Show ContentsKowalski History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Kowalski family

The surname Kowalski was first found in East Prussia, where the name Kowalski was a royal house in what was originally Poland but passed through history from Prussia to Czechoslovakia and back to Polish. The name gained a reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society in Silesia. It later became more prominent as numerous branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some of which were located in other countries. Through the acquisition of these estates as well as their important contributions to society, the family successfully elevated their social status. The name originated as an occupational name for a blacksmith.

Early History of the Kowalski family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kowalski research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kowalski History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kowalski Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kowalski, Kovak, Kowak, Kowal, Koval, Kovalski, Kovalyov, Kovach, Kovats, Kowalsky, Kovac, Kofax, Kowahl and many more.

Early Notables of the Kowalski family

Notables bearing the name Kowalski of this period include

  • the Kowalski family of Silesia

Kowalski Ranking

In the United States, the name Kowalski is the 2,508th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Kowalski is ranked the 2,901st most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2


United States Kowalski migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Kowalski Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Carl Kowalski, who arrived in Baltimore in 1868
  • Antonia Kowalski, who came from the port of Bremen to New York in 1868
  • Ernestine Kowalski, who arrived in New York in 1873
  • Jacob Kowalski, whose Oath of Allegiance was recorded in Philadelphia in 1875
  • Michal Kowalski, who arrived at the port of Baltimore in 1881
Kowalski Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Francis Kowalski, who landed in New York, NY in 1901 3
  • Albert Kowalski, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Volsteihause, Germany, in 1908
  • Abraham Kowalski, aged 29, who settled in America from Kalisch, Russia, in 1909
  • Albert Kowalski, aged 27, who landed in America from Lukow, Russia, in 1910
  • Abram Kowalski, aged 44, who landed in America from Ostolenka, Russia, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kowalski (post 1700) +

  • Stan Kowalski (1926-2017), American professional wrestler
  • Ludwik Kowalski (b. 1931), Polish-American nuclear physicist and professor emeritus
  • Bernard Louis Kowalski (1929-2007), American two-time Primetime Emmy nominated film and television director
  • Mike Kowalski (b. 1944), American musician, the current drummer for the band "The Beach Boys"
  • Marge Kowalski, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972 4
  • Lorraine Kowalski, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1952 4
  • Kenneth J. Kowalski, American politician, Representative from New York, 1990 (32nd District), 1992 (29th District) 4
  • Joseph J. Kowalski (b. 1914), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Wayne County 1st District, 1939-44 4
  • Joseph J. Kowalski (1911-1967), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives, 1949-67 4
  • Frank Kowalski (1907-1974), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Connecticut at-large, 1959-63; Candidate in primary for U.S. Senator from Connecticut, 1962 4
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Jan Kowalski (d. 1914), Polish Third Class Passenger from Kraków, Poland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 5


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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