mazowiecki

Mazowiecki is a Polish surname and adjective derived from Mazovia (Mazowsze), the historical region in east-central Poland. The suffix -cki is a common toponymic marker indicating origin or affiliation, so Mazowiecki literally means “of Mazovia” or “Mazovian.” As a place-based demonym, the term can describe people, culture, or things associated with Mazovia, and the feminine form is Mazowiecka; the plural is Mazowieccy.

In modern use, Mazowiecki is primarily encountered as a surname. It is borne by individuals of Polish origin and can be found across Poland and in Polish communities abroad. The surname reflects ancestral ties to the Mazovia region, which roughly corresponds to the contemporary Masovian Voivodeship and its surrounding areas.

Notable people with the surname include Tadeusz Mazowiecki (1927–2013), a Polish politician, journalist, and writer who served as Poland’s prime minister from 1989 to 1991 and played a central role in the country’s transition from communist rule.

Mazowiecki also appears in the names of institutions, places, and publications related to Mazovia, and it is used in various descriptive phrases within Polish language references. The term should not be confused with similarly formed surnames from other regions.

See also: Mazovia, Masovian Voivodeship, Województwo mazowieckie.