Re: Origin of Nowak
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In reply to:
Origin of Nowak
3/14/02
The name Nowak (prounounced "No-vahk") is likely of Slovik origin, and seems to originate, at least by common occurance, in the province of Upper Silesia.South of the Carpathian Mountains in Moravia, the name is most commonly spelled "Novak" but has essentially the same meaning.While Upper Silesia is today part of Poland, it was for centuries a Germanic province (Ober Schlesien), first Austrian, then Prussian.Most people with the name Nowak coming out of that region in the last century would likely have referred to themselves as German.While the name is equivalent to Neumann or Newman, meaning "new man," there is some debate as to the derivation of the word.One theory is that when germanic stock moved into the upper Oder river region, the indigenous Slovaks referred to the "new men" as "Nowaks."Another theory is that "new man" refers to a person who has converted to Christianity (Upper Silesia, by the way, is heavily Catholic).To suggest that the name Nowak is Polish, however, would be a misrepresentation of its historical origins.
More Replies:
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Re: Origin of Nowak
Rodney Nowak 9/21/10
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Re: Origin of Nowak
Karen Kuta 5/14/02