Deutsche Version
Where does the name "Olawsky" come from?
The name "Olawsky" originates from Poland. In Polish
it has the male ending -ski or the female ending - ska.
Regarding the meaning of the name an important question concerns the
letter "l": In Polish there is our normal "l" but also
also a "ł". (This "ł" is letter with a totally different
pronunciation, somewhere between "u" and "w"
The "l" could thus be derived from "ł", which then
(similarly as the Polish ending - ski) was "germanized". The
adjective "oławski" means "of Ohlau" or "from
Ohlau". So noty only the meaning of the name is found, but also its
(local) origin. In the proximity of Ohlau (Oława) there are also different
places containing "oławski" as a part of their name:
The amassment of the surname "Olawsky"in the
closer environment of Ohlau could be a good reason for
this first interpretation of the name. But: Why should someone
be called "from Ohlau", when he lives there. Names,
which refer to the origin of the carrier, were actually given
those, who left this place and settled elsewhere.
The Olawskis in Poland don't believe that this interpretation is correct.
They stress the difference between "l" and "ł".
They believe that "Olawski" comes from someone
(a Swede?) called names Olav (or Olaw).
Looking into name dictionary, like e.g. book series "Słownik
staropolskich nazw osobowych" (vol. 4, N-R) (= dictionary of old
Polish surnames [Witold Taszycki, 1974-76], one can find:
Oławski:
A: Here you see that in the beginning "Oławski" is written (with
"ł" and "i"), later on "Olawsky" (with
"l" and "y"!
A. Georgius Johannis Olawsky de Cracovia 1401 AS I s. 16.
B. Olauer: Nomine tutorie puerorum Jaschconis dicti Olawir
de Paulicouice 1398 Krak 7448
"AS": "Album Studiosorum Universitatis Cracoviensis".
It seems that Georgius Johannis Olawsky was a student at the
University of Krakau in 1401. [note: In correct Latin the name would
be: Georgius Ioannis Olawski]
To part of B: The translation reads:
After the name of the Jaschcon, as a guardian of the
children, who was called Olawir of Paulicouice.
While section A supports the first interpretation ("Olawsky" from
"oławski"), section B supports the second interpretation
("Olawsky" from "Olawir").
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