Genealogy / Professional genealogist to investigate my Polish connections? [11]

Merged: Looking for a genealogist in Białystok, Poland

My family came from the village of Lipina, near Sokółka, north of Białystok. Marriage and birth records are in the Roman Catholic diocesan archives in Białstok, and I've received some certificates with information from them. What I really need is to find someone who can visit the archives and read the records (many in Russian) and write to me via email -- preferably in English, but google and I can probably figure out the Polish. Anyone have suggestions? Of course, I expect to pay for this work.

It's a bonus if this person can meet me in Białystok when I'm there in October, and help me find and talk to people. I would pay for this help, also.

Extra good would be to find living relatives, as we don't know of any. Kaczkieła is an uncommon name, so that should help.

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Two weeks ago I asked about the origin of Kaczkieło, and Polonius3 offered suggestions. Following these up, I found the Lithuanian noble family Kęsgailos, whose members ... and people who took on the name ... are currently in Poland.

From Wikipedia (English language): "Its Polonized form Kieżgajło is most common in Polish historiography over other variants, such as Kezigal, Kieżgajłła, Gezgajło, Kiezgajło, Kieżgajłło, Kierżgajłło, Kieżgałło and Kieżgało."

This looks to me as a good possible source, assuming my ancestors were more likely to have been farm workers on their estates than members of the noble family.

Anyone with opinions on the structural issues of variant names here?

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4501]

Kaczkieła / Kackieło, from the northeast in Podlaskie near Białystok. I was told a long time ago that it was a Polonized Lithuanian name. Does anyone know origin / meaning? It is an unusual name, concentrated in that area. Brothers Adolf and Izydor emigrated to America about a hundred years ago.

--Magscanner