Nowak () is a
Polish surname
Polish names have two main elements: the given name, and the surname. The usage of personal names in Poland is generally governed by civil law (legal system), civil law, church law, personal taste and family custom.
The law requires a given nam ...
derived from the nickname literally meaning "novice", "newcomer", "rookie". Early records of the surname are dated by the 14th century.It is a gender-neutral surname, with archaic feminine forms Nowakowa (by husband) and Nowakówna, Nowaczanka (by father) Colloquial forms by husband include Nowakówka, Nowaczka, Nowaczonka. In
Silesia
Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...
the variant
Nowok is known. Emigrees may acquire forms Nowack, Novak, Novack. German sources indicate that it is also a
Sorbian surname. it is the
most common surname in Poland, keeping the first place for many years. In 2021 it was the surname of 102,503 women and 100,617 men For example, in 2009 it was the top one, with 100,836 men and 106,512 women.
Statystyka najpopularniejszych nazwisk występujących w Polsce in 2009
In Poland, it may also appear as a result of migration of Czech and Slovak people with surname Novak
Novak (in Serbo-Croatian and Slovene; Cyrillic: ) and Novák (in Hungarian, Czech and Slovak; feminine: Nováková) is a surname and masculine given name, derived from the Slavic word for 'new' (e.g. , / ), which usually translates as 'novice ...
of the same etymology. On the other hand, in Germany the opposite change of the surname could have happened: from "Novak' to "Nowak".
Notable people with the surname include:
* , Academy Award–nominated director of '' Isaac in America: A Journey with Isaac Bashevis Singer''
* Anton Nowak (1865–1932), Austrian artist
* Bartosz Nowak, Polish footballer
* Cécile Nowak (born 1967), French judoka
* Ewa Nowak (born 1966), Polish writer
* Henry J. Nowak (1935–2024), member of United States House of Representatives (1975–1993)
* Jan Nowak-Jeziorański (1914–2005), Polish journalist and World War II hero
* Jerzy Nowak, Polish actor
* Jerzy Robert Nowak, Polish historian
* Józef Nowak (1925–1984), Polish actor
* Julian Nowak (1865–1946), Polish physician, veterinarian, bacteriologist, and politician
* Katarzyna Nowak, Polish tennis player
* Kazimierz Nowak (1897–1937), Polish traveler
* Krysia Nowak (born 1948), British artist
* Leopold Nowak (1904–1991), Austrian musicologist
* Lisa Nowak (born 1963), American astronaut
* Łukasz Nowak (born 1988), Polish athlete
* Marco Nowak, German ice hockey player
* Mark Nowak (born 1964), American poet and writer
* Manfred Nowak (born 1950), United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture
* Martin Nowak (born 1965), Austrian mathematical biologist
* Mateusz Nowak, Polish cyclist
* Oskar Nowak (1913–1989), Austrian ice hockey player
* Piotr Nowak (born 1964), Polish footballer and manager
* Sylwia Nowak
Sylwia is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
*Sylwia Ejdys (born 1984), Polish middle-distance runner
*Sylwia Gliwa (born 1978), Polish actress
*Sylwia Gruchała (born 1981), Polish fencer
*Sylwia Jaśkowiec (born 1986), Polish cr ...
, Polish ice dancer
* Tadeusz Nowak, Polish footballer
* Teresa Nowak (1942–2024), Polish athlete
* Tim Nowak, German decathlete
* Wanda Nowak (1913–?), Austrian athlete
* Zdzisław Nowak (1906–1996), Polish athlete
* Zenon Nowak (1905–1980), Polish trade union activist and politician
Fictional characters
* Tom Nowak, in the movie '' Test pilota Pirxa''
* Tommy Nowak, in the movie '' Pink Cadillac'', played by Clint Eastwood
* Nowak, character on manga '' Orb: On the Movements of the Earth''
See also
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References
{{surname
Polish-language surnames