When a person begins researching their family, one question that arises is how the family name first began. At least, that was one of my first questions. This is particularly true for non-English rooted family names. English-rooted names generally are self-explanatory, such as Taylor (probably rooted in a profession) and Kent (probably associated with a location).

Most Polish, or Slavonic names, can generally be divided into 3 main groups.

1. Derived from original nicknames, as names of animals, trees, or other familiar things

2. Derived from Christian name or profession of the father

3. Derived from names of towns, villages, regions, etc.

I will attempt to explain how the "BONIKOWSKI" family name may have originated based upon the information I have found. However, to do this I must pick apart the name starting at the end.

Slavonic languages (such as Polish) use a number of different suffixes to form surnames. The -ski is an adjective suffix that can be added directly to the stem of the surname and indicates possession. For instance, "piekarz" is Polish for "baker". By adding the -ski suffix and forming "Piekarski" meaning "of the baker". Let me note here that some scholars indicate that the -ski suffix was commonly said to prove the noble origin of a family. This was true about 200 years ago. Since around the 17^th century the surnames of noble Polish families became set and were inherited by subsequent generations.

The -ow is another suffix that is commonly seen preceding the -ski suffix. It usually provides a reference to a location. For instance, "Jan" is Polish for "John". By adding the -ow suffix, "Janow" now means "place of John". By adding the -ski suffix to the -ow suffix on the stem, one can translate the name as "one from the place of ___". For instance, "Janowski" would now mean "one from the place of John".

There are cases though where the family name is derived from the city, town or manor where they live. As stated earlier, the -ski suffix is added to the name of the town and then denotes where the family originated. There are, in fact, two small towns in western Poland that might be ancestral homes for the family. One is called BONIKOWO, the other is called BONIKOW. Therefore, it is possible that one of these properties originally belonged to the family, because the -ski suffix would mean "of BONIKOWO" or "of BONIKOW". This however would require further study to prove.

A good website for more information explaining the construction of Polish Names is: http://www.polishroots.org/surnames/surnames_endings.htm

Bonikowski Brodzic coat-of-arms. Paul, canon of Plock, deputized by the same diocese to compositions between the clerical and secular states. With Plock are Daniel Bonikowski of the order of St. Francis, for the great virtue of the canon, no less for its authority, and by the grace of God. 

Francis Bonikowski cup-bearer of Zawskrzynski in the rule of Stanislaus Augustus. -Joseph steward, - Adalbert burgrave of Plock. - Heraldry Guide

In the year 1778, Michal Bonikowski or Bonkowski huntsman of Plock -Krasicki Recipes. 

The Guide to Heraldry later writes about the Bonkowski family, as however such people whose residence was completely agreed to out of higher Bonikowski circumscriptions, and moreover already also Krasicki in his annotations calls Bonikowski or Bonkowski, I insert here therefore also that about which Guide a Bonkowski himself writes, particularly that also Kuropatnicki inserts in ? II about the native noble families of the crown and Grand Duchy of Lithuania inserts rather than ? clans as were not expressed. Bonkowski. In the constitution of the Diet convened in the year 1764 it is stated that Michal Bonkowski appointed to that Diet was inspector to a royal land grant and sheriff/mayor/prefect in the Plock palatinate constitution folio 39 the same was lieutenant governor(?), and, afterwards, huntsman of Plock and subscribed to the election of Stanislaus Augustus King in the name of the Plock palatinate, also in the year 1761 was sent to the Diet for Augustus III.

Peter, lieutenant governor of Plock around the year 1763. Valentine, treasurer of Plock, and afterwards the cupbearer of Zawskrzynski was inspector for the Jewish head of the Plock palatinate appointed to the Diet convened in the year 1763 konstituion folio 47. Francis, Charles, Joseph steward afterwards of Plock, knight of The Order of Saint Stanislaus subscribed to the election of Stanislaus Augustus King in the name of the Plock palatinate. Adalbert Bonkowski burgrave of Plock now living.