Kowalski (; feminine: Kowalska, plural: Kowalscy) is the second most common surname in
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
(140,471 people in 2009). ''Kowalski'' surname is derived from the word ''kowal'', meaning " lackmith".
" Jan Kowalski" is a name that is used as a
placeholder name
Placeholder names are words that can refer to things or people whose names do not exist, are temporarily forgotten, are not relevant to the salient point at hand, are to avoid stigmatization, are unknowable/unpredictable in the context in wh ...
in Poland in the meaning of "
Average Joe
The terms average Joe, ordinary Joe, Joe Sixpack, Joe Lunchbucket, Joe Snuffy, Joe Blow, Joe Schmo (for males) and ordinary Jane, average Jane, and plain Jane (for females), are used primarily in North America to refer to a completely average p ...
", similar to "John Smith", its rough English-language equivalent, in English-speaking countries. (though a more direct translation would be "John Smithson").
Notable people
* Alexander Kowalski (1902–1940), Polish ice hockey player killed in the Katyn massacre
* Aleksander Kowalski (1930–2009), Polish Nordic combined skier
*
Alexander Kowalski (musician)
Alexander Kowalski (born 1978 in Greifswald) is a German techno music artist.
Career
Kowalski moved to Berlin in the early 1990s, and became exposed to techno music there. Early influences on his work were Joey Beltram and Synewave, though h ...
(born 1978), German DJ, electronic music artist
* Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz (1849–1915), Polish painter
*
Aneta Kowalska
Aneta Kowalska (born 7 October 1982 in Warsaw, Poland) is a Polish people, Polish former competitive Pair skating, pair skater. She previously skated with Artur Szeliski and with Łukasz Różycki.
Competitive highlights
*2002 - Polish Nationals - ...
(born 1982), Polish pair skater
* Annette Kowalski (born 1936), American producer, business partner of Bob Ross
*
Bernard Louis Kowalski
Bernard Louis Kowalski (August 2, 1929 – October 26, 2007) was an American film and television director of Polish descent, nominated for two Primetime Emmys.
Selected filmography
* '' Frontier'' (1956) Season 1, Episode 19 ''The Assassin ...
(1929–2007), American director
* Bronisława Kowalska (1955–2020), Polish politician
* Chana Kowalska (1899-1942), Polish Jewish painter and journalist
*
Daniel Kowalski
Daniel Steven Kowalski (born 2 July 1975) is an Australian former middle- and long-distance swimmer specialising in freestyle events. He competed in the Olympic Games in 200-, 400- and 1,500-metre individual freestyle events and in the 4 × ...
(born 1975), Australian Olympic swimmer
*
Faustyna Kowalska
Maria Faustyna Kowalska, OLM (born Helena Kowalska; 25 August 1905 – 5 October 1938), also known as ''Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament'', Faustyna popularly spelled "Faustina", was a Polish Catholic religious sister an ...
(1905–1938), Polish Catholic saint, nun and mystic
* Franciszek Kowalski (1799–1862), Polish poet, insurgent of the November Uprising
*
Frank Kowalski
Frank Kowalski (October 18, 1907 – October 11, 1974) was a career officer in the United States Army, and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. After retiring as a colonel, Kowalski went on to serve as a United States representati ...
James Kowalski
James M. Kowalski (born October 30, 1957) is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who served as the Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command from 2013 to 2015.
Military career
Kowalski entered active duty in 1980 th ...
(born 1954), United States Air Force Lieutenant General, Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command Barksdale AFB
* Janusz Kowalski (born 1952), Polish cyclist
*
Jerzy Kowalski (disambiguation) Jerzy Kowalski may refer to:
* Jerzy Kowalski (athlete), Polish sprinter
* Jerzy Kowalski (rower), Polish rower
* Jerzy Adam Kowalski, Polish researcher and popular science author
{{hndis, Kowalski, Jerzy ...
*
Jochen Kowalski
Jochen Kowalski (born 30 January 1954) is a German alto or mezzo countertenor, noted for his very rich timbre.
Early life
Jochen Kowalski was born in Wachow, Nauen District, Bezirk Potsdam, in East Germany (now a small village belonging to t ...
(born 1954), German singer
*
John Kowalski
John Kowalski (born December 22, 1951 in Miłków, Poland) is a former coach of the professional United States soccer clubs Tampa Bay Mutiny (Major League Soccer), Pittsburgh Riverhounds ( NASL) and Pittsburgh Spirit (MISL). He also briefly man ...
(born c. 1951), American soccer coach
* Józef Kowalski (1900–2013), Polish supercentenarian and second-to-last Polish-Soviet war veteran
* Józef Kowalski (1911–1942), Polish Roman Catholic priest killed at Auschwitz, beatified
*
Józef Wierusz-Kowalski
Józef Wierusz-Kowalski (16 March 1866 - 30 November 1927) was a Polish physicist and diplomat. He discovered the phenomenon of progressive phosphorescence. He served as Rector of the University of Freiburg, and helped to establish the section ...
(1866–1927), Polish physicist and diplomat
*
Kasia Kowalska
Katarzyna "Kasia" Kowalska (; born 13 June 1973) is a Polish singer, songwriter, producer, and actress.
She belongs to the top rung of most frequently broadcast Polish rock artists. Kowalska is one of the best-known Polish vocalists. The estimat ...
(born 1973), Polish pop rock singer and songwriter
* Katarzyna Kowalska (born 1985), Polish long distance runner
* Kazimierz Kowalski, Polish singer
*
Ken Kowalski
Kenneth Reginald Kowalski (born September 27, 1945) is a politician and former teacher from Alberta, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, where he served from 1979 to 2012, sitting with the governing Progressive Cons ...
(born 1945), Canadian politician
* Kerstin Kowalski (born 1976), German rower
* Ludwik Kowalski (born 1931), Polish-American nuclear physicist and professor emeritus
* Łukasz Kowalski, Polish footballer
* Manja Kowalski (born 1976), German rower
*
Maria Kowalska
Maria Kowalska (born 19 May 1929) is a Polish alpine skier. She competed at the 1952 Winter Olympics and the 1956 Winter Olympics
The 1956 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VII Olympic Winter Games ( it, VII Giochi Olimpici invernali ...
, Polish alpine skier
*
Marian Albertovich Kowalski Marian Albertovich Kowalski (russian: Мариан Альбертович Ковальский) (15 August 1821 or 15 October 1821 – 28 May 1884 or 9 July 1884) was a Polish-Russian astronomer. Sometimes his last name is given as Kovalsky or ...
Natalia Kowalska
Natalia Kowalska (born 31 December 1989 in Koszalin) is a Polish racing driver.
Career
Kowalska started her career in Kart racing in Poland. In 2007, she moved to formula racing, driving a partial program in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern E ...
(born 1989), Polish racing driver
*
Natalia Kowalska
Natalia Kowalska (born 31 December 1989 in Koszalin) is a Polish racing driver.
Career
Kowalska started her career in Kart racing in Poland. In 2007, she moved to formula racing, driving a partial program in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern E ...
(1918–unknown), Polish chess master
* Piotr Kowalski (1927-2004), French-Polish artist
*
Richard Kowalski
Richard A. Kowalski (born 1963) is an American astronomer who has discovered numerous asteroids and comets, among them, many near-Earth objects.
Kowalski has had a lifelong interest in astronomy with an emphasis on planetary science. As an ama ...
(born 1963), American astronomer
*
Robert Kowalski
Robert Anthony Kowalski (born 15 May 1941) is an American-British logician and computer scientist, whose research is concerned with developing both human-oriented models of computing and computational models of human thinking. He has spent mo ...
(born 1941), British logician
* Sharon Kowalski, subject of groundbreaking disability and LGBT legal rights case
* Tadeusz Kowalski (1841–1904), Polish agronomist, agricultural activist and educator
* Tadeusz Kowalski (1889–1948), Polish orientalist, expert on Middle East Muslim culture and languages
*
Wacław Kowalski
Wacław Kowalski (2 May 1916 – 27 October 1990) was a Polish actor. He appeared in more than eighty films from 1947 to 1983.
Selected filmography
References
External links
*
1916 births
1990 deaths
Polish male film actors
Polish ...
, Polish actor
*
William Kowalski
William John Kowalski III (born August 3, 1970 in Parma, Ohio) is an American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of ''Eddie's Bastard'' (1999), ''Somewhere South of Here'' (2001),Judd, ElizabethReview ''The New York Times'', 2 ...
(born 1970), American author
* Wladek Kowalski (AKA "Killer" Kowalski) (1926–2008), Polish-Canadian professional wrestler, trainer
* Władysław Kowalski (politician) (1894–1958), Polish trade union activist, writer and politician (PSL, ZSL)
* Yelizaveta Kovalskaya (1851–1943), Russian revolutionary
* Stanisław Kowalski (1910–2022), Polish supercentenarian masters athlete.
Hot Shots!
''Hot Shots!'' is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, co-writer and co-director of ''Airplane!'', and written by Abrahams and Pat Proft. It stars Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, Jon Cryer, Kevin Dunn ...
Barry Newman
Barry Foster Newman (born November 7, 1938) is an American actor of stage, screen and television known for his portrayal of Kowalski in '' Vanishing Point'', and for his title role in the 1970s television series '' Petrocelli''. He has been nomin ...
* Kowalski, character in the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on ...
game ''
Syphon Filter 2
''Syphon Filter 2'' is a third-person shooter stealth video game developed by Eidetic and published by 989 Studios for PlayStation. It is the second installment in the Syphon Filter franchise and a sequel to 1999's Syphon Filter. In 2022, it was ...
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Afric ...
'' and the TV series ''
The Penguins of Madagascar
''The Penguins of Madagascar'' is an American computer-animated television series co-produced by DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon. It stars nine characters from DreamWorks' animated film ''Madagascar'': the penguins Skipper ( Tom McGrath), ...
''
* Mr Kowalski, original owner of Kowalski's, Rosie Duncan's florist store in the novel ''
Fairytale of New York
"Fairytale of New York" is a song written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan and recorded by their London-based band the Pogues, featuring singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl on vocals. The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a du ...
''
* Mrs. Kowalski,
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam ( he, מִרְיָם ''Mīryām'', lit. 'Rebellion') is described in the Hebrew Bible as the daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was a prophetess and first appears in the Book of Exodus.
The ...
The Ren & Stimpy Show
''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' (also known as ''Ren & Stimpy'') is an American animated television series created by Canadian animator John Kricfalusi. Originally produced by Spümcø for Nickelodeon, the series aired from August 11, 1991, to Dece ...
''
* Benjamin "Ben" Kowalski in the comic series '' Templar, Arizona''
* Major Charles Kawalsky, a character in the science fiction movie ''
Stargate
''Stargate'' (often stylized in all caps) is a military science fiction media franchise based on the film directed by Roland Emmerich, which he co-wrote with producer Dean Devlin. The franchise is based on the idea of an alien Einstein–Rosen ...
'' and subsequent television series ''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, ...
''
* Dick Kowalsky, character in the French animated series '' Funky Cops'' (2003)
* Jacob Kowalski,
Dan Fogler
Daniel Kevin Fogler (born October 20, 1976) is an American actor, comedian and writer. He has appeared in films including '' Balls of Fury'', '' Good Luck Chuck'', ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'', '' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Gr ...
's character in the film ''
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' (often referred to as simply ''Fantastic Beasts'') is a 2001 guide book written by British author J. K. Rowling (under the pen name of the fictitious author Newt Scamander) about the magical crea ...
'' (2016)
* Joe Kowalski, character in ''SIGMA Force'' book series by author James Rollins
* Kitty Kowalski, Lex Luthor's companion in 2006 film ''
Superman Returns
''Superman Returns'' is a 2006 American superhero film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris from a story by Singer, Dougherty and Harris based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the sixth and fina ...
'', played by
Parker Posey
Parker Christian Posey (born November 8, 1968) is an American actress and musician. Posey is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award nomination, a Satellite Award nomination and two Independent Spirit Award nominations.
Posey made her film debu ...
* Leon Kowalski, character in the 1982 film ''
Blade Runner
''Blade Runner'' is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's ...
'' played by
Brion James
Brion Howard James (February 20, 1945 – August 7, 1999) was an American character actor. He portrayed Leon Kowalski in ''Blade Runner'' and appeared in ''Southern Comfort'', '' 48 Hrs.'', ''Another 48 Hrs.'', '' Silverado'', ''Tango & Cash'', ' ...
* Matt Kowalsky,
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Academy Awards, one for his acting and the ot ...
's character in the movie ''
Gravity
In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the stro ...
''
* Peter "Petey" Kowalski in the video game ''
Bully
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an i ...
''
* Private Kowalski, character in the video game '' Fallout: New Vegas''
* Roch Kowalski, character in Sienkiewicz's novel '' With Fire and Sword''
* Roxanne Kowalski,
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah (born December 3, 1960) is an American actress and environmental activist. She made her screen debut in Brian De Palma's supernatural horror film '' The Fury'' (1978). She has starred in various movies across the years, i ...
's character in '' Roxanne'', the 1987 remake of ''
Cyrano de Bergerac
Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac ( , ; 6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist.
A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th cen ...
'' with
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...
Del Monroe
Del Monroe (April 7, 1932June 5, 2009) was an American film, television and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Seaman Kowalski in the television series ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'', which was broadcast on ABC from September 14, ...
* Sergei Kowalski, the titular character in the
Spaghetti Western
The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...
Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard (; born 30 September 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, and environmentalist who is widely known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters in both European and Hollywood productions.
She has received ...
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made ...
–winning play by
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the thr ...
and 1951 film, ''
A Streetcar Named Desire
''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of per ...
Due South
''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred P ...
'' (named after the above ''Streetcar'' character)
* Steve Kowalski, character in the 2007 film ''
Walt Kowalski
Walter Kowalski is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 2008 American film ''Gran Torino''. He was portrayed by Clint Eastwood, who also directed the film.
Character biography and creation
Walt is a misanthropic and irritable Poli ...
, protagonist of the 2008 film '' Gran Torino'' played by
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the " Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "'' Do ...