Chmielewski
A Polish surname meaning “from the place of hops” or “of Chmiel/Chmielewo,” tied to the plant name chmiel, “hops.”
The #9,431 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 89,517 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Chmielewski is a Polish surname built from chmiel, the word for “hops,” plus the surname-forming ending -ewski, which often meant “of” or “from” a place. In many cases it points to a person from a village named Chmielewo, Chmielów, Chmielnik, or a similar place-name based on the same root. The literal sense is therefore something like “one from the hops place” or “belonging to Chmiel-.”
History
This is a well-established Polish surname pattern, especially common among names formed from place-names and natural features. In English-speaking countries it is often found among descendants of Polish immigrants, with spellings sometimes adjusted to local pronunciation. The name remains especially associated with Poland and Polish diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The root chmiel is the same Polish word used for hops, the plant traditionally important in brewing.