Nowak

Nowak ([ˈnɔvak]) is a Polish surname derived from the nickname literally meaning "novice", "newcomer", "rookie". Early records of the surname are dated by the 14th century.^[1]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 the variant Nowok is known. Emigrees may acquire forms Nowack, Novak, Novack.^[2] German sources indicate that it is also a Sorbian surname.^[3] As of 2021^[update] 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^[4] For example, in 2009 it was the top one, with 100,836 men and 106,512 women.^[5]

In Poland, it may also appear as a result of migration of Czech and Slovak people with surname Novak 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:

Amram Nowak [de], 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, 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

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Nowak

Fictional characters

See also

References

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