Gąsienica is a Polish-language surname common among the Goral population of Zakopane region literally meaning "caterpillar".Zofia Radwańska-Paryska , Witold Henryk Paryski, Great Tatra encyclopedia Poronin, Wydawnictwo Górskie, 2004. .Maria an Józef Krzeptowski Jasinek, Genealogia rodu Gasieniców w Zakopanem (Genealogy of Gąsienica Family from Zakopane)
The commonality of this surname is reflected in the following question-answer joke: "Why does cabbage not grow in Zakopane? – Because there are too many Caterpillars!" For the same reason Gorals use double-barrelled names, for better identification.Krzysztof Trebunia-Tutka, "Jak odnaleźć górala, czyli rzecz o przydomkach", ZAKOPANE DLA CIEBIE
People Agnieszka Gąsienica-Daniel (born 1987), Polish alpine skier Andrzej Gąsienica-Makowski (born 1952), Polish politician Andrzej Gąsienica Roj (1930–1989), Polish alpine skier Franciszek Gąsienica Groń (1931–2014), Polish Nordic-combined skier Helena Gąsienica Daniel (1934–2013), Polish cross-country skier Jan Gąsienica (Sabała) (1809–1894), Polish poet Jan Gąsienica Ciaptak (1922–2009), Polish alpine skier Józef Gąsienica (1941–2005), Polish Nordic-combined skier Józef Gąsienica-Sobczak (1934–2026), Polish biathlete and cross-country skier Maria Gąsienica Bukowa-Kowalska (1936–2020), Polish cross-country skier Maria Gąsienica Daniel-Szatkowska (1936–2016), Polish alpine skier Maryna Gąsienica-Daniel (born 1994), Polish alpine skier Stanisław Gąsienica Daniel (born 1951), Polish ski jumper
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