New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesThe Polish surnames Pelzek and Molinska / Morinska.
Hello everyone,
Recently I found two new ancestors of mine, both of whom were from a part of Poland that once belonged to Prussia (Germany). They were from Bromberg, to be exact: the city is called Bydgoszcz nowadays.
I was wondering if perhaps someone could explain to me the meanings of their surnames? The surname Pelzek is sometimes spelled as Pelczek, Pelczak, Pilczak, Pilsack and Pilsak. I'm unsure about Molinska or Morinska, as I have seen both spellings only once.
I would be very grateful if you could help me. Thank you very much in advance! :)
With kind regards,
Jörmungandr
"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold." ~ Frodo Baggins
Recently I found two new ancestors of mine, both of whom were from a part of Poland that once belonged to Prussia (Germany). They were from Bromberg, to be exact: the city is called Bydgoszcz nowadays.
I was wondering if perhaps someone could explain to me the meanings of their surnames? The surname Pelzek is sometimes spelled as Pelczek, Pelczak, Pilczak, Pilsack and Pilsak. I'm unsure about Molinska or Morinska, as I have seen both spellings only once.
I would be very grateful if you could help me. Thank you very much in advance! :)
With kind regards,
Jörmungandr
"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold." ~ Frodo Baggins
1
Replies
Jim and Marc, thank you very much for your answers. It is much appreciated!
Made ya look. ;)
Made ya look. ;)
1
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.
1
According to Hoffman's Polish Surnames, Moliński is derived from mól which means either 'moth' or 'trouble, problem'.
1