Show ContentsZelinsky History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Zelinsky

What does the name Zelinsky mean?

The surname Zelinsky comes from the Polish word "ziel," which is the color green, and as such many of the variants of this name were associated with growing things. As a surname, it may be also have been habitational name, taken on from any of many places named with this word.

Early Origins of the Zelinsky family

The surname Zelinsky was first found in Novwina in Cracow, a province of Poland which lies centrally, bounded by Kielce, Lublin, Silesia and Lwow. The capitol city is Cracow, said to be the intellectual center of Poland.

The Zelinsky family descend from an ancient house in Poland, of which Tomasz was colonel under Boleslaw the Brave, and his son Pawel under Boleslaw the Bold. Jakob, the cupbearer of Bralawski, traveled in his legacy to Turkey, where he concluded a peace treaty in 1634 - Wladyslaw commanded his own company to relieve Vienna. Jan, faithful to the cause of Stanislaw Leszczynski, shared his hardships and exile in France, where he also ended his life.

Tomasz, a man of rare holiness and great charity, a deeply pious man himself, he encouraged his household to enotah, leading them to prayer daily. He also showered generous gifts on the poor, not forgetting orphans and abandoned widows, whom he willingly took under his care. He retired in 1583, at the age of 36.

Grzeg Orz, voivode of Plock, signed the election of Sigismund III. Konstanty, Archbishop of Lviv, supported the cause of King Stanislaw Leszczynski, was brought to Warsaw and crowned him in the absence of the primate, after which he was taken prisoner by the Russian general Renne and taken to Moscow, where he died in 1709.

Fedor Zielinski, parish priest of the Stepanowiecki district in Ukraine, signed with other clergy a manifesto brought to the Kiev castle on December 22, 1768, against the persecution of Gonta M. 1

Early History of the Zelinsky family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zelinsky research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1605, 1661 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Zelinsky History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Zelinsky Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Zelinski, Zelisnick, Zielonka, Zelewski, Zielinski, Zieleniewski and many more.

Early Notables of the Zelinsky family

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zelinsky Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Zelinsky migration to the United States +



Zelinsky Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Zelinsky, who sailed from Hamburg to New York in 1871
Zelinsky Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Zelinsky, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1905
  • David Zelinsky, aged 50, who immigrated to America from Odessa, Russia, in 1907
  • Elena Zelinsky, aged 19, who landed in America from Minsk, Russia, in 1907
  • Ignatz Zelinsky, aged 35, who landed in America from Berestecko, Russia, in 1911
  • Josef Zelinsky, aged 26, who landed in America from Borowjove, Russia, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Zelinsky (post 1700) +

  • Wilbur Zelinsky (1921-2013), American cultural geographer, professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University
  • Edward Zelinsky, American legal scholar and specialist in tax law
  • Dean B. Zelinsky (b. 1957), also known as Dean Z, Dean Barrett Zelinsky or DBZ, American guitar luthier who founded Dean Guitars in 1977 and DBZ Guitars in 2008 and today owns Dean Zelinsky Private Label started in 2012
  • Paul O. Zelinsky (b. 1953), American author and illustrator of children's books recipient of the Caldecott Medal in 1998 for his Rapunzel, best known for his The Wheels on the Bus
  • Dean B. Zelinsky (1957-1976), American guitar luthier who founded Dean Guitars in 1976 and DBZ Guitars in 2008
  • Nikolay Dmitriyevich Zelinsky (1861-1953), Russian and Soviet chemist and educator
  • Alexander "Alex" Zelinsky (b. 1960), Australian computer scientist, systems engineer and roboticist


  1. Stupnicki, Hipolit, Herbarz Polski


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