Zalewski (feminine: Zalewska, plural: Zalewscy) is a
Polish-language
Polish (Polish: ''język polski'', , ''polszczyzna'' or simply ''polski'', ) is a West Slavic languages, West Slavic language of the Lechitic languages, Lechitic group written in the Latin script. It is spoken primarily in Poland and serves as t ...
surname. Alternate spellings include Zelewski, Zaleski, Zeleski, Zalewska, Zalescy and Zaller
The form ''Zalewski'' is the
hypercorrect
In sociolinguistics, hypercorrection is non-standard use of language that results from the over-application of a perceived rule of language-usage prescription. A speaker or writer who produces a hypercorrection generally believes through a mis ...
form of ''Zaleski''. By analogy with other surnames, like Chotomowski (colloquially pronounced as if spelt "Chotomoski"), Olszewski ("Olszeski") etc., it may seem that the shorter spelling must reflect the popular pronunciation and not the older, etymological one, but this is not the case. The original form ''Zaleski'' was derived from a place called Zalesie or Zalas, which literally means "an area close to a forest, behind a forest". It is difficult to assess which regions were primarily connected with it, because of the significant number of villages by such names. (Another case of such hypercorrection is
Dmowski, derived from
Dmochy, not *Dmów or *Dmowo).
Another possible etymology for one of the forms of Zalewski surname comes from a
topographic name for someone who lived by a flood plain, bay, or any other small body of water. Two locations that this may be connected to are ''Zalew'' in
Sieradz voivodeship or ''Zalewo'' in
Olsztyn voivodeship.
[Citation: Zalewski Name Meaning and History]
The Germanised version of this surname is ''Salewski'' and ''Saleski'', usually found in the
Silesia region.
An early form of this surname was first noted in the year 1370. Many families from different classes and with different background used this surname. Several famous people have the surname Zalewski or a variant of it:
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Anna Zalewska (born 1965), Polish politician
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Aran Zalewski
Aran Zalewski (born 21 March 1991) is an Australian field hockey player who is the captain of the Australian national team.
Personal
He is from Margaret River, Western Australia. he attended Aquinas College in Perth, Western Australia. As a ...
(born 1991), Australian field hockey player
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August Zaleski (1883-1972), Polish politician
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Erich von dem Bach Zelewski
Erich Julius Eberhard von dem Bach-Zelewski (born Erich Julius Eberhard von Zelewski; 1 March 1899 – 8 March 1972) was a high-ranking SS commander of Nazi Germany. During World War II, he was in charge of the Nazi security warfare against tho ...
(1899-1972), SS-Obergruppenführer
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Karol Zalewski
Karol Zalewski (Polish pronunciation: ; born 7 August 1993) is a Polish athlete who specialises in the sprinting events. He reached the semifinals of the 2013 World Championships in the 200 metres. He is also the 2013 European U23 champion over ...
(born 1993), Polish athlete
* Ksawery Zalewski, Polish diplomat, part of the
Piłsudski's
Prometheism government, worker of consulate in French
Lille (1925–1926) and Georgian
Tbilisi (1926–1936). Later titular consul in Tbilisi.
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Krystian Zalewski
Krystian Zalewski (; born 11 April 1989) is a Polish distance runner specialising in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He won the silver medal at the 2014 European Championships. Additionally, he represented his country at three consecutive World C ...
(born 1989), Polish athlete
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Michał Zalewski (born 1981), Polish "White Hat" Hacker, computer security expert
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Nicola Zalewski
Nicola Zalewski (born 23 January 2002) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Roma. Born and raised in Italy to Polish parents, he plays for the Poland national team at international level.
Club career
...
, Polish footballer
Notes
References
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{{Surname
Polish-language surnames