History of your Surname
Get access to Kowalski family records.Start a free trial

Kowalski Family History

Kowalski Name Meaning

Polish: habitational name for someone from Kowal in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Kowalskie in Greater Poland Voivodeship or one of the many places called Kowale. All these placenames are named with occupational name Kowal ‘blacksmith’. This surname in both senses (see 2 below) is one of the most common surnames in Poland. It is also established in Germany. Polish Jewish (from Poland) and Sorbian: patronymic from Kowal ‘blacksmith’ with the addition of the suffix -ski. Compare Kovalski and Kowalske .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Kowalewski, Konarski, Rogalski, Kowalske, Kovalsky, Kotarski

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Kowalski family from?

You can see how Kowalski families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kowalski family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Kowalski families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 67 Kowalski families living in Illinois. This was about 38% of all the recorded Kowalski's in USA. Illinois had the highest population of Kowalski families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kowalski surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Kowalski ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housework were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Kowalski. 23% of Kowalski men worked as a Laborer and 6% of Kowalski women worked as a Housework. Some less common occupations for Americans named Kowalski were New Worker and Clerk. .

View Census Data for Kowalski | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    23%
  • Farmer
    6%
  • Machinist
    4%
  • New Worker
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housework
    6%
  • New Worker
    5%
  • Waitress
    5%
  • Clerk
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Kowalski family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 40,000 census records available for the last name Kowalski. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kowalski census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Kowalski

Passenger Lists

There are 13,000 immigration records available for the last name Kowalski. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kowalski immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Kowalski. For the veterans among your Kowalski ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kowalski military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kowalski family history

Discover More

What is the average Kowalski lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Kowalski life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Kowalski in 1942 was 54, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Kowalski

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kowalski family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Kowalski last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial