góralska

Góralska is a Polish feminine surname derived from Góral, the ethnonym for a member of the Góral, or Goral, highlander communities in the southern Carpathians. In Polish naming conventions, surnames are gendered; the masculine form is Góralski and the feminine form is Góralska, with the plural Góralscy used for families.

Origin and meaning: The surname likely originated as an ethnonymic or toponymic designation, indicating that an ancestor was from or linked to highlander regions such as Podhale in southern Poland, or neighboring highland areas. It may also reflect affiliation with Góralska culture or locales.

Geographic distribution and variants: The name is most common in Poland and among Polish-speaking populations abroad. Variants may appear without diacritics (Goralska) in records written in non-Polish contexts.

Cultural context: The Góral communities are known for distinctive dialects, dress, music, and mountain life traditions in the Tatra and Carpathian regions. The surname Góralska, while indicating heritage, does not itself specify a particular occupation or status.

Notable bearers: The surname is carried by individuals in various fields, reflecting common practice of forming surnames from ethnonyms in Polish onomastics.