Nowak

{{wikt|nowak}}

Nowak ({{IPAc-pl|'|n|o|w|a|k}}) is a Polish surname derived from the nickname literally meaning "novice", "newcomer", "rookie". Early records of the surname are dated by the 14th century.[http://www.genezanazwisk.pl/content/nowak NOWAK], citing Kazimierz Rymut's Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny, Kraków 2001, vol. II, p 164It is a gender-neutral surname, with archaic feminine forms Nowakowa (by husband) and Nowakówna, Nowaczanka (by father) Colloquial forms by husband include Nowakówka, Nowaczka, Nowaczonka. In Silesia the variant Nowok is known. Emigrees may acquire forms Nowack, Novak, Novack.[https://nazwiska.ijppan.pl/haslo/show/name/Nowak NOWAK], Institute of Polish Language of the Polish Academy of Sciences German sources indicate that it is also a Sorbian surname.[https://www.namenforschung.net/dfd/woerterbuch/liste/?tx_dfd_names%5Bname%5D=156&tx_dfd_names%5BallSelectedFacets%5D%5B0%5D=359&tx_dfd_names%5BcurrentSelectedFacets%5D%5B0%5D=359&tx_dfd_names%5Bquery%5D=now%2A&tx_dfd_names%5Boffset%5D=&tx_dfd_names%5Baction%5D=show&tx_dfd_names%5Bcontroller%5D=Names&cHash=d356fb49f013210e9a2975864e945922 NOWAK], The Digital Dictionary of Surnames in Germany (DFD) {{as of|2021}} it is the most common surname in Poland, keeping the first place for many years. In 2021 it was the surname of 102,503 women and 100,617 men[https://dane.gov.pl/en/article/znamy-najpopularniejsze-nazwiska-nowak-znowu-pierwszy Znamy najpopularniejsze nazwiska - Nowak znowu pierwszy] For example, in 2009 it was the top one, with 100,836 men and 106,512 women.[http://www.msw.gov.pl/download/1/7972/statystyka_najpopularniejszych_nazwisk_wystepujacych_w_Polsce_w_2009.pdf Statystyka najpopularniejszych nazwisk występujących w Polsce in 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928133659/https://www.msw.gov.pl/download/1/7972/statystyka_najpopularniejszych_nazwisk_wystepujacych_w_Polsce_w_2009.pdf |date=2013-09-28 }}

In Poland, it may also appear as a result of migration of Czech and Slovak people with surname Novak of the same etymology. On the other hand, in Germany the opposite change of the surname could have happened: from "Novak' to "Nowak".

Notable people with the surname include:

• {{ill|Amram Nowak|de}}, Academy Award–nominated director of Isaac in America: A Journey with Isaac Bashevis Singer
• Anton Nowak (1865–1932), Austrian artist
• Bartosz Nowak, Polish footballer
• Cécile Nowak (born 1967), French judoka
• Ewa Nowak (born 1966), Polish writer
• Henry J. Nowak (1935–2024), member of United States House of Representatives (1975–1993)
• Jan Nowak-Jeziorański (1914–2005), Polish journalist and World War II hero
• Jerzy Nowak, Polish actor
• Jerzy Robert Nowak, Polish historian
• Józef Nowak (1925–1984), Polish actor
• Julian Nowak (1865–1946), Polish physician, veterinarian, bacteriologist, and politician
• Katarzyna Nowak, Polish tennis player
• Kazimierz Nowak (1897–1937), Polish traveler
• Krysia Nowak (born 1948), British artist
• Leopold Nowak (1904–1991), Austrian musicologist
• Lisa Nowak (born 1963), American astronaut
• Łukasz Nowak (born 1988), Polish athlete
• Marco Nowak, German ice hockey player
• Mark Nowak (born 1964), American poet and writer
• Manfred Nowak (born 1950), United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture
• Martin Nowak (born 1965), Austrian mathematical biologist
• Mateusz Nowak, Polish cyclist
• Oskar Nowak (1913–1989), Austrian ice hockey player
• Piotr Nowak (born 1964), Polish footballer and manager
• Sylwia Nowak, Polish ice dancer
• Tadeusz Nowak, Polish footballer
• Teresa Nowak (1942–2024), Polish athlete
• Tim Nowak, German decathlete
• Wanda Nowak (1913–?), Austrian athlete
• Zdzisław Nowak (1906–1996), Polish athlete
• Zenon Nowak (1905–1980), Polish trade union activist and politician