some of the Zelewski family members moved away from these parts of the Commonwealth, spreading their surname to other areas of Europe.

It is believed that the first Zelewskis in Germany date back to the 1850s, when members of the name from the eastern parts of the Polish Russian Empire, and what is now Belarus, emigrated. Since then, the family has grown and spread to many parts of Germany, and currently Zelewski is listed as the 10,204th most common name in Germany.

Aside from Germany, the last name is also quite popular in the United States, where the modern Zelewski family may have descended from Polish and Slovak immigrants. The last name is also found amongst people of Jewish descent, many of whom may have descended from Poland or Russia.

In summary, the last name Zelewski is most common today in Germany, as well as amongst Jewish and American populations with Polish, Slovak, and Russian ancestry.

Variations of the surname Zelewski

The surname Zelewski has many variations depending on the region and language. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include: Zalewski, Zelewsky, Zelezny, Zalovic, Zaloffsky and Zelinsky.

In Poland, the surname Zelewski is derived from the towns of Zelewo, Zelow and Zalowa, and appears there most commonly as Zalewski. It is generally assumed to have come from the Old Slavic personal name Zal, which is now extinct, but was originally a male name meaning "noble warrior”. As such, it may have been linked to a noble family.

In the United States, one of the earliest immigrants with the name of Zelewski was Joseph Zelewski who arrived from Poland in 1901. In the UK, variations of the name such as Zalewska were recorded during the 1890 Census. The surname is also borne by members of Jewish communities, where it is spelled Zelivsky or Zelavsky.

The surname Zelewski is common in Germany, often spelled Zelezny or Zelewsky when used by German-speakers. It is believed to have originally come from Jewish families that immigrated to Germany, usually from Poland. In Germany, Zelezny is often spelled Zalewski as a variant.

In Russia, a variant of the name, Zalovsky, is often found but is more frequently spelled Zelenovsky or Zelinsky. This is common in Jewish communities in Russia, and is likely linked to the same origin as the other variants.

In the Czech Republic, the name is commonly spelled Zalovsky. It is assumed to have originated in the Czech Republic during the 17th century, known at that time as Zalovska.

In Slovakia, Zelewski is often spelled Zelivský and is usually linked to its Jewish heritage.

All these variants, spellings, and surnames are closely related to the surname Zelewski and are ultimately derived from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Zelewski

  • Aja Zelewski: Aja Zelewski is an American actor who starred in such films as warriors of Virtue, Vampires and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
  • Richard Zelewski: Richard Zelewski is a former pro tennis player from Poland who competed in the ATP tour from 1985 to 1989.
  • Jack Zelewski: Jack Zelewski is an American psychiatrist who is a leading expert in the field of psychopharmacology.
  • Wisconsin Armin Zelewski: Wisconsin Armin Zelewski is the Chief Executive Officer of United Bank, a Wisconsin-based bank.
  • Alfred Zelewski: Alfred Zelewski was a German army general during World War II who was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Nuremberg Trials.
  • Joanna Zelewski: Joanna Zelewski is an American actress who has starred in such films as High School Musical 3: Senior Year and Music and Lyrics.
  • Peter Zelewski: Peter Zelewski is a Canadian illustrator, cartoonist and author of several children's books.
  • Edwin Zelewski: Edwin Zelewski is a German sculptor, painter and videographer from Baden-Württemberg who studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
  • John Zelewski: John Zelewski is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of the 80's punk band Adolescents and has recorded solo albums under the name John Cez.
  • Jan Zelewski: Jan Zelewski is a Polish Olympic rower who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal for Poland in the men's single sculls.

Other surnames

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