[Surname] Re: The Polish surnames Pelzek and Molinska / Morinska.
in reply to a message by Jörmungandr
A couple of thoughts, but no real information.
Molinska seems much more likely than Morinska. I'm guessing that it's the female form of Molinski. According to a Polish website there are over 1,300 Molinskis in Poland but no Morinskis. No explanation of this name, possibly it's from some minor place name.
From the same source it appears that Pilzak (245 bearers) is likely candidate for your "Pelzek" name. Pilsack and Pilsak don't feature, and I'm wondering if these could be German spellings, the German S and the Polish Z having the same sound.
B. Kaganoff, in his dictionary of Jewish surnames, lists a name, Pilch, which denotes someone originating a Polish town called Pilica. If Pilczak were the correct spelling, perhaps it might be a more Polish surname form the same place name. Pure speculation, you understand. There are seven Pilczaks in Poland, according to said website.
Molinska seems much more likely than Morinska. I'm guessing that it's the female form of Molinski. According to a Polish website there are over 1,300 Molinskis in Poland but no Morinskis. No explanation of this name, possibly it's from some minor place name.
From the same source it appears that Pilzak (245 bearers) is likely candidate for your "Pelzek" name. Pilsack and Pilsak don't feature, and I'm wondering if these could be German spellings, the German S and the Polish Z having the same sound.
B. Kaganoff, in his dictionary of Jewish surnames, lists a name, Pilch, which denotes someone originating a Polish town called Pilica. If Pilczak were the correct spelling, perhaps it might be a more Polish surname form the same place name. Pure speculation, you understand. There are seven Pilczaks in Poland, according to said website.
Replies
According to Hoffman's Polish Surnames, Moliński is derived from mól which means either 'moth' or 'trouble, problem'.