Cielak

Cielak is a surname of Slavic origin that is most commonly found in Poland and to a lesser extent in the Czech Republic. The name is thought to derive from the Polish word “cielanie” meaning “to peel” or “to separate”, possibly referring to an occupation such as a caulker or a worker who peeled bark or branches. As in many Polish surnames, the suffix –ak is a diminutive or patronymic marker.

According to genealogical records, the concentration of the name peaks in the western and southern regions of Poland, especially in the Silesian and Opolskie voivodeships. In the Czech Republic the name appears predominantly in the Moravian–Silesian region. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some bearers of the name emigrated to North America, where a few families settled in the United States and Canada, leaving a trace in census and immigration documents.

Notable individuals with the surname include Marta Cielak (born 1972), a Polish sprint canoeist who competed internationally in the early 1990s; and Jan Cielak (1904–1989), a Czech architect known for his contributions to post‑war reconstruction in Brno. While the name does not correspond to a widely known public institution, it appears in academic journals concerning Slavic onomastics and in regional histories of Silesia. The surname remains relatively uncommon but is recognized as part of the diverse tapestry of Slavic family names.