Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]


From what I have seen over here in the UK a lot of people with Jewish names often changed the spelling so that they "hid" their Jewish connection. Could this be a possible explanation for you. We have seen documentaries where the people had become wise of the fact that Jewish people would be victamised and this was going on before the wars. Many people who have settled here in the UK changed their names to a more English one so that their families were not picked on socially by the English people - we are a very tolerant and sympathetic nation and many Poles who have settled here whether they changed their names or not settled in to the English way of life very well. We have recently seen that Jerry Springer of the USA had a g g grandfather who was of Jewish origin - he had changed his name and that is where the confusion comes in. Esther Rantzen of the UK has her family of previous years buried in Jewish cemetetry in Warsaw. This could be a totally useless piece of information but hope it shows how many people over the years changed their names for very personal reasons to them

Please don't think this is about anti-Jewish or anything I amd just trying to explain about people changing their names.

Life / Olsztyn life; I'm Indian and I like the place [43]

I have friends in Olsztyn, they love it particularly in the summer as there is much to do when the weather is nice. The area that they live in has also been having quite a lot of money spent on the town and it is taking shape and looking good. May time should be just getting warmer. Hope you enjoy it.

Life / Olsztyn life; I'm Indian and I like the place [43]

I think that Olsztyn is a place to be visited - maybe when I next holiday in Poland I will have to visit my friends and find out for myself - definately on the `places to go list`

Life / Olsztyn life; I'm Indian and I like the place [43]

I agree that Gdansk is really lovely. Have family in that area and was very impressed when we visited. Just love the Amber shops too. Fantastic designs.

Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Have found this thread most interesting and informative. My father was in the 2nd corps of the Polish Army (I think it may have been a tank regiment as he spoke about tanks quite often). He was involved with the Italian Campaign at Monte Cassino. I just wondered if anyone else out their had family members in this campaign. My dad mentioned General Anders and also the British 8th army. Any information would be appreciated.

Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

Thanks Peter will do.

Hi Timeline, many Poles worked in the mines in this country. Here in Staffordshire alone there are many mining communities that welcomed the hardworking Poles. They were a credit to the Polish country. It was not always easy for them to settle as sometimes the English people gave them a very hard time. In my father's case he settled into a lovely little village which he said reminded him of home. After his death in 2000 having never returned to his native village some of my family decided to visit our relatives and we have since been to see the village of his birth. He was quite right, it is very similar to the village that became his home in England. Anyone out there who had father's who left Poland because of the war and like my dad never returned if you have the chance to learn more about your heritage take the chance. We did and have no regrets, in fact it has helped us to learn more about ourselves and where we come from.