"Mala," My great grandparents last name

My grandmother's parents were married in Suvalk (Suwalki, Suvalky, Suvalkai, Suvalki???) church, and I believe the city fell into Russian hands sometime between 1905 and 1907—and then went back to Polish rule afterward.

The translation of my great-grandfather’s passport lists: “the Village Kemelinsk, Svensiansk District in Nilensk" (Russian Empire, as of 1907)... Their surname was "Mala," and my great aunt indicates my great grandfather was a wealthy land owner who left everything behind to bring his wife and two young boys to come to America.

Can you provide me any information on the surname "Mala"? Or on the town Suvalk? I'm planning a visit to Poland with friends in September 2012 and am starting to do some research...

Thanks,

Linda

MA£Y: little, small. tiny (Mała would be the feminine form); Suwałki is a town in NE Poland's Podlasie region bordering Belarus and Lithuania. In Tsarist Russia it was one of the most ethnically diversified parts of the country combining Polish, Russian, Belorussian, Lithuanian, Jewish and Tatar cultures.

For more information please contact me

Look here.
mapofpoland.net/Suwalki,photos.html#photos
Maurice

Thank you both (Polonius# and Whymickey) for your responses! I will be in contact soon...

Linda

Hi...

It's been a while since I've been on this blog. Four of my friends and I are finally planning our trip to Poland for about 17 days in late July / early August 2012. We're going to spend half of the time in Warsaw and half in Krakow. We're hoping to visit the Sovalki area on a day trip, and have read that it's about a five hour train ride from Warsaw to Sovalki. Is that the best way to get there, and when we get there, if we decide to spend the night, what would be the best hotel to stay in? I'm also wondering if the church from 1907 is still there... I'm really starting to get excited! Any info you can give me would really be helpful...

I was going to email you but figured it's been so long since I posted that you wouldn't know where the email came from...

Thanks,

Linda