Kowalski ([kɔˈvalskʲi]; feminine: Kowalska, plural Kowalscy) is the second most common surname in Poland (140,471 people in 2009). Kowalski translates to smith's son, as it is the patronymic form of the Polish equivalent of Smith, "Kowal" (see the Polish surname Kowal and the Ukrainian surname Koval). Several other surnames, such as Kowalczyk, Kowalewski, and Kowalewicz, are also derived from the word Kowal.
The name Jan Kowalski is the equivalent in both translation and popularity to John Smithson in English-speaking countries.
The "Kowalski Sausage" phenomenon, as it is popularly known, has made a major impact on the American meat packing industry.
A sizable number of Polish immigrants to the United States came in the 1960s and 1970s. Some came to pursue higher educations, but upon graduating with MBAs, engineering or other degrees could not find professional jobs or jobs that paid well. Many of them worked in blue collar jobs and saved up to buy undervalued or dilapidated sausage factories, turning them into businesses. As many as 60% of mid-sized sausage links and patties companies all over the US are owned by people of Polish origin. Of this nearly one-third have the surname Kowalski—a popular one among Polish immigrants.
According to the Polish American Sausage Association (P.A.S.A.), 50 percent of sausage makers in the United States are owned by people of Polish origin. A large immigrant population of educated Polish came in the 1960s and 1970s. These Kowalskis are known as founding fathers, having worked hard, saved, and then invested in the industry. Having a steady amount of income and savings, they called over their distant relatives and friends from the villages of Poland. Upon their arrival, these immigrants would already have financial assistance from the founding fathers and would be able to find employment with them until they could afford to start up their own businesses.
In popular culture, the Polish film Burial of a Potato satirizes the community's fascination with emigrating to the United States.
Kowalski is:
1st in Masovia Voivodeship (26,270)2nd in Silesian Voivodeship (11,811)3rd in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (12,076)2nd in Łódź Voivodeship (15,005)2nd in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (9,429)3rd in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (6,480)2nd in West Pomeranian Voivodeship (6,345)3rd in Lubusz Voivodeship (2,904)Alexander Kowalski (1902–1940), Polish ice hockey player killed in the Katyn massacreAleksander Kowalski, Polish Nordic combined skierAleksander Kowalski (1908–1951), Polish trade union activistAleksander Kowalsky (born 1943), Croatian-Austrian classical music conductorAlexander Kowalski (musician) (born 1978), German DJ, electronic music artistAlfred Kowalski-Wierusz (1849–1915), Polish painterAneta Kowalska (born 1982), Polish pair skaterAnna Kowalska (1903–1969), Polish writerBernard Louis Kowalski (1929–2007), American directorBolesław Kowalski (1915–1944), Polish trade union activist and underground fighter (AL)Daniel Kowalski (born 1975), Australian Olympic swimmerDanuta Kowalska (born 1929), Polish artist, designer of interior decorationEmmanuel Kowalski (born 1969), French mathematicianFranciszek Kowalski (1799–1862), Polish poet, insurgent of the November UprisingFrank Kowalski (1907–1974), American US Army soldier and United States RepresentativeGrzegorz Kowalski (born 1942), Polish sculptor, designer of interior decorationJames Kowalski (born 1954), United States Air Force Lieutenant General, Commander Air Force Global Strike Command Barksdale AFBJanusz Kowalski, Polish cyclistJanusz Andrzej Kowalski (born 1935), Polish artist, designer of interior decorationJerzy Kowalski (1893–1948), Polish writer and classical philologistJerzy Bogdan Kowalski (born 1923), Polish professor of theory of state and lawJochen Kowalski (born 1954), German singerJohn Kowalski (born c. 1951), American soccer coachJózef Kowalski (1900–2013), Polish supercentenarian and last Polish-Soviet war veteranJózef Kowalski (1911–1942), Polish Roman Catholic priest killed at Auschwitz, beatifiedJózef Kowalski-Wierusz (1866–1925), Polish physicistJulie Kowalski (born 1983), French female biker (nickname: "la reine des petits bouchons")Kasia Kowalska (born 1973), Polish pop rock singer and songwriterKatarzyna Kowalska (born 1985), Polish long distance runnerKazimierz Kowalski (1925–2007), Polish professor of zoology, ordination, mammals paleontologyKazimierz Maria Kowalski (born 1926), Polish writer and journalistKen Kowalski, Canadian politicianLouis Kowalski (born 1994), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater graffiti professionalLudwik Kowalski (born 1931), Polish-American nuclear physicist and professor emeritusMarian Kowalski (1821–1884), Polish astronomerSaint Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), Catholic saintMyron Kowalsky, Canadian politicianNatalia Kowalska (born 1989), Polish racing driverPiotr Kowalski, artistRaymond Kowalski, (born 1951), American artist ceramicist and inventorRichard Kowalski (born 1963), American AstronomerRobert Kowalski (born 1941), British logicianSharon Kowalski, subject of groundbreaking disability and LGBT legal rights caseStanisław Kozyr-Kowalski (born 1936), Polish professor of sociologyTadeusz Kowalski (1841–1904), Polish agronomist, agricultural activist and educatorTadeusz Kowalski (1889–1948), Polish orientalist, expert on Middle East Muslim culture and languagesThomas Schmidt-Kowalski (1949–2013), German composerWilliam Kowalski (born 1970), American author of Eddie's BastardWitold Cezariusz Kowalski (born 1936), Polish professor of geologyWladek Kowalski (AKA "Killer" Kowalski) (1926–2008), Polish-Canadian professional wrestler, trainerWładysław Kowalski (politician) (1894–1958), Polish trade union activist, writer and politician (PSL, ZSL)Włodzimierz Tadeusz Kowalski (born 1935), Polish professor of modern history and publicistZygmunt Kowalski (born 1932), Polish professor of chemistryKowalski, character in the 1991 parody film Hot Shots!, played by Kristy SwansonKowalski, main character in Vanishing Point, played by Barry NewmanKowalski, character in the PlayStation 2 game Syphon Filter 2Kowalski, character in Madagascar and the TV series The Penguins of MadagascarMr Kowalski, original owner of Kowalski's, Rosie Duncan's florist store in the novel Fairytale of New York (ISBN 9781847561657), played by Miranda DickinsonMrs. Kowalski, Miriam Margolyes' character in the film How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)Baby Kowalski, supporting character in The Ren & Stimpy ShowBenjamin "Ben" Kowalski in the comic series Templar, ArizonaMajor Charles Kawalsky, character in the popular science fiction television series Stargate SG-1Dick Kowalsky, character in the French animated series Funky Cops (2003)Jacob Kowalski, Dan Fogler's character in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)Joe Kowalski, character in SIGMA Force book series by author James RollinsKitty Kowalski, Lex Luthor's companion in 2006 film Superman Returns, played by Parker PoseyLeon Kowalski, character in the 1982 film Blade Runner played by Brion JamesMatt Kowalsky, George Clooney's character in the movie Gravity.Peter "Petey" Kowalski in the video game BullyRoch Kowalski, character in Sienkiewicz's novel With Fire and SwordRoxanne Kowalski, Daryl Hannah's character in Roxanne, the 1987 remake of Cyrano de Bergerac with Steve MartinSeaman Kowalski, crewman assigned aboard the submarine SSRN Seaview, on the 1964–68 TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, played by Del MonroeSergei Kowalski, the titular character in the spaghetti western The Mercenary, played by Franco Nero.Sgt. Kowalski, character in Raising ArizonaSgt. Kowalski, character in video game Call of Duty 3Sophie Kowalski, Marion Cotillard's character in the 2005 French film Jeux d'Enfants, also known by its English title, Love Me If You DareStanley and Stella Kowalski, characters in the Pulitzer Prize–winning play by Tennessee Williams and 1951 film, A Streetcar Named DesireDetective Stanley Raymond Kowalski, character in the Gemini Award–winning television series Due South (named after the above Streetcar character)Steve Kowalski, character in the 2007 film Devil's DiaryViktor Kowalski, member of the OAS in The Day of the Jackal by Frederick ForsythWalt Kowalski, protagonist of the 2008 film Gran Torino played by Clint EastwoodIn re Guardianship of KowalskiKavalski, a Yiddish variantKoval'skiy (crater)"Kowalski" (song) by Primal Scream