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Nowak
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{{wikt|nowak}} '''Nowak''' ({{IPAc-pl|'|n|o|w|a|k}}) is a [[Polish surname]] derived from the nickname literally meaning "novice", "newcomer", "rookie". Early records of the surname are dated by the 14th century.<ref>[http://www.genezanazwisk.pl/content/nowak NOWAK], citing [[Kazimierz Rymut]]'s ''Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny'', Kraków 2001, vol. II, p 164</ref>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.<ref>[https://nazwiska.ijppan.pl/haslo/show/name/Nowak NOWAK], Institute of Polish Language of the Polish Academy of Sciences</ref> German sources indicate that it is also a [[Sorbian language|Sorbian]] surname.<ref>[https://www.namenforschung.net/dfd/woerterbuch/liste/?tx_dfd_names%5Bname%5D=156&tx_dfd_names%5BallSelectedFacets%5D%5B0%5D=359&tx_dfd_names%5BcurrentSelectedFacets%5D%5B0%5D=359&tx_dfd_names%5Bquery%5D=now%2A&tx_dfd_names%5Boffset%5D=&tx_dfd_names%5Baction%5D=show&tx_dfd_names%5Bcontroller%5D=Names&cHash=d356fb49f013210e9a2975864e945922 NOWAK], The Digital Dictionary of Surnames in Germany (DFD)</ref> {{as of|2021}} it is the [[List of most common surnames in Europe|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<ref>[https://dane.gov.pl/en/article/znamy-najpopularniejsze-nazwiska-nowak-znowu-pierwszy Znamy najpopularniejsze nazwiska - Nowak znowu pierwszy]</ref> For example, in 2009 it was the top one, with 100,836 men and 106,512 women.<ref>[http://www.msw.gov.pl/download/1/7972/statystyka_najpopularniejszych_nazwisk_wystepujacych_w_Polsce_w_2009.pdf Statystyka najpopularniejszych nazwisk występujących w Polsce in 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928133659/https://www.msw.gov.pl/download/1/7972/statystyka_najpopularniejszych_nazwisk_wystepujacych_w_Polsce_w_2009.pdf |date=2013-09-28 }}</ref> 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: * {{ill|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 (ice hockey)|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 ==Fictional characters== * Tom Nowak, in the movie ''[[Test pilota Pirxa]]'' * Tommy Nowak, in the movie ''[[Pink Cadillac (film)|Pink Cadillac]]'', played by Clint Eastwood * Nowak, character on manga ''[[Orb: On the Movements of the Earth]]'' ==See also== *{{intitle|Nowak}} *{{intitle|Nowakowa}} *{{intitle|Nowakowna}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{newman-surname}} {{surname}} [[Category:Polish-language surnames]]
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