Brian, I don't know if you will see this, but there are apparently a lot of Karen Esaus in the world (and I thought as a child I must be the only one!). I am an Esau by birth and my ancestry goes back to Ukraine. My father was born in Kiev and immigrated with his parents at the age of 2. I am married to a Brookstein and am curious if there were every any Esaus from the Jewish persuasion who changed there surname to escape persecution because Esau was banished from the Jews of the Old Testament.
My husband is Phil, his father was George and my son is Brian - small world in so many ways, but hard to find connections just 3, 4 or 5 generations back. Good luck!!