The Dictionary of Polish Place Names (Nazwy Miejscowe Polski) explains the origin of place names in Poland and details how the place name changed over time.
Volume V of Nazwy Miejscowe Polski lists one place called Komańcza. The village is currently in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Szukaj w Archiwach has scanned images of birth/marriage, and death records from 1784-1830 + 1840, and 1830-1851 for the Greek Catholic Church in Komańcza, with branches in Czystohorb and Dołżyca.
Nazwy Miejscowe Polski indicates that Czystogarb was in the Komańcza Gmina, Krosno Voivodeship in the years 1975-1998, and is 25 kilometers southwest of Zagórz. Mentions of the village include “to locate a new village on the river Komanycza, which village will be called Crziemyenna … into the Comancza river” in 1512, Komancza in 1524, “from Komańcza, in Komańcza” in 1561, from Komańcza in 1638, “village of Komancza” in 1786, Komancza in 1794, Komanča in 1860, Komańcza in 1883, and Komańcza, -czy, komaniecki in 1966.
The name of the village may originate with the name of the river Komańcza. Alternatively, the name may be derived from Komanec a member of the Turkic Ko(u)man tribe, also known as Polovtsy, who lived in the territory of Rus’ in the 11th-13th centuries. It may also be derived from the personal name Komanec (Koman, a personal name recorded in the 15th century in the nearby village of Szczawne). The alternative name Krzemienna is from the adjective krzemienny ‘stony’.
Source: Rymut, Kazimierz, ed., Nazwy Miejscowe Polski (Place Names of Poland) – Krakow 2003, Volume V, page 77.
Click the link for a PDF copy of the Nazwy Miejscowe Polski entry for Komańcza. Translated from the Polish, the entry reads:
Komańcza, village, Krosno voivodeship, Komańcza gmina, 25 kilometers southwest of Zagórz: to locate a new village on the river Komanycza, which village will be called Crziemyenna … into the Comancza river 1512 Fast 156, note 655; Komancza 1524 Matr IV/3, no. 23222; from Komańcza, in Komańcza 1561 RZł 61; from Komańcza 1638 RZł 215; village of Komancza 1786 MJ 19, XV, 42, 39; Komancza 1794 Ga R2; Komanča 1860 Sch 119; Komańcza 1883 SG IV 297; Komańcza, -czy, komaniecki 1966 UN 71, 32. – From the river name Komańcza. The name may derive from *Komanec ‘a member of the Turkic Ko(u)man tribe, also known as Polovtsy, who lived in the territory of Rus’ in the 11th-13th centuries’ MakSk 88 or from the personal name *Komanec (: Koman, a personal name recorded in the 15th century in the nearby village of Szczawne Fast 215), with the suffix -ja. Lemkos say komańcza, kumańcza. The alternative name Krzemienna is from the adjective krzemienny ‘stony’. Lithuanian: MakSk 88-9; RiegŁemk 190; Borek, –ьn– 116; RospSEMiG 154.
Barbara Czopek-Kopciuch
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