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Posts by Shimonkevitz  

Joined: 16 Jun 2018 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 4 Jul 2018
Threads: 1
Posts: 6 		From: USA, Elkton, Maryland
Speaks Polish?: No

Displayed posts: 7
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Shimonkevitz   
4 Jul 2018
Genealogy / Name: Shimonkevitz (formerly Szymonkiewicz / Siemianowicz, other spellings), Warmińsko-mazurskie, Poland [17]

It's fine - they are whatever they are. I just want to find out. I'm Scots-Irish, German, and Polish. I have no preferences, just trying to sort it all out.

I'm not particularly attached to any religious order at this point in my life. I'm just interested to determine the family history, regardless.

Yes, I am aware that they are two different villages.

Thanks for your input!

How do I contact the state archives? I do not speak Polish, will that be a challenge?
Shimonkevitz   
3 Jul 2018
Genealogy / Name: Shimonkevitz (formerly Szymonkiewicz / Siemianowicz, other spellings), Warmińsko-mazurskie, Poland [17]

Well, still not sure. Although I can now trace 3 generations as all from the village of Trzcianne in Podlaskie, although Trzcianne was supposedly 98% Jewish population in 1909 (and my grandfather arrived from there in 1910). JRI-Poland.org has a page on this village, and I have reached out to the researcher for that page.

But thanks for the congratulations anyway - I did make a big step forward (backward?) today, thanks to you. Really, really appreciate the advice.
Shimonkevitz   
19 Jun 2018
Genealogy / Name: Shimonkevitz (formerly Szymonkiewicz / Siemianowicz, other spellings), Warmińsko-mazurskie, Poland [17]

Thanks to everyone for your input and comments. Knowing the correct Boguszewow in Podlaskie is very helpful. Seems simple if you know Poland, but that kind of info is not easy to find here in the USA (no one in the USA know much about what goes on beyond our borders, and I don't speak Polish).

Any Suggestions for resources for genealogical research in Poland? Now that I have the correct hometown, I wonder if I can/should find a local researcher to help me get more info?

Thanks, folks. I appreciate the help!
Shimonkevitz   
16 Jun 2018
Genealogy / Name: Shimonkevitz (formerly Szymonkiewicz / Siemianowicz, other spellings), Warmińsko-mazurskie, Poland [17]

My father's family name was phoneticized to Shimonkevitz when he went to school (he only spoke Polish at home until then). There are several spellings, and it seems to be a fairly common name, if all of the possible spellings are included.

It means "son of Simon (Simon), from what I understand. My grandfather's immigration records says that he emigrated from Warmińsko-mazurskie, Poland (it was listed as Russia at the time, in 1910).

Here's the thing - I've grown up in a Jewish community in the USA, so I know many US Jews, and Israelis. Many tell me that my name, and the patrynomic structure, must be Jewish. I have had many Israelis hear my name, and immediately begin speaking to me in Hebrew.

There are records for my grandmother, who arrived separately. But I have never managed to find any more info on my grandfather's origins beyond his immigration to the USA in 1910.

The family was typically Roman Catholic, along with all of the other Poles in the town in Pennsylvania where my Dad grew up.

Any thoughts or ideas on this? Thank you. (And no, sorry, I never learned to speak Polish - I really wish I had).

I should add that I've also seen information listing my grandfather's origin and near Boguszów-Gorce. A completely different area. I have not way to find out with my current resources. Either Boguszów-Gorce or Boguszewo.

Title edited - Szymonkiewicz is the best match ;)