Legnica - Lignitz and von Liegnitz history

Hi everyone. I'm new here and just doing a little research. I wonder if anyone might know of information on the people who immigrated to the US from Legnica, formerly Liegnitz in Prussia? My mother's maiden name is Lignitz and the only similar name I can find in Europe was a long time ago as von Liegnitz. How did that name morph over time and why do they not exist there anymore (or do they)? Is Lignitz the same lineage as the Prussian royals, von Liegnitz?

Anyway, these are the questions I've been pondering. I appreciate any information you can share.

I guess the only way to find out you're related to that family is tracing your ancestors' church records.

There was a Johann August Wilhelm Lignitz (* 3. März 1793 in Aschersleben; † 23. September 1881 in Görlitz) who was a Prussian Generalmajor.

And the name is without 'von'.

"Liegnitz", I believe, was the Germanized place name for a city in the former Czechoslovakia, before and during WWII.

Legnica is a nice old (now) Polish city near to Wrocław.

I read about substantial destruction during WW2. Drunk Soviets set fire to many buildings in the Old Town to celebrate victory. Later, Polish communists decided to erase the remnants of German architecture. That is why the centre of Legnica today mainly consists of socialist blocks.

Compare

• 
  
  
• 
  
  

Just like drunk russians in Mariupol?