Galicia - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: My Dad's Mother and Father Families

lindathompson1165 — 2009-11-02 21:22:09Z

My dad name was Louis Komeshak. He had a brother named Steve and sisters, Mary Komeshak Fontilla and Helen Komeshak Odonell. They all were from Maryville, Illinois. His cousins were John and Frank, from the Maryville area. The name was spelled Chomesyzk (I think) before it was changed to Komeshak. They are buried in Maryville also. My dads parents were Katie and John Komeshak. Contact me if you think this helps you.

Re: Lowenberg Family

bitbucket40 — 2009-10-27 11:40:30Z

27 Oct 2009

The Löwenberg family can be found in the Josefsberg family book (Ortsfamilienbuch) going back to the original immigrants to Galicia.

The Ortsfamilienbuch can be ordered here:

http://www.galiziengermandescendants.org/

Follow the link for Galician German Familybooks in the menu on the left.

Dave

Re: Lowenberg Family

greglowan — 2009-10-27 00:43:06Z

Hi Wayne!

I am descended from John Jacob (Jack) Lowenberg (changed to Lowan) from Grenfell and also interested in our family's history.

Email me if you like at greglowan@yahoo.ca

Take care

Re: Rakutsy, Kolodziej

dawright_ancestry — 2009-10-26 17:20:49Z

There must be baptimal records I can locate. I know the family attended a Polish-language church (Holy Rosary) in Baltimore as I have my grandmother's bapitsmal and marriage certificates from there.

Further, based upon the current distributions of the Kolodziej and Rakoczy names, the area I should focus in on would be in the Krakow area. Based upon the map of Galicia you supplied, this would've been western Galicia which (if I remember correctly) was primarily more Catholic which fits.

You've been incredibly helpful!

Re: Rakutsy, Kolodziej

ZBeca — 2009-10-26 16:43:52Z

There are no other US documents on these 2 ancestors?
I take it neither was naturalized citizen? No draft registration form; childrens church baptismal record?
Please check on your posting history, if you have not already. I posted some info to your other posts.
We clearly now it is historical Galicia/Austria that both were from.
www.halgal.com
www.kresy.co.uk/galicja.html
Check out http://genforum.com Maybe there is a surname board that you can post on. Someone just might find you.

Re: Rakutsy, Kolodziej

dawright_ancestry — 2009-10-26 16:37:05Z

The Kolodziej also claims to have been born in "Austria" but was clearly Polish in ethnicity. And as I've said, I was hoping his death certificate would provide a more precise location but it did not.

Per census records, the Kolodziej and the Rakoczy were married prior to coming to the US so I'm surmising that they either were from the same town or at least nearby.

I even found an obituary from a Polish language newspaper that was published in Baltimore many years ago and even THAT didn't provide a location.

Unfortunately, we are short on living relatives to ask.

Re: Rakutsy, Rakoczy

ZBeca — 2009-10-26 14:13:38Z

cmre

Distribution of :
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/rakoczy.html
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/rakuzy.html
By the distribution I am leaning toward RAKOCZY what the previous poster suggested. http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/ko%25C5%2582odziej.ht... Compare the distribution of the ancestral surnames on the map.
http://www.geneteka.genealodzy.pl/

Re: Rakutsy, Kolodziej

ZBeca — 2009-10-26 13:54:13Z

Hi Dawn

Austria/Polish would suggests historical region Galicia
http://www.e-targ.org/Maps/galiciamap.html
outline of Poland's wojewodztwos:
http://www.geneteka.genealodzy.pl/
The death certificate information is most of the time incorrect as it depends on who was providing the information.
Do you know where KOLODZIEJ ancestor was born?
Distribution of the surname in Poland:
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/ko%25C5%2582odziej.ht...

Re: Rakutsy

dawright_ancestry — 2009-10-26 13:36:38Z

Unfortunately, at this time, I don't have much more than that. These would be my maternal great-great-great grandparents, Joseph and Regina "Rakutsy", per a death certificate. Their daughter, Teresa, married a Stanislaw Kolodziej and they eventually came to the US.

All of my Polish relatives indicate Austria as their place of birth.

The entire family seems to have been very Catholic, not only in size but behavior.

Re: Rakutsy

cmrewright1 — 2009-10-25 15:27:57Z

Very useful information, both of you! Thanks for your help!

Re: Rakutsy

ZBeca — 2009-10-24 21:34:22Z

Any other US document on this ancestor? Knowing a location in historical Galicia would help in figuring out the spelling.
http://www.e-targ.org/Maps/galiciamap.html
RAKUZY seems close. Take a listen http://say.expressivo.com

www.halgal.com

Re: Rakutsy

StanislawSroka — 2009-10-24 21:19:07Z

There is Rakoczy surname in Poland.

Rakutsy

cmrewright1 — 2009-10-24 19:56:46Z

Just pulled a death certificate from a relative and the surname "Rakutsy" is listed as their parents' name with a birthplace of Austria.

I'm assuming "Austria" is actually the Galicia region of Poland and that the name "Rakutsy" might have been spelled phonetically.

Anyone have an idea of a spelling or have heard of this name?

Re: First Name Query

4freebird7 — 2009-10-23 19:56:34Z

Thank you

Re: Leki

StanislawSroka — 2009-10-23 19:41:44Z

Łęki, Brzesko county
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%81%C4%99ki,_Brzesko_County

Surname Czosnek

tclementi1 — 2009-10-23 19:41:26Z

Looking for assistance in locating family in Poland. My great grandfather Stanislaw Czosnek was born around 1881 in Poland. He came to America (Chicago) where he married Zofya Krol. I have his parents' name from the marriage record at St. Casmir in Chicago (Stanislaw Czosnek and Mary Ann Walnik. According to the record his parents were from Galicia more specificially Leki. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Re: First Name Query

StanislawSroka — 2009-10-23 14:34:01Z

In Latin "filius Thoma et Anna" means "son of Thomas and Anna".
Thomas (Genitive: Thoma)

Re: Arendarczyk

pjraczynski — 2009-10-21 16:49:39Z

Hi I do know its Jozefa, Pat

Re: Jozefa Arendarczyk

pjraczynski — 2009-10-21 16:46:50Z

HI Jozefa Yes that was My grandmother,s on Ellis Island my grand mother Diedwhen My Father was 15 and my father was in a Tuberculous Hospital and my Father,s Aunt told my Father that his Father had Died,which was not true this was in 1932 and my Father NEVER spoke about his family to us kids we did.nt even know he had family til I started doing this in 1963 When my Dad finilly told me the story about the State taking his Sibling away and never seeing them again til one of his sister called in 1967 and came for a visit but she did.nt know any more them my dad. so I,m trying to put pieces of a puzzle together not knowing if there the RIGHT parts. I do have a wedding Pictue which a photografers name in Hew haven CONN. And I hasve My Grandmother Death Cert, and got info of where in Westfield she is lay,d to rest so I,m going on things like that. Thank you for your Help. Patricia

Re: Family Members

pjraczynski — 2009-10-17 17:52:35Z

Hi really msorry this took this long to answer but haven;t had a compter. The Mikolajuzk Im looking for is Mary, she Married Joseph Arendarczyk. Have anyone of that name in tyour Family tree?????? Pj

Galician Nobility - Austro-Hungarian Nobility

JeanneLorf — 2009-10-12 17:13:58Z

What language is spoken in this region today and where can I find out about the language spoken there in 1700s?

Is this area of Galicia encompassed into Poland or Ukraine today? I would like to know where a good map is of the former Galicia area. Anyone having more information about this area and what years Galicia existed, would be appreciated. I don't know much about it. Enlighten me!

Jeanne Lorf Linley Harding
jeannelinley2000@yahoo.com

Re: SIMETSKA

AnnaClarkson — 2009-10-12 14:38:16Z

I know that Helen and Sonja they never married. Luckily I could find them this way. Mary married. John died in childhood. Not sure about Anna.

Thanks so much to everyone for the amazing information. I never stop learning about things in this forum.

I am going to have to request those forms.

Re: SIMETSKA

AnnaClarkson — 2009-10-12 01:40:27Z

I did find a WWI card for a Joseph Smitkowsky (possibly their father???) in Dupont, PA. Says he has a wife and 4 children so that matches. His place of birth is listed as Solinka, Galicia.

I will ask the father if he can remember the name of the church in Dupont. Certain that they were Greek Catholic / Byzantine Catholic.

Re: SIMETSKA

AnnaClarkson — 2009-10-12 01:37:40Z

Yes. That is them. I didn't realize that you can get more info. for $27.00. I will have to look into that. From what I can tell their mother was "AL".

Re: SEMETKOWSKI

AnnaClarkson — 2009-10-12 00:02:49Z

Hi again ZlaticaBeca. Yes this one is very strange. I know Semetska is correct because I have the SSN death records. I also have the family verified by town, names and dates of all five children. They are listed on both the 1920 and 1930 census as Semetkowski (which, yes, doesn't really seem like a "true" surname in the sense. Nor are their many any real immigration records matches. Thanks for looking. Hopefully something will turn up. To answer your question - no I don't know their ancestral village. Hoping to find.

Naming Conventions?

AnnaClarkson — 2009-10-11 17:54:39Z

I am helping a friend research her family. It appears they were Ruthenian (per 1920 & 1930 census, attended Greek Catholic church etc...) and hailed from what was then Galicia.

The women of the family who never married and died recently, were listed with a last name of Simetska. So I thought that the family name (i.e. masculine ending) could be Simetski. However, I found them listed on the census as Semetkowski.

Can anyone shed light on this? I know the Russians name one way and the Poles another. What about Ruthenians? I thought they carried their regular surname down to their children. Trying to understand this so I can possibly turn up new leads.

Aghhhh so confused. Any info. would be appreciated.

Re: Kowalowka?, Magdy, Magdyj

rayeiam — 2009-10-09 01:00:04Z

Hi Karen, I am truly hoping you will see this message at some point as I would really like to connect with you with regards to the info you have come across. We have no info from this area or period and would really like to find out more. Would you please get in touch at rayeiam@shaw.ca

Thanks

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Syram42 — 2009-10-13 15:45:15Z

Do you know the death date of Michael or his wife? Perhaps those obituaries are available also.

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Syram42 — 2009-10-13 15:13:39Z

Glad to help.

More about Rusov from familysearch.org. Microfilm available 1782 - 1910.
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.a...

Rusów (Śniatyn), Galizien, Austria
later Rusów (Śniatyn), Stanisławów, Poland
Now
now Rusiv, Sniatyn, Ivano-Frankivs′k, Ukraine

Also mentioned at:
http://www.torugg.org/Publications/iv_frank_raion_vill.html

Mary

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Syram42 — 2009-10-13 13:58:35Z

Search for immigration and naturalization documents; perhaps contact church for records.

Winnipeg Free Press | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Thursday, May 18, 1967 | Page 40

TANASKO (TONY)
MELNYCHUK
Suddenly on May 17, 1967, at
his residence, Mr. Tanasko
Melnychuk, aged 77 years,
beloved husband of Katherine
Melnychuk of 997 College Ave.
Prayers at 9 p.m. Friday at
Zawidowski Funeral Chapel,
Selkirk at Parr. Requiem Mass
will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday
in the Blessed Virgin Mary
Church, Boyd and Artillery, St.
Msgr. R. Dobriansky will officiate.
Interment in the family
plot, Elmwood Cemetery. Born
in Rusiw, Ukraine, Mr. Melnychuk
came to Canada in 1910.
Retiring in 1955 as a cement
finisher with the Winnipeg Supply
Company where he was
employed for 15 years. Besides
his wife, Katherine, he is
survived by two daughters, Mrs.
Kenneth (Olive) Ades, Mrs.
Joseph (Nellie) Guntel, both of
Winnipeg and six grandchildren.

Mary

Re: Galician Nobility - Austro-Hungarian Nobility

bitbucket40 — 2009-10-12 23:44:04Z

12 Oct 2009

One of the web sites given in the previous reply gives a good thumbnail history of Galicia.

http://www.halgal.com/galicia.html

Poland was partitioned in the 1770's with pieces being taken by Prussia, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. The piece taken by Austria-Hungary was named Galicia. Today, the western end of Galicia is once again part of Poland, and the eastern end is part of Ukraine.

The ethnic mix of Galicia was Ukrainians (often referred to as Ruthenians), Poles, German settlers who went to Galicia as part of a homesteading program run by Austria-Hungary, Jews, and numerous small groups such as the Carpatho-Rusyns.

The Ukrainians tended to be Greek Catholic (not to be confused with Greek Orthodox), the Poles were mostly Roman Catholic, the Germans were mostly Lutheran with some Reformed and Roman Catholic.

Languages followed the ethnic groups. I suspect that the Jews spoke Yiddish along with the languages of the people that they had dealings with. The various ethnic groups were often found in the same village, so being multi-lingual was quite common.

Galicia continued as part of Austria-Hungary until the end of WWI when the area reverted to Poland. Poland was again partitioned at the beginning of WWII, and at the end of that war the portion of Poland corresponding to roughly the eastern two-thirds of the former area of Galicia was incorporated into Ukraine by the Soviet Union, and the western third once again reverted to Poland, though the post war borders of Poland were shifted about once again.

Dave

Re: Alien registration

bitbucket40 — 2009-10-12 14:22:42Z

12 Oct 2009

You can get a copy of the Alien Registration forms by filing a Freedom of Information request with whatever Immigration and Naturalization is known as these days.

But it might not offer that much more information. I sent for both of my paternal grandparents and my grandfather's had no birth village listed, despite that information being known to the family, and my grandmother listed the nearest large city, rather than the village she was actually born in. Her SSN application, for Medicare, did have the correct village, as well as the names of her parents.

The FOI request used to be free; you'll need to do a search to find out the current procedure.

Dave

Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Tom4363 — 2009-10-13 00:16:39Z

I'm looking for information on my GreatUncle(?), my mother's father's brother, who apparently shows up in some documents as Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnuczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha. What city in Galicia did they come from? He is the brother of Michal/Mike/Michale Melnyczuk/Melnychuk. All lived in Winnipeg

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Tom4363 — 2009-10-13 15:15:46Z

Thanks for your help on this. Tony and brother Michael have been a big mystery. Tony can be located but under 3 different names. Michael was on a couple of census reports but could never find where he came from. He listed Russia Austria in one document and Galicia on his naturalization papers but never more detail than that. Between you and Zlatica Beca to keep me straight I will get a family tree built yet. It's amazing that at the age of 63 I am finally getting some info on my own about my family tree. All I have know to date is that I was born In Winnipeg and I have 4 living aunts. I wish I had all this info 10 years ago and I could have met some of these relatives before the passed on.

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Tom4363 — 2009-10-14 01:15:22Z

How about this. The doctor at this website has relatives from Rusiv and has posted a bunch of pictures of the area.

http://www.skylarkmedicalclinic.com/rusiv.htm

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

Tom4363 — 2009-10-21 00:39:29Z

I'm working on that.

Re: Nikolay MELNICZUK, Russow, Austria

Tom4363 — 2009-10-21 00:39:03Z

From what I ccould gather from Dr. Podalsky's webpage, a large portion of Rusiv had a Melnychuk last name. He said there were so many that even though he visited the place he had no hope of finding relatives.

Re: Arendarczyk, Mikolajczyk

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-18 00:24:58Z

distribution of a surname in Poland:
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/miko%25C5%2582ajczyk....
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/arendarczyk.html
map of Galicia:
http://www.e-targ.org/Maps/galiciamap.html
www.halgal.com
Golkowice
1525 osób
woj. małopolskie
pow. wielicki
gmina Wieliczka
Arendarczyk, Jozefa Golkowice, Galicia 18 1894 1912

Re: Arendarczyk, Mikolajczuk

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-18 00:04:30Z

PJ
Distribution of a surname
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/arendarczyk.html
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/mikolajczuk.html
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/miko%25C5%2582ajczuk....
to hear pronounciation http://say.expressivo.com

Re: Nikolay MELNICZUK, Russow, Austria

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-13 16:34:09Z

Tom

Melniczuk, Nikolay Russow, Austria 35 1879 1914 arriving Ellis Island.
Melwjezuk, Hrijc Ruszow 29 1878 1907 (MELNYCZUK on the manifest).
www.ellisislandrecords.org

Re: Zebranowka, Russow Galicia/Austria

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-13 16:16:04Z

Tom

http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/200e/43-49.jpg
bottom of the map by large 43 is village Zebranowka and little East is Russow.

Re: Thomas/Tanasko/Tony Melnyczuk and his wife Katerina/Katie/Kasha

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-13 14:40:55Z

Mary, a big Thank you for the obituary as it lists his place of birth. I have been helping and following up on this posters' queries.
Since Endora DEMCHUK was born in Zibranivka well Rusov is slightly East of it. Can it be, I hope so.
http://atlas.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&am...
If we could find his arrival manifest to confirm that Michal/Michl MELNYCZUK was from this village.

Re: Galician Nobility - Austro-Hungarian Nobility

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 20:24:09Z

Jeanne
Is this area of Galicia encompassed into Poland or Ukraine today? Poland and Ukraine
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/austhung.htm
http://www.e-targ.org/Maps/galiciamap.html
http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/3felmeres.htm
http://igrek.amzp.pl/mapindex.php?cat=WIG100
http://feefhs.org

www.halgal.com
www.kresy.co.uk/galicja.html

Re: Solinka, Galicia

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 02:19:20Z

Semenskowsky, Josef Solinka 18 1884 1902 Tonawanda, Pa
Semeskowski, Michal Solinka 19 1885 1904 Towanda, Pa
Semetkoska, Tanka Solinka, Austria 20 1891 1911 going to Sayre, Pa
Semiltowsky, Stefan Solinka 21 1877 1898 going to Scranton, Pa
Semytkorski, Ivan Solinka, Galicia 38 1874 1912 going to Sayre, Pa
Transcribing of their surname is off on all of the above from Solinka.

Sementkowska, Jewka Studenne, Glicia 18 1893 1911
Sementkowski, Stanislaw Muisisa 34 1873 1907
Sementkowski, Teofil Gowsewo 24 1883 1907
Sementkowsky, Michael 32 1863 1895
Semetkowska, Helena 17 1896 1913
Semetkowski, Jurko Leszna 41 1864 1905
Semetkowski, Twan Studenna, Galicy 24 1883 1907

Re: SIMETSKA

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 01:54:14Z

Al-alien. If she lived pass 1940 than she would have filed an Alien Registration Form.
Wonder why girls went by SIMETSKA. Also wonder why only them 2 in there. Obvious to me someone Americanized their surnames.

Re: SIMETSKA

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 01:52:08Z

SMITKOWSKY is almost correct Polish spelling. The ending should be SKI. In Poland: Smitkowski, Szmitkowski, Śmitkowski, Smytkowski, Szmytkowski, Szmytkowski.
Semenskowsky, Josef Solinka 18 1884 1902
Semeskowski, Michal Solinka 19 1885 1904
Semetkoska, Tanka Solinka, Austria 20 1891 1911
Semiltowsky, Stefan Solinka 21 1877 1898
Semytkorski, Ivan Solinka, Galicia 38 1874 1912
Solinka
18 osób - inhabitants
woj. podkarpackie
pow. leski
gmina Cisna
Map of Poland's wojewodztwos:
http://www.geneteka.genealodzy.pl/

Re: SIMETSKA

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 00:28:40Z

Anna are you referring to Sonya and Helen SIMETSKA in http://ssdi.rootsweb.com
Is SIMETSKA an Americanized version? Sure seems like it is.

Re: SEMETKOWSKI

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-12 00:09:37Z

You're welcome.
Do you have their SS-5Form, the one that costs $27?
What does the 1930 census say, Na-naturalized; Al-alien or Pa-first paper? We need to find their place of birth to go thru the church records to find the correct name.
one more site about surname ending:
http://www.polishroots.com/Resources/Surnames/Surnamesending...

Re: SEMETKOWSKI

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-11 23:21:41Z

Semetkowska, Helena 17 1896 1913
Semetkowski, Jurko Leszna 41 1864 1905
Semetkowski, Twan Studenna, Galicy 24 1883 1907
Simetsky, John Wilna 23 1869 1892
Simetsky, Petri... Poniewior 21 1871 1892
Simetzki, Sima Bucarest, Roumania 28 1893 1921
Simetzki, Sima 30 1891 1921
Picked them out, did not look on individual manifest.
www.ellisislandrecords.org

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/surname/a/polish_surnames.htm
http://www.transparent.com/polish/the-mysterious-ways-of-pol...
Hope you find the explanation you are lookind for.

Re: Naming Conventions?

ZlaticaBeca — 2009-10-11 23:06:07Z

http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/semetkowski.html
SIMECZKA would be female and SIMECZKI a male, if there is such a surname.
SEMETKOWSKI seems to me completely different from SIMETSKA/A.
What is the ancestral village?
take a listen to pronounciation http://say.expressivo.com

www.halgal.com