Try Hungarian. From "paitas". Influenced by Polish "pajda", which is a word of Turkish origin. My guess is that the protoplast was a Vlach, an ethnic group that once dominated the highlands of the Carpathians. The Górals are descended from Vlach herdsmen, as are present-day Rumanians.
My Grandmother Julia Witeczek name is shown on ellis island passenger record from the ship MAIN, Bremen, Germany with an Ethnicity of Austrian, Ruthenian with a place of residence in Niwza, Galicia. She arrived with her two sons (same last name) in NYC on December 28,1909. She was 27 years old. I have always been told I Grandmother was Polish. All the manifests show the same last name with czek not czuk.
Can this be an incorrect entry. Or am I Ukrainian?
My surname is Kapas, and my grandparents came from Poland. Now I have been told that Kapas is a Hungarian surname. Can anyone clarify if there was a significant migration of Hungarians to Poland and when? Thank you.
Kapaś is also used in Ukraine. Google Andriej Kapaś, a Polish tennis player born in Ukraine. I believe there were some Hungarian immigrants to Poland, but there were definitely more Ukrainians/Ruthenians. You'd have to study your family history to find out more.
My Grandfather's last name is Laba and Grandmother is Bojko. I believe they were both Greek Catholic Ruthenians from modern day southern Poland. Their language on the shipping manifest was Ukrainian. They immigrated to Ellis Island in 1909. My Grandfather's village was from Bukowice, Galacia/Austria. Is there a way I can identify where're this village is located. It seems there are a few options in Poland with that name.
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