Bednarski (feminine: Bednarska, plural: Bednarscy) is a Polish surname. The name is derived from the Polish word bednarz, meaning "cooper" (a barrel-maker), indicating that the original bearers of the name were likely craftsmen who made and repaired wooden barrels, casks, and other staved vessels.
Notable people with the surname include:
- Bob Bednarski (1944–2004) – American heavyweight weightlifter
- Fred Bednarski (1936–2024) – Polish American football placekicker
- John Bednarski (born 1952) – Canadian ice hockey defenceman
- Josef Bednarski (born 1941) – Polish professional wrestler and bodybuilder
- Jacek Bednarski (1939–2008) – Polish chess International Master
- Krzysztof Bednarski (born 1953) – Polish sculptor
- Scott Bednarski (born 1966) – American professional wrestler
- Steven Bednarski (born 1973) – Canadian historian and actor
- Jeffrey J. Bednarski, MD, PhD – American physician, Division Chief of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
- Carl Bednarski – American agricultural leader, former President of the Michigan Farm Bureau
- Krzysztof Bednarski (born 1984) – Polish fine art photographer
Etymology: The root bednarz (cooper) comes from the German Böttner or Binder, reflecting the historical influence of German craft guilds on Polish trades. The suffix -ski is a common Polish adjectival suffix used to form surnames, often indicating nobility or land ownership, though over time it became widespread across all social classes.
Distribution: The surname is most common in Poland and among Polish diaspora communities, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
