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 Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of ''toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

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 Olsztyn ( , ; german: Allenstein ; Old Prussian: ''Alnāsteini'' * Latin: ''Allenstenium'', ''Holstin'') is a city on the Łyna River in northern Poland. It is the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, and is a city with county rights. ...

voivodeship.Citation: Zalewski Name Meaning and History The Germanised version of this surname is ''Salewski'' and ''Saleski'', usually found in the

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

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: *

Anna Zalewska Anna Elżbieta Zalewska (née Gąsior; born 6 July 1965) is a Polish politician, and former Minister of National Education, serving 2015 to 2019. Since 2007, Zalewska has been a Member of the Sejm and she has worked there until a transition to th ...

(born 1965), Polish politician *

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 *

August Zaleski August Zaleski (13 September 1883 – 7 April 1972) was a Polish economist, freemason, politician, and diplomat. Twice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, he served as President of Poland- in-exile. Life and career Aug ...

(1883-1972), Polish politician *

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 *

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 Prometheism or Prometheanism (Polish: ''Prometeizm'') was a political project initiated by Józef Piłsudski, a principal statesman of the Second Polish Republic from 1918 to 1935. Its aim was to weaken the Russian Empire and its successor states, ...

government, worker of consulate in French

Lille Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Pref ...

(1925–1926) and Georgian

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

(1926–1936). Later titular consul in Tbilisi. *

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 *

Michał Zalewski Michał Zalewski (born 19 January 1981), also known by the user name lcamtuf, is a computer security expert and "white hat" hacker from Poland. He is a former Google Inc. employee (until 2018), and currently the VP of Security Engineering at Sna ...

(born 1981), Polish "White Hat" Hacker, computer security expert *

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

* {{Surname Polish-language surnames