Kwolek czy Chwałek? O nazwisku rodowym słynnej chemiczki

Abstract

Stefania (in the US: Stephanie Louise) Kwolek is an American chemist of Polish descent. Globally, she is primarily known as a co-inventor of kevlar, material used to manufacture, among other things, bulletproof vests. Numerous works dedicated to the life and achievements of the famous researcher point to doubts with regard to the spelling of her maiden name. According to certain publications, the name Kwolek is either an Americanised or a distorted Polish name Chwałek. The author of this article shows that both surnames have the same origin – Chwałek is a standard, literary form, and Kwolek is a dialectical form, compliant with the pronunciation in the dialects of south-eastern Poland. The form Kwolek started being used by the society in distant past, still before the official codification of surnames on the Polish territory. That was the name used by Stefania’s father at the time he emigrated to America, therefore, there is no reason to refer to him by the name Chwałek, even if the name Kwolek may seem less prestigious.