Surname Kramkowski - Meaning and Origin

Kramkowski: What does the surname Kramkowski mean?

The last name Kramkowski is of Polish origin and the name is derived from the Polish word “Kram” which is a type of small neighborhood shop. Traditionally, the Kramkowski family was most likely involved in small scale retail or other market trades.

The Kramkowski last name is a relatively common one in Central and Eastern Europe, mainly concentrated in Poland but also found in surrounding countries like Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. It’s also fairly common in the US, especially in states like Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and New York which have large Polish-American populations.

As far as the meaning of the name is concerned, Kramkowski can be seen as a combination or derivation of the words “Kram” (shop) and “Kowski” (from the family of Kow). The name is thought to mean the family of a shopkeeper or market vendor, and its use as a last name likely comes from a tradition of passing down trade-related surnames in Poland.

The Kramkowski last name carries with it a proud tradition of strong work ethic and commercial success, as well as a connection to the culture and customs of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.

Kramkowski: Where does the name Kramkowski come from?

The last name Kramkowski is not particularly common today; however, it is still present in Europe and North America. According to surname databases, it is mostly concentrated in Poland, with a few instances also present in Germany, Belgium, and France. It is also present in the United States but at much lower levels than its main homeland in Poland. According to the 2020 US Census, there are only 467 people living in the United States who have the last name Kramkowski, compared to the 37,028 people of Polish-descent in the United States who carry the last name.

In Poland, Kramkowski is a localized surname. It is most commonly seen in western parts of the country, such as Podkarpackie, Lesser Poland, and Greater Poland. The name has a long history in Poland, having first appeared on record in the mid-1800s, as evidenced by the Archdiocese of Cracow. This is likely an indication of its Germanic or Slavic origin, as it is composed of two common elements: kram (“shop”) and -kowski (“belonging to”), suggesting that the original bearers of this surname were shopkeepers or merchants.

Variations of the surname Kramkowski

The surname Kramkowski has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most commonly seen spelling of the name is Kramkowski, however there are quite a few alternate spellings, such as Kramkowskie, Kramkovski, Kramkov, Kramkowsky, Kramkowksi, Krampkowski, Kramkie, Kramkovskiy, Kramkovskij, and Kramkovsk.

There are also a few surnames related to Kramkowski. These are Krampfkowsky, Kramberg, Krampler, Krampe, and Krampfle.

Kramkowski is a Slavic surname, meaning 'son of a blacksmith.' The root of this surname stems from the Old Prussian and Polish words 'kram,' meaning 'smithy' and 'ski,' meaning 'son of.'

In the United States, the surname Kramkowski is heavily concentrated in the northeast, and the number of Kramkowski's still living in Poland is around 2,250 people. The name is not particularly prevalent in England and Wales, with just over 300 people carrying the surname.

Kramkowski is also seen with other origin-based surnames such as Kramkowski-Carlson, Kramkowski-Harvey, Kramkowski-Jenkins, Kramkowski-Kruger, and Kramkowski-Strickland. These are all descents from the original Kramkowski family.

In conclusion, Kramkowski is a surname with a variety of spellings, variants, and origins that are all related to the original family name. It is radiating outwards over the centuries with more and more origin-based variants being created.

Famous people with the name Kramkowski

• Lili Kramkowski: Musician and artist who released her 2017 debut album, Called to Rise.
• Jarosław Kramkowski: Award-winning cinematographer who has worked on a number of feature films and documentaries throughout Europe.
• Laetitia Kramkowski: French actress and comedian well known for her role in the French TV series Les Outrepasseurs.
• Wojciech Kramkowski: Polish politician who served as Prime Minister in the early 2000s.
• Olek Kramkowski: Polish soccer player who currently plays for Krakow club Wisla Krakow.
• Bartosz Kramkowski: Singer/songwriter who has won multiple awards including Orphan International Songwriter’s Songwriting Competition in 2012.
• Jan Kramkowski: Former rugby player from Poland, who also represented Poland in the Australia Rugby Championship.
• Antoni Kramkowski: _ Polish artist known for creating realistic paintings of nature and landscapes.
• Paweł Kramkowski: Polish film director, screenwriter and producer who directed the historical drama film The Second Republic.
• Mateusz Kramkowski: Polish boxer who competed in the London Olympics during 2012 and also won several boxing championships through 2016.

Other surnames

Kramkowsky