My grandfather's name was Gregyorz Zagursky. He was born in Mecina Wielka in 1884 and came to the U.S. around 1903 for the first time. His father's name was Peter and his grandparents were Gorki and Josephine (Hvet)Zagursky or Zagorski. His mother's maiden name was Maria Chomikand her parents were Paul Chomik and Anastasia Boryk. My grandfather, we called him Harry, had two brothers, Lukasz and Paul and three sisters, Teodora, Anastasia and Theodoja.All of them came to the U.S. except Lukasz who was killed during the war. My grandfather married a Julia Telawska (Telawsky?) around 1910 and I think she came from Mecina Wielka also. Her father's name was John and my dad was named after him. My dad's brother's name was Peter and his sisters' names were Anna and Mary. Each one was named after a grandparent. I'm trying to track down more info on these family names for my family tree. Can anyone help me? I have a picture of a church in Poland that is supposed to have the town's birth, marriage and death records. The name of the church I think was Saints Kosmas and Damian built in 1807. My dad's godparent's name was Theodor Kovalchyk. Thanks for any help.
Good luck in finding out more about the Zagursky family tree.
My great-grandmother was Teckla Zagursky from Macina Velyka, born in 1864. I cannot make any direct connection between your Zagursky tree and my tree, but chances are that there is one....perhaps cousins.
...do you have birth dates for your Grandfather's siblings?... let me know...
...the 1787 Austrian Cadastral Records list only one family of Zagursky...the earliest Zagursky on my list is Jan Zagurski (lived around 1750's...1780's...) and then Blazej Zagursky ( lived around 1780...1810...) ... I can go back to 1818 /1821 to my Great-Great Grandparents' birth in Macina Velyka.
ZAGÓRSKI: Zagurski is a misspelling in Poland (used by only 11 Poles at present) or a deliberate respelling of Zagórski in America or elsewhere abroad. The reason is that the letter 'ó' in Polish makes the name pronounced as za-GOOR-ski. If the 'ó' were retained in Angloland, the accent would be ignored and the name would get Anglo-mangled into
za-GOR (rhyming with sore)-ski. Some 7,000 people in Poland sign themselves Zagórski. Etymology: topographic - za (beyond) góra (hill) or toponymic - from some locality called Zagórze (Overhill).
KRETYK: base-word kret (mole, burrowing rodent); kretyk would be an alternative diminutive (little mole or baby mole), although the more common Polish version would be krecik.
My maternal great grandmother was Julia Zelem. Her father was Constantine, and I believe he had five daughters: Julia, Annie, Olga,...They lived in Albertirsa (in Hungary now) and moved to Sremska Mitrovica. My great grandfather, whose last name was Marusic, was killed in WWI, so Julia and her two children, John and Marie Marusic (Marsic in the U.S.) came to the U.S. They lived in West Virginia, Detroit, and eventually in central Florida. Stefansm, I would love to know if this sounds like your great uncle's family. Also, I would love to hear from anyone else who recognizes my family.
Hello Wozzy; Hope that you enjoy yourself at the wedding. Anyway, my main interest is the Zelem family who came from Ropica Ruska.
My maternal grandfather was Jan Zelem. He was born in Ropica Ruska on 16 January 1867. He died on the 8th of March 1937 and is buried there in Ropica Ruska. He served in the Austrian army and later worked at hauling crude oil in Ropica Ruska to the refinery in that region. He was married to Anna Rachel who died 12 May 1915 during the First World War.
My mother was Antonina Zelem, born 4 August 1904 and died 10 September 1982. Her brother Stefan came to Canada. Another brother went to work in Stamford, Conn. and did not return because of the start of the First World War.
Just by chance you might be able to turn up something, anything. I appreciate your effort if you have time. Thank you
Hi msoroski. I'll certainly will look into those names for you, Ive a lady cousin who lives in Ropica Gorna (formaly Ruska), she may remember your Mother. Antonima was the name of her sister which makes a good memory link, and the time scale is in living memory.
The names Micheal , Stefan, Jan and Antomina are all featuered in my family and used repeatedly over generations, this makes life a little confusing, not knowing exactly which "Jan" they are speaking of at any given time. Also there are several Zelem lines in this area not directly linked. Another female cousin married a Zelem didn't even have to change her name after getting wed.
I could look for your grandads grave providing the inscription is not in Ukrainian, a lot of pre war markers are. You don't say where you Mum is buried ?.
BTW. country weddings are superb............ .......:0)))
I just stumbled upon this post. I realize it is very old but my grandmother's maiden name was Zelem and she was from the Carpathian Mountains...Pangkna, Galicia. If this gets to you please get back to me at
These posts are from 2007 so I hope someone may have information on the Zelem family. I see that my cousin has written here. My grandmother's maiden name was Zelem her name is Anna Zelem from Gorlice. She married Max ( name could be different spelling) Kushwara. My mother's birth certificate has Kychara but it was changed to Kushwara. I had seen it on census forms as Kuczwara. Anna had 2 sisters, Alice and Mary. Anna and Max settled in Yonkers, NY.
If anyone can share any information that would be great ! Thank you. Nancy DeNise Socha ndsocha@comcast.net
my great grandfather Theodore (Vasilja - his father) Zelem was brother with Constantine Zelem, which had 5 daughters, Julia, Anna, Maria, Eva, Dragica. They moved from Galicia - Lemko Republic, town: Ropica Ruska to Sremska Mitrovica. Anna, Julia and Dragica moved to the USA, where they got married and had large families. Anna Zelem died around 1960 year and her last known address was California, Los Angeles. Other information I don't have. I would like to know more about your grand grandmother Julia Zelem and all of you (all of their descendants), and if is possible to know more about descendants of Anna Zelem. Contact me via e-mail below.
I am hoping to find info on my grandmother Anna Zelem. My recent research says the area she is from is Panta in Poland. She was born in L'viv, Ukraine and had 2 sisters , Mary and Alice. Surnames mentioned in small family tree a cousin put together say she came to the US to marry Max Kushwara (Kuchwara, Kuczwara). My mom always said she was Lemko/Rusyn. She was a member of St. Mary's Russian Orthodox Church. Anna passed in 1935. I would appreciate any input on this information. I realize these posts are old. Thank you.
Nancy Socha
Adding to previous post. Surnames - Hliva, Mochan, Skasko.
Hliva and Mochan had three children who were orphaned at 5, 7 and 9. Panko, Theodosia and Paraska Their father was a Captain in the Austrian-Hungary army. Paraska Mochan married Zelem. Family tree says Theodosia Hliva married Nicholas Peter Skasko in Jersey City, NJ
I have information to share on my grandmother Anna Zelem. She was born on 1/14/1893 and lived in Malastow with her parents Petrus Zelem and Rosalia Mowczan. Census report says paternal grandparents were Theodor Zelem and Anna Cicila. Maternal grandparents were Simeon Mowczan and Julianna Hlywa. Farmers in Petna.
If this info matches other Zelems please contact me at bluetopaz4444@gmail.com Nancy Socha
Hi. I am at a road block pertaining my maternal great grand parents. What I know is my GGM was from Bartne Austria and spoke Ukrainian. She was born 1890 in Bartne. Was an illigitimate child. Her name at birth was Claudia Chwalyk. She changed it to Klara. Came to America est. 1908 via Ellis Island and went to Ansonia, CT. She married John Zelem also from Bartne I am thinking or Ukraine. Having a tough time finding info on him. He also settled in Ansonia, CT. He also was born in 1890 and died in 1926. My GGM had a sister Paraska who also settled in Ansonia. My GGM death certificate shows Fewrona Kostyk as her mom and father Fedori Chwalyk. So if there is anyone with info on Zelem, Chwalyk, Kostyk please contact me at cherylschoozie@msn.com Thanks so much!
