Genealogy / Websites detailing marriage/birth records in Greater Poland ( 1880-1929)? [10]

I guess I got lucky and found mine. A lot of people in the USA have problems finding out what town, etc. their families came from. Early ship records do not include it. Later ones, do. So, to help, many volunteers transcribed the marriage records in Poznan and they include Catholic Church records that are available and Protestant Church records.

This is very helpful because if you know both grandparents or both great-grandparents, you can be fairly certain that the record is yours and the village is now the place where you can find more records. The wedding records often give the names of the parents and then you get to go back another generation.

You can then contact the Diocese for the original records if you like, or for an email version. I know not everyone is there. Yet, it is a very useful place. I find records there that are not in the Mormon records online. Of course, their familysearch.org may have records that the other lacks. Give that one a go, too.

Genealogy / Websites detailing marriage/birth records in Greater Poland ( 1880-1929)? [10]

These records are just before the time period you are interested in, but could be useful:

basia.famula.pl/en

Also, marriage records are useful:

poznan-project.psnc.pl

Genealogy / Tracing Teresko ancestry, where to start? [4]

I looked in the USA census records available for free through the family search website and there are many people with this surname. You might look over some of the census information to get an idea where people said they were from. Some say Russia, many say Poland and others say Austria. Poland as a country did not exist at some of these times and so if they lived in the Russian part of Poland their origin would be listed as Russia. Austria could be the southern part of Poland. You can narrow your search down to other countries such as England or other categories. If you find them in England,then you go back following the trail. Look for immigration records to England. You can also send for death records. For example, if Plato also lived in England and he is the most distant ancestor, find his death certificate. The informant may list the country of his origin.

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]


I was thinking maybe so, too. However, I did a little research and found from a cooking blog a bit of information. I posted this on the other thread about if there is a social or class distinction between the two words for grandmother.

"Also, I wanted to explain why it's called "Busia's" Sauerkraut. Modern day Poles call their Grandmothers "Babcia", however, as my husband's family is Polish by a couple of generations, prior to The Great War, in the Ukraine, Grandmothers were called "Babusia", shortened to "Busia", and sometimes twisted by accent and time to "Buzia" (which actually means "mouth" but I am just glad that they try and are close)..."

polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-and-remembering-our-past.html

This information also points to the east, but a few others on PF also say that Babusia was used and still is to a degree in Poland. I think I also heard it was prevalent in the highlands. It's just a shortened form of Babusia, but in America the spelling and pronounciation have changed along the way.

I grew up knowing a lot of Polish words, but I had no idea how they were spelled. My grandmother could read and write in Polish, my mother could speak Polish. And so it goes within a few generations. It is only the past few years that I have learned how to sound out words and spell them.

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]


Very, very sorry for your family's horrible loss.

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

From a cooking blog here is a little more about the origin of Busia or Busha:

"Also, I wanted to explain why it's called "Busia's" Sauerkraut. Modern day Poles call their Grandmothers "Babcia", however, as my husband's family is Polish by a couple of generations, prior to The Great War, in the Ukraine, Grandmothers were called "Babusia", shortened to "Busia", and sometimes twisted by accent and time to "Buzia" (which actually means "mouth" but I am just glad that they try and are close)..."

polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-and-remembering-our-past.html

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]

Me either, but I was told it was a variation. :-D


And, I see your point, too. Russia dominated Poland for far too long. One reason why one set of my grandparents had Russian citizenship, instead of Polish.

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]


And, being an English speaker, I think I would understand that sentence! Thanks for the example, PB.

I also wanted to clarify that although I never heard of Busia or Busha, I think it is cute. Very few people go around saying, "Hello Grandmother." As babies we make simple sounds for our Grammy, Nana, Mee-Maw, or G-G. So why not some simple sound for Babcia that a baby can say. Especially a baby growing up in an English-speaking environment. No harm meant.

My own name is Joan, (my mother and grandmother were both Joanna and I was named after them). Just look at some of the variations for my name. Several look and sound nothing like Joanna.

Joasia
Asia
Joanka
Joaneczka
Asiulek
Asiulka
Asiuleczka
Asiuleńka
Aśka
Joaśka

I was told by a native Pole that "Polish is like an ocean of diminutives for names."

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]


Actually, I never heard the word Busha or Busia before my visits to PF. My Polish origins are from the Gniezno-Poznan area and we used Babcia in my family for what a grandmother is called in Polish. But, we "mutilated" it when affectionately calling our own grandmother. I guess it was because we were English speakers and the English language uses endings like doggy, Mommy, etc. So, I called my grandmother (sounds like) Bopchee.

And everyone in my area of New York did the same thing. Someone on the forum once said that it could also have something to do with a wrong way of using a variation of the way proper names are declined in Poland. I have no idea.

My German roots in Poland are from the east and I called that grandmother Nana.

USA, Canada / Polish-American mutilation of the Polish language [75]

hahaha......word choice is everything. Would have been a cute thread if titled "Funny Polish-American Adaptations of the Polish language."

Inserting the word mutilation into the thread title shows the intent to discredit a whole group. As said by others, languages always change. Otherwise, a lot of folks in Europe would be speaking Latin. Oh those disrespectful French, Italian, Germans and Spaniards! :-P

Travel / How welcoming is Poland for an American visitor? And great places to visit. [43]

I've visited three times. In 2000, 2008 and last year and found people very welcoming.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

Not necessarily....just got this in an email and thought it would fit in this thread perfectly!

The Mother of all Ethnic Jokes


dpreview.com/forums/thread/3568683

History / Pomerania -a Polish land since the creation of Poland and the German invaders. [60]

Hi Shopgirl, nice to see you posting again. And yes, we do miss Bratski around here. Hoping Daisy's offer will help entice him back here again.

Genealogy / Burial listings for Polish cemeteries. Where to find them online? [12]

Merged:Michałki Cmentarz - Something to share with my PF friends

On July 2nd, I wished I could have been in Poland. Many of you know that my roots are both Polish and Vistula German. I have met family and made many friends on my trips to Poland, and have come to know the town where my grandmother grew up. I feel it is like a second home. And, right now I am a bit choked up. I just received the links to the newspaper story about the cemetery where many of my family are buried. I am so very proud and grateful to all the Polish people who have donated so much time and effort to make this happen!

Especially Dr. Arkadiusz Fischer who is a distant family member. You can see the church in the background of picture #9

pomorska.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110705/INNEMIASTA02/963657976

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

Softie smiles and passes the olive branch. :)

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


You may be in a contest to pass or fail.

Generally, I enjoy a good discussion. I have no vested interest in pass or fail. I believe the original poster's question was answered. However, his question was laced with the notion that Polish customs were barbaric. That to me was bullying, and a thinly veiled put-down.

I do know there are those in the States who militantly want everyone to conform to what they view as wholesome and good. So, I get where you are coming from. However, my impression is that Poland has its customs, and they are not in danger of being bullied into changing them. Especially not from people on a forum. I could be wrong, but to me this is not an issue in Poland. Just their own personal preference.


In a way, I do. lol

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]

No one is bullying any Poles from what I can see. It is just natural for them to leave it alone. So, why do you care?

You are the one who is bullying them to change their ways.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Actually, it seems most of the world is already intact, and it is you who wants to keep things to your liking.

Less people here in the States are doing it now anyway. Things are naturally changing with more knowledge and the desire to let this be the man's decision. I know of several men who were left intact and they were glad the choice was up to them. None suffered immeasurably in the gym locker rooms.

No reason to look down on Poland in particular as the USA was one of the few places with a wide practice. Everyone will have their preferences. Nothing to worry about one way or another.

As another poster said, most of us ladies are happy when we are with a man we love, and his package can be any style. It's the man. Not the tool.

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

So, to the OP, you have reason to be hopeful. You live in the USA and you are Catholic. Many Poles have married those with Italian/Irish backgrounds. Good luck!

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]


Yes, they are not Irish citizens, but they are ethnically Irish, unless they mixed with Italians or Poles which does happen a lot in the USA

There is no process as of yet that removes a person's genes. :-P

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Speak for the girls you know. :-)

I am sure there are as many views as there are women. And mostly they will be guided by what they have known.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I think being less sensitive for a male is robbing him of what nature intended. Trust me on this one, either way can be wonderful for a woman. :->

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


As with most things, whatever you see in your culture, seems normal and more beautiful. I am sure those who have their necks stretched, or their feet shortened from birth by binding consider a regular human neck ugly, and regular human feet ugly.

It comes down to what you are used to and people then justify whatever it is as their preference. I think the best judge of better sex would be a man who was left intact as a child and later had the procedure.

I've heard that with the loss of the foreskin, the penis is exposed to more friction from clothing and eventually becomes less sensitive.

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]


I wonder if he means Illinois...or New York. I used to live in Middle Village, NY which is next to Elmhurst and there are a lot of Polish people in Middle Village, more in Ridgewood, and those are all nearby.

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]


Yes, Target is also economical, but things look nicer. Around where I live there are three Wally-Worlds as I like to call them. O.K. But, nothing special.

Like guesswho, shopping at Food Lion or Lowes Foods gives more variety. Wal-Mart has most foods, but only a few of each kind. The superstores have everything though...hardware, clothing, home decor, drugstore and other stuff under one roof.

They are open 24 hours a day and one good thing is that resort workers who often do third shift can shop when they wish.

Genealogy / Nowak: Am the third generation born in the united states. Trying to find family in Poland. [11]


Well, that would certainly add another twist to my mix. One day, I will find her birth certificate, her parents, and go back as far as I am able. Right now all I have is a marriage certificate that lists her as the mother of my great grandmother.

Genealogy / Nowak: Am the third generation born in the united states. Trying to find family in Poland. [11]

I actually have Nowak in my line too, and also from Gniezno.

My grandmother's maiden name was Lewandowska. Her parents were Josef Lewandowski and Elżbieta Bubacz. The parents of Elżbieta Bubacz were Josephus Bubacz and Josepha Nowakowska. (Actually from Obora, which is not too far from Gneizno, and where my great grandparents were married.

So, it's a long way back. I believe Polonius3 says that Nowak means new person in town.

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]

As with anyone, everyone is an individual. I've found that many gay men adore women who are particularly beautiful, talented, or artsy.

One man I used to work with was crazy about Brittany Spears. He loves her, but is gay. Gay men tend to like to hang out with this type of woman, but as friends. It can be very loving, and the woman knows she is in no danger of being hit on.

The same man came to my house and bought me flowers and a bottle of wine. He wanted to let me know how much he valued working with me. My family thought, he had a crush on me, but we were just friends.

Feedback / Why are people who can't be bothered to register allowed to post or start new threads? [50]


I agree with this idea, too. Let people read the general forums here, but register to post. Very common practice on most boards.

And as pointed out, google indexes everything on here and why should someone's search lead them to junk posts.

Genealogy / Nowak: Am the third generation born in the united states. Trying to find family in Poland. [11]


There is a lot you can do on this side of the "pond" in English. Apparently, you lack knowledge of your great grandparents names, and where they were born in Poland.

If you have a subscription to ancestry.com you can look for your grandparents in the city of their births. Census records may tell you the name of their parents. Or, if you wish to avoid a subscription to ancestry.com, you can go to the Family History Center of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and look at their records. Someone there can help you.

Or, you can write for the birth certificates or death certificates of your grand parents. The birth certificate will name the great grandparents and sometimes where they were born.

A death certificate has an informant who also may know the names of your great grandparents, but sometimes they have no knowledge. So, a birth record would be better.

Once you have the names of your great grandparents, you can look for the ship where they arrived in the USA. Those records sometimes name the village and area of Poland. Once you have that, you can contact the Polish Archives or the church Parish. Or, you can continue to use the Family History Center (Mormons) and see the information on their microfilms.

It would be good to look for the brothers and sisters of your great grandparents. Most people in Poland, like in the USA know who their own grandparents and great grandparents are, but may not recognize yours.

If your grandparents had other brothers and sisters in the USA, you may find American relatives. There are free message boards on ancestry.com where you can post your information and ask if there is anyone who knows more about your family.

Good luck!

P.S. Here is one of the websites made by the Latter Day Saints. You may find what you need here: familysearch.org