górski

Górski is a Polish surname derived from the adjective górski, meaning mountainous or of the mountains. The name is typically toponymic or habitational, given to people associated with a hill- or mountain-rich area or from places named Góry or Góra. The suffix -ski signals an origin or association with a place and is a common element in Polish surnames.

In Polish, the surname has gendered and plural forms: the masculine form is Górski, the feminine form is Górska, and the standard plural for a family is Górscy. In non-Polish contexts or in records written without diacritics, the name may appear as Gorski.

Distribution and usage: Górski is among the more widespread Polish surnames and is found throughout Poland as well as among Polish diaspora communities around the world. It is common in countries with historical Polish immigration, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Western Europe. Like other -ski names, it can be associated with a broad range of families, rather than indicating a single lineage.

Meaning and origin: As a toponymic surname, Górski reflects geographic or landscape-related origins rather than a specific occupation. It exemplifies the typical Polish surname pattern of forming noble- or non-noble family names by attaching the -ski suffix to a place-based word. The name is used in everyday language to describe things related to mountains or highlands in Polish, in addition to its use as a family name.