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 XVI of Nazwy Miejscowe Polski lists several places called Magnuszew. The first entry is for a village currently in the Masovian Voivodeship.
Nazwy Miejscowe Polski indicates that Strachocin is two villages today (Magnuszew Duży and Magnuszew Mały), which were in the Szelkówa Gmina, Ostrołęka Voivodeship in the years 1975-1998, and are 9 kilometers southeast of Maków Mazowiecki. Mentions of the village include Magnuszoua in 1402, Nicolai Koth de Magnuschewo, Parwm et Magnum Magnuschewo in 1423, Magnuschevicze, Nicolay Koth de Magnuschewo in (1414-25) 1456, Nicolao Koth de Magnuszewo in 1425, Magnuschewo in 1478, Magnuschevo Coth in 1502, Magnuschewo in 1504, Magnuschewo Kothowo in (1513) 1517, Magnusewo, Cothowo Magnusewo in 1582, Magnuszewo, Magnuszewo Kotowo in 1783, Magnuszewo wielkie, Magnuszewo kotowe in 1827, Magnuszewo Wielkie, Magnuszewo Małe in 1839, Magnuszewo Wielkie, Magnuszewo Małe al. Kotowe in 1884, Magnuszew Duży, Magnuszew Mały in 1921, Magnuszew Duży, -wa -żego, Magnuszew Mały, -wa -łego, magnuszewski in 1971.
The name of the village originates from the name of a settlement Magnusz, with the suffix -ewo and a variant with the suffix -ewice. In the 15th century, Magnuszewo Duże (Latin: Magnum) was recorded, later followed by Wielkie and Małe (Latin: Parvum), and in the 16th century, Magnuszewo and Magnuszewo-Kot//Kotowo//Kotowe appeared; the second part of the village names were derived from the surname Kot, also with the suffixes -owo, -owe. Currently, there are two villages: Magnuszew Duży and Magnuszew Mały; the distinguishing parts come from the adjectives duży [large] and mały [small].
Source: Rymut, Kazimierz, ed., Nazwy Miejscowe Polski (Place Names of Poland) – Krakow 2005, Volume VI, pages 435-436.
Click the link for a PDF copy of the Nazwy Miejscowe Polski entry for Magnuszew. Translated rom the Polish, the entry reads:
Magnuszew (1), today Magnuszew Duży and Magnuszew Mały, two villages, Ostrołęka voivodeship, Szelków gmina, 9 kilometers southeast of Maków Mazowiecki: Magnuszoua 1402 SHGMz (WAP 868); Nicolai Koth de Magnuschewo, Parwm et Magnum Magnuschewo 1423 MkM I no. 51; Magnuschevicze, Nicolay Koth de Magnuschewo (1414-25) 1456 SHGMz (MK 3, 23v and 40); Nicolao Koth de Magnuszewo 1425 MkM I no. 216; Magnuschewo 1478 SHGMz (MK 6, 367); Magnuschevo Coth 1502 SHGMz (Ep. 144, 72); Magnuschewo 1504 SHGMz (MK 18, 206); Magnuschewo Kothowo (1513) 1517 SHGMz (Kap. P. 50, 119v); Magnusewo, Cothowo Magnusewo 1582 ŹDz XVI 392; Magnuszewo, Magnuszewo Kotowo 1783 MpPerMz; Magnuszewo wielkie, Magnuszewo kotowe 1827 Tabella II 2; Magnuszewo Wielkie, Magnuszewo Małe 1839 MpKwat IV 2; Magnuszewo Wielkie, Magnuszewo Małe al. Kotowe 1884 SG V 898; Magnuszew Duży, Magnuszew Mały 1921 Sk I 77; Magnuszew Duży, -wa -żego, Magnuszew Mały, -wa -łego, magnuszewski 1971 UN 129, 45. – From the name of a settlement Magnusz, with the suffix -ewo, also a variant with the suffix -ewice. In the 15th century, Magnuszewo Duże (Latin: Magnum) was recorded, later followed by Wielkie and Małe (Latin: Parvum), and in the 16th century, Magnuszewo and Magnuszewo-Kot//Kotowo//Kotowe; the second part derived from the surname Kot, also with the suffixes -owo, -owe. Currently, there are two villages: Magnuszew Duży and Magnuszew Mały; the distinguishing parts come from the adjectives duży [large] and mały [small]. Lithuanian: ZMaz 251. Ursula Bijak
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