Witkowski is a common Polish surname.
Etymology: The surname Witkowski is a habitational name derived from various place names in Poland such as Witkowo, Witkowice, or Witków. These place names are themselves derived from the Polish given name Wit (a short form of names like Witold or Witomir), which means "white" or "intelligent." The suffix "-ski" is a common Polish adjectival ending, signifying origin or association, broadly translating to "of" or "from." Thus, Witkowski typically means "person from Witkowo/Witkowice/Witków."
Distribution: Witkowski is a relatively common surname in Poland and among the Polish diaspora in countries such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Notable people with the surname include:
- Andrzej Witkowski (born 1979), Polish politician and member of the Sejm.
- Józef Witkowski (1890–1976), Polish physicist and astronomer, known for his work in astrometry.
- Leon Witkowski (1902–1979), Polish historian, academic, and professor at the University of Warsaw.
- Michael Witkowski (born 1978), American musician and member of various bands.
- Tomasz Witkowski (born 1963), Polish psychologist, author, and skeptical activist, known for his critique of pseudoscience in psychology.