# Nowak

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{{wikt|nowak}}
'''Nowak''' ({{IPAc-pl|'|n|o|w|a|k}} {{respell|NOH-vak}}) is a [Polish surname](/source/Polish_surname) derived from the nickname literally meaning {{gloss|novice, newcomer, rookie}}. Early records of the surname are dated by the 14th century.<ref>[http://www.genezanazwisk.pl/content/nowak NOWAK], citing [Kazimierz Rymut](/source/Kazimierz_Rymut)'s ''Nazwiska Polaków. Słownik historyczno-etymologiczny'', Kraków 2001, vol. II, p 164</ref> It 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](/source/Silesia) the variant [Nowok](/source/Nowok) is known. Emigrees may acquire forms Nowack, Novak, Novack.<ref>[https://nazwiska.ijppan.pl/haslo/show/name/Nowak NOWAK],  Institute of Polish Language of the Polish Academy of Sciences</ref> German sources indicate that it is also a [Sorbian](/source/Sorbian_language) surname.<ref>[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)</ref> {{as of|2026}} it is the [most common surname  in Poland](/source/Polish_name), keeping the first place for many years. In 2021 it  was the surname of 102,503 women and 100,617 men<ref>[https://dane.gov.pl/en/article/znamy-najpopularniejsze-nazwiska-nowak-znowu-pierwszy Znamy najpopularniejsze nazwiska - Nowak znowu pierwszy]</ref> For example, in 2009 it was the top one, with 100,836 men and  106,512 women.<ref>[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 }}</ref> In January 2026, the Polish register [PESEL](/source/PESEL) listed 99,738 women and 98,387 men with the surname.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Otwarte Dane |url=https://dane.gov.pl/en/dataset/1681,nazwiska-osob-zyjacych-wystepujace-w-rejestrze-pesel |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=dane.gov.pl}}</ref>

In Poland, it may also appear as a result of migration of Czech and Slovak people with surname [Novak](/source/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:
* [Amram Nowak](/source/Amram_Nowak) (1925–2005), American film producer, film director and writer
* [Andreas Nowak](/source/Andreas_Nowak) (born 1975), German politician
* [Andrzej Nowak (guitarist)](/source/Andrzej_Nowak_(guitarist)) (born 1959), Polish guitar player with [TSA](/source/TSA_(band))
* [Andrzej Nowak (historian)](/source/Andrzej_Nowak_(historian)) (born 1960), Polish historian and professor at Jagiellonian University
* [Andrzej Nowak (ice hockey)](/source/Andrzej_Nowak_(ice_hockey)) (1956–2013), Polish ice hockey player
* [Andrzej Nowak (mathematician)](/source/Andrzej_Nowak_(mathematician)) (born 1952), Polish mathematician and professor
* [Andrzej Nowak (psychologist)](/source/Andrzej_Nowak_(psychologist)) (born 1953), Polish psychologist and professor
* [Anton Nowak](/source/Anton_Nowak) (1865–1932), Austrian artist
* [Bartosz Nowak](/source/Bartosz_Nowak), Polish footballer
* [Cécile Nowak](/source/C%C3%A9cile_Nowak) (born 1967), French judoka
* [Ewa Nowak](/source/Ewa_Nowak) (born 1966), Polish writer
* [Halina Nowak-Guńka](/source/Halina_Nowak-Gu%C5%84ka) (born 1970), Polish skier and biathlete
* [Henry J. Nowak](/source/Henry_J._Nowak) (1935–2024), member of United States House of Representatives (1975–1993)
* [Jan Nowak-Jeziorański](/source/Jan_Nowak-Jeziora%C5%84ski) (1914–2005), Polish journalist and World War II hero
* [Jerzy Nowak](/source/Jerzy_Nowak), Polish actor
* [Jerzy Robert Nowak](/source/Jerzy_Robert_Nowak), Polish historian
* [Józef Nowak](/source/J%C3%B3zef_Nowak) (1925–1984), Polish actor
* [Julian Nowak](/source/Julian_Nowak) (1865–1946), Polish physician, veterinarian, bacteriologist, and politician
* [Katarzyna Nowak](/source/Katarzyna_Nowak), Polish tennis player
* [Kazimierz Nowak](/source/Kazimierz_Nowak) (1897–1937), Polish traveler
* [Krysia Nowak](/source/Krysia_Nowak) (born 1948), British artist
* [Leo Nowak (artist)](/source/Leo_Nowak_(artist)) (1907–2001), American illustrator
* [Leo Nowak (bishop)](/source/Leo_Nowak_(bishop)) (1929–2026), German Roman Catholic bishop
* [Leopold Nowak](/source/Leopold_Nowak) (1904–1991), Austrian musicologist
* [Lisa Nowak](/source/Lisa_Nowak) (born 1963), American astronaut
* [Łukasz Nowak](/source/%C5%81ukasz_Nowak) (born 1988), Polish athlete
* [Marco Nowak](/source/Marco_Nowak), German ice hockey player
* [Mark Nowak](/source/Mark_Nowak) (born 1964), American poet and writer
* [Manfred Nowak](/source/Manfred_Nowak) (born 1950), United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture
* [Martin Nowak](/source/Martin_Nowak) (born 1965), Austrian mathematical biologist
* [Mateusz Nowak](/source/Mateusz_Nowak), Polish cyclist
* [Oskar Nowak](/source/Oskar_Nowak_(ice_hockey)) (1913–1989), Austrian ice hockey player
* [Paweł Nowak](/source/Pawe%C5%82_Nowak) (born 1979), Polish footballer
* [Piotr Nowak](/source/Piotr_Nowak) (born 1964), Polish footballer and manager
* [Sylwia Nowak](/source/Sylwia_Nowak), Polish ice dancer
* [Tadeusz Nowak](/source/Tadeusz_Nowak), Polish footballer
* [Teresa Nowak](/source/Teresa_Nowak) (1942–2024), Polish athlete
* [Tim Nowak](/source/Tim_Nowak), German decathlete
* [Wanda Nowak](/source/Wanda_Nowak) (1913–?), Austrian athlete
* [Zdzisław Nowak](/source/Zdzis%C5%82aw_Nowak) (1906–1996), Polish athlete
* [Zenon Nowak](/source/Zenon_Nowak) (1905–1980), Polish trade union activist and politician

==Fictional characters==
* Tom Nowak, in the movie ''[Test pilota Pirxa](/source/Test_pilota_Pirxa)''
* Tommy Nowak, in the movie ''[Pink Cadillac](/source/Pink_Cadillac_(film))'', played by Clint Eastwood
* Nowak, character on manga ''[Orb: On the Movements of the Earth](/source/Orb%3A_On_the_Movements_of_the_Earth)''

==See also==
*{{intitle|Nowak}}
*{{intitle|Nowakowa}}
*{{intitle|Nowakowna}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{newman-surname}}
{{surname}}

Category:Polish-language surnames

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nowak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.