Kowalski

Kowalski (Polish pronunciation: [kɔˈvalskʲi]; feminine: Kowalska, plural: Kowalscy) is the second most common surname in Poland (140,471 people in 2009). Kowalski surname is derived from the word kowal, meaning "[black]smith". "Jan Kowalski" is used as a placeholder name in Poland to mean "John Smith", much as "John Doe" is used in English-speaking countries.