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Posts by matryoshka  

Joined: 25 Sep 2008 / Female ♀ 		Last Post: 28 Oct 2008
Threads: Total: 5 / In This Archive: 5
Posts: Total: 21 / In This Archive: 14 		From: Toronto, ON, Canada
Speaks Polish?: I wish I knew at least some!
Interests: Ask!!

Displayed posts: 19
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matryoshka   
25 Sep 2008
Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (Part II -- Much more detail than other topic) [109]

I saw someone start a post like this but rather than intrude on her post, I thought I'd start my own. (I am attention hungry like that!... Actually, I have a bit of history to go along with this inquiry...)

Our story... Because of the whole Prussian Empire thing, my great-grandmother spent her entire life in the dark concerning her Polish roots (her family was from West Pomeranian Voivodeship). The same thing happened with my great-grandfather, whose family came from Lower Silesia (though I've discovered a few of his ancestors migrated from Russia in the 17th Century). When I began researching the towns from whence their families came, voila, they were smack dab in the middle of Poland!

The thing is... Grammy and Gramps always took pride in their German features. They weren't Nazis or anything, but they always joked self-beratingly about some of their physical characteristics; both had sparkling blue eyes, mousey brown hair, huuuuge noses, very slanted eyes, etc.

I look a lot like my great-grandma whereas my mom looks a lot like my great-grandpa (so does my grandmother).

I did a NatGeo genographic testing kit and I'm a J* (woo woo!) -- of course that is only on my mom's side. As for my dad... Well... I don't know who he is. I don't know his name, or anything. However, since I was conceived, born & raised in Wisconsin, I'm guessing my shot at being Polish on both sides is relatively high. However, a lot of people I've known throughout my life, including some family members, "swear" I'm part Spanish (based on the fact that I used to speak it fluently) -- which I highly doubt -- so I'm wondering if a few life-long Poles can give their two cents here...

My physical genes -- Polish (maternal grandmother)? Irish (maternal grandfather)? Or something else (Daddy's mystery genes)? And if I don't look Polish or Irish, what the Hell am I!?? Haha...


  • Introducing... Me.

  • Me with a sunburn... My skin is VERY pale!

  • Getting the picture yet?
matryoshka   
4 Oct 2008
Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (Part II -- Much more detail than other topic) [109]

Thanks everybody for the input, pretty interesting stuff... Of course I don't expect somebody to look at me and go "You are so obviously this or that" -- Just as someone who never had much exposure to these roots, I am asking as a curious genealogical researcher.

Switezianka, I am uploading a head-on pic.

BTW all... I do have very rounded features -- however, many of the folks I grew up with who had 100% Polish ancestry has similar features. I'm sure mine could be partially attributed to the Irish genes, but not all Polish people I've known have had "pointy" noses, jaws, etc.

I'm also attaching a pic of my great-grandparents, both of mostly Polish descent. (I look almost exactly like my great-grandmother.) My grandmother looks exactly like Gramps; Mom & I more like Grammy. I thought this might be an interesting comparison.


  • Straight-on picture!

  • My great-grandparents, both Polish.
matryoshka   
5 Oct 2008
Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (Part II -- Much more detail than other topic) [109]

Hmm... So they were Polish or you don't know ? Because before 1945 vast majority of people living in these areas were Germanics.

Grzegorz, I have researched my Polish ancestry extensively and they inhabited areas that have historically always been inhabited by ethnic Poles (going back to early written history).

I'm not ruling out the possibility of having some Germanic blood, but my ancestors do not have German names nor did they live in areas that were inhabited by ethnic Germans. The areas they lived in were inhabited by mostly Poles and Jews.

My original post was implying that my family members were not aware of Polish history, did not know about the history of the towns their families came from, and so they "considered" themselves German even though that was incorrect.

Additionally, my mitochondrial DNA haplogroup is J* which is Middle Eastern or Eastern European; Germans belong to another haplogroup, I want to say K?
matryoshka   
9 Oct 2008
Genealogy / Do I look Polish? (Part II -- Much more detail than other topic) [109]

Thanks for the replies, all.

I can see how this topic could be perceived as "asinine" but I still think it's pretty neat to find out if I ever went to say Gniezno, would I blend in a little bit (and not stand out too much).

Thanks again!
matryoshka   
9 Oct 2008
Genealogy / What is typical perception of people from Jaszkówka/Klodzko? [5]

Hey again everybody!

My great-great-grandfather's family is from Jaszkówka/Klodzko, they immigrated to the US about 100 years ago.

I just wondering about the character of these people, are they hardworking or lazy? Generous or cheap? Kind or rude? What about their appearance?

All serious answers will be greatly appreciated. :)
matryoshka   
9 Oct 2008
Genealogy / What are the people like from Choszczno? [4]

Hey again everybody!

My great-great-grandmother's family is from Choszczno, they immigrated to the US about 100 years ago.

I just wondering about the character of these people, are they hardworking or lazy? Generous or cheap? Kind or rude? What about their appearance?

All serious answers will be greatly appreciated. :)
matryoshka   
31 Oct 2008
Genealogy / I need help with the surname "Wandke" (West Pomerania) [13]

My family had the surname Wandke and I am having trouble finding much on this surname. Here is what I have:

My g-g-g-grandfather Gustav Wandke was born 1857 in Choszczno, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.

I know his father's name was Friendrich but don't know when he was born. I'm guessing 1821 or earlier, which is when his wife was born.

I think they were Catholic so maybe someone can tell me of a church in Choszczno that would have their records?

Or can someone tell me alternate spellings for the Wandke name, i.e. what would the name be in Polish?
matryoshka   
22 Nov 2008
Genealogy / I need help with the surname "Wandke" (West Pomerania) [13]

Getting back to Wandke, that name exists in Poland. Other versions include Wandka, Wądka, Wendka, Wędka et al.

Thank you! Your post was especially informative and really answered my questions.

Wroclaw, those are not "my" Wandkes. Sorry!
matryoshka   
12 Dec 2008
Genealogy / What would be the Polish approximation of the surname BENNDT? [6]

We have this surname in our family from the 1830s. She is my direct maternal ancestor. That part of the family came from Choszczno in West Pomerania. However, we believe the name was misspelled in the family Bible or we are reading it wrong?

What are some other versions of the surname BENNDT I can try searching for?
matryoshka   
14 Dec 2008
Genealogy / What would be the Polish approximation of the surname BENNDT? [6]

Switezianka, you are correct, the family Bible does refer to the area as Arnswalde. I really appreciate your correction of the name from "Benndt" to "Berndt". That makes sense. Thanks for the link as well, I found it very helpful!