Descended From Heat Treaters

So, what’s in a name, and how does it apply today? Curious, I did a quick search on my last name, Kowalski, and lo and behold, it fits in with what my team and I love to do every day –  getting up early and staying late to solve your PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! I found out the name Kowalski is of Polish origin and is one of the most common surnames in Poland, derived from the word “kowal,” which means “blacksmith” in Polish. The suffix “-ski” is a common surname ending in Poland, often indicating a connection to a place or profession.

So, Kowalski essentially means “descendant of a blacksmith” or “one from the blacksmith’s place.” BINGO! It sure fits. Just listen to this description: Blacksmithing is a delicate balance of heating (the hammering part is for others) and cooling that transforms raw metal into durable, functional objects. By controlling temperature and cooling rates, blacksmiths (or “Kowalski’s” as I now call them) can achieve the desired hardness, flexibility, and strength needed for parts, tools, weapons, and artistic creations. (Oh yeah!) While modern technology has changed the industry, the principles of blacksmithing remain rooted in ancient traditions, making it a fascinating and enduring craft. So, there you have it – heating and cooling are just in my ancestral bones. For fun, I searched for last names that have survived to our common language today – some may surprise you (and here’s to all the Taylors, Carpenters, Millers, Bakers, Hunters, and Fishers out there.) If you know your family name history, be sure to share at skowalski@khtheating.com. Thanks to Google for the info.

By popular demand, we’re now sharing guides for the previous week’s logo contest!

Every Friday, scroll to the bottom of the post to review last week’s guide and see if we managed to stump you. 

Boycott – The term “boycott” comes from Captain Charles Boycott, a 19th-century English land agent in Ireland. During the Irish Land War of 1880, Boycott worked for an absentee landlord, enforcing high rents and evictions on struggling Irish tenants. In response, Irish leader Charles Stewart Parnell encouraged people to ostracize Boycott completely—workers refused to harvest his crops, local businesses denied him service, and neighbors avoided him. This nonviolent protest became known as a “boycott,” now a global term for organized refusal to engage with a person, company, or nation as a form of protest.

Mesmerize – The term “mesmerize” comes from Franz Mesmer, an 18th-century German physician who developed a theory of “animal magnetism.” Mesmer believed he could heal people by transferring a mysterious energy force through gestures and eye contact. Though his methods were later debunked, his dramatic influence over patients led to the term “mesmerize,” which now means to captivate or hypnotize someone.

Silhouette – This word is derived from Étienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister in the mid-18th century. Silhouette was known for imposing severe economic austerity measures, leading to his name being associated with cheap, simple things. Around the same time, profile portraits cut from black paper became popular, as they were a more affordable alternative to painted portraits. These cut-out images were mockingly named “silhouettes” in reference to the minister’s frugality.

Guppy – The small freshwater fish known as the guppy was named after Robert John Lechmere Guppy, a British naturalist who first discovered and described the species in Trinidad in 1866. Though others had noticed the fish before, Guppy’s name became permanently associated with the species in scientific literature.

Maverick – The term “maverick” comes from Samuel Maverick, a 19th-century Texas lawyer and rancher who refused to brand his cattle. Other ranchers considered his unbranded cows “mavericks,” and the word eventually came to mean someone who is independent-minded, unconventional, or unwilling to conform. (I love mavericks, especially the independent ones who challenge the status quo).

Diesel – The diesel engine is named after its inventor, Rudolf Diesel, a German engineer who developed the fuel-efficient internal combustion engine in the late 19th century. Diesel’s invention revolutionized transportation and industry, and his name is now synonymous with the fuel that powers his engine.

Sandwich – The sandwich is named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718–1792), an English nobleman. Montagu was an avid gambler who supposedly didn’t want to leave the gaming table for meals. Instead, he instructed his servants to bring him meat tucked between slices of bread, allowing him to eat with one hand while playing. His fellow gamblers took notice and started ordering “the same as Sandwich,” leading to the modern name for this popular food item.

How did you do on last week’s logo contest?

Check out our logo guide for the “It’s a Circus” post here!