Yezierska

Yezierska is a Polish-language surname. Its etymology is derived from the root word “jezioro,” which means “lake” in Polish, indicating a possible historical association with lakes or lakeside settlements. The surname is traditionally feminine: males would typically bear the form Yezierski, while the feminine form ends in –ska. Variants of the name include Jeźiorska and Jezierski, with slight differences in spelling reflecting regional dialects and transliteration conventions.

In Poland, the surname Yezierska is relatively uncommon. According to recent census data, it is most frequently found in the southern and southwestern regions of the country, particularly in the Silesian and Lesser Poland Voivodeships, where many families have historically lived near lakes and river valleys. Outside of Poland, the name appears sporadically within Polish diaspora communities in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, mainly among descendants of 19th‑ and early 20th‑century emigrants.

While the name has not produced widely recognized public figures on an international scale, several individuals have contributed to local cultural and academic life. For example, a 20th‑century Polish poet named Elżbieta Yezierska published a modest collection of lyrical poems in regional literary journals. In recent years, a researcher named Janusz Yezierski, an anthropologist of Polish descent, has published studies on the socio‑linguistic aspects of surname evolution in Eastern Europe. The surname continues to reflect the geographic and cultural heritage of its bearers, linking contemporary families to the natural landscapes of Poland.