Hmmmmm - Let me try this again :
Good day -
In the traditional sense, the surname suffix SKI is endemic to Poland and came about as an evolution within the Polish language as well as a desire by the Polish Nobility to remain "apart" from the peasantry.
Prior to the 15th century, the Nobles experienced constant frustration in the courts concerning their property holdings, rights, and status as a Polish Noble. The one name system became outdated as the population increased and transportation options extended the horizon to everyone. There were simply too many JAN's, too many TOMAS's, too many KAZIMIERZ's that answered when their name was called.
The courts had the greatest of difficulty in determining which JAN owned certain property, a problem easily identified today. As such, the Noble Poles "borrowed" from associated systems of identification and ownership based on their status - from the Latin "de", the Germanic "von" and the French "de" - through the use of the Polish letter "z".
All these systems of identification were initially applicable to the Nobility only since it's only intent was to identify undisputed property ownership, assure proper taxation, and to regulate National Defense.
So, Tomas was more specifically identified as TOMAS Z XXXXX where XXXXX was the location of his estate. TOMAS Z RYBOWO {Tomas from his estate at Rybowo) by example. This was fine for a period of time until the inconvenient truth became known. The Peasantry, which outnumbered the Nobility substantially, also had a need to further identify as well, so they adopted the Noble system as a nation.
This situation infuriated the Nobility because now they were back at 'square one', where confusion in court resumed and their status as a Nobleman was not immediately recognized. Change two !!
The Nobility took matters into their own hands after the 15th century. They coined the suffix "SKI" simply as a choice, since there was absolutely no Polish identifying suffix at that time that even came close to a "SKI". So, all Polish Nobles "en masse" changed the system whereby TOMAS Z RYBOWO officially became TOMAS RYBOWSKI.
And here is the key : they changed the law and consequently the language whereby ONLY the Nobility could use the SKI, forbidden for use by the peasantry, punishable by death. At that time, the SKI equivocated to TOMAS FROM HIS ESTATE AT RYBOWO, known simply as TOMAS RYBOWSKI.
This solved the problem for an extended period of time, however, and eventually, the peasantry once again had the final say (so as to speak). Slowly, they adopted the use of the suffix SKI as well - simply a matter of "getting ahead" (chuckle). The trials and tribulations of Polish wars, occupation, and Noble inheritance regulated prosecution to the back burner at best and there were simply too many people to prosecute.
Eventually, the Feudal system became "modified" then fell. The definition of the SKI suffix also changed from use by a privileged class to use by all. As such, SKI now means OF or FROM, and that's how it remains today. TOMAS OF -or- FROM RYBOWO.
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