The Dictionary of Polish Place Names – Rostki-Strużne (Szelków Parish)

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 XI of Nazwy Miejscowe Polski lists one place called Rostki-Strużne. This entry is for a village currently in the Masovian Voivodeship and which belongs to the Szelków parish. Today, the village of Rostki-Strużne is known simply as Rostki.

Nazwy Miejscowe Polski indicates that Rostki-Strużne was in the Szelków Gmina, Ostrołęka Voivodeship in the years 1975-1998. Mentions of the village include “Dux gave Derslao and Mroczko of Rosthky 10 manses around the stream called Czirvonca with both banks… near the bishop’s boundaries and next to their inherited land called Rosthky in the Rzwen forest” in (1414–25), Rosthky in 1425, Rosthky in 1468, Rostky in 1522, with Rostki in (1565), Rosthki Struzne in 1582, Rostki Struzne in 1783–84, Rostki strużne in 1827, Rostki Stróżne in 1888, Rostki Strużne, -tek -nych, rostkowski in 1971, Rostki Strużne, -tek -nych in 1982, after the name change Rostki, -tek, rostkowski in 1996.

The name Rostki is a repetition of the name Rostki (a village 8.5 kilometers northwest of Nasielsk) from where the recipients of the grant originated. From the 16th century, Rostki Strużne; the distinguishing element probably comes from stróżny “an old grain tax, later a monetary tax, for the maintenance of the castle guard’.

Source: Rymut, Kazimierz, Barbara Czopek-Kopciuch, and Urszula Bijak, eds., Nazwy Miejscowe Polski (Place Names of Poland) – Krakow 2005, Volume XI, page 90.

Click the link for a PDF copy of the Nazwy Miejscowe Polski entry for Rostki-Strużne. Translated rom the Polish, the entry reads:

     Rostki Strużne, now Rostki, village, Ostrołęka voivodeship, Szelków gmina: Dux gave Derslao and Mroczko of Rosthky 10 manses around the stream called Czirvonca with both banks… near the bishop’s boundaries and next to their inherited land called Rosthky in the Rzwen forest (1414–25) 1456 SHGMz (MK 3, 23–23v); Rosthky 1425 MkM I no. 186; Rosthky 1468 SHGMz (MK 5, 114); Rostky 1522 SHGMz (MK 32, 134); with Rostki (1565) Lumaz II 134; Rosthki Struzne 1582 ŹDz XVI 392; Rostki Struzne 1783–84 RejKor 516; Rostki strużne 1827 Tabella II 142; Rostki Stróżne 1888 SG IX 796; Rostki Strużne, -tek -nych, rostkowski 1971 UN 129, 47; Rostki Strużne, -tek -nych 1982 WUN III 141; after the change Rostki, -tek, rostkowski 1996 MPol no. 21, item 245. – The name Rostki is a repetition of the name Rostki (1), from where the recipients of the grant originated, see the first record. From the 16th century, Rostki Strużne; the distinguishing element probably comes from stróżny “an old grain tax, later a monetary tax, for the maintenance of the castle guard” SW VI 462. Urszula Bijak

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