Are these surnnames listed in Polish directories today? I am trying to track down the original spelling of our family name - origins Clausdorf, West Prussia. Thanks.

Judy

None of the above are in proper Polish. Maybe the surname is Kaliszewski like suggested by another poster.
distribution :
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/kaliszewski.html

http://maxpages.com/poland
www.pgsa.org
www.polishroots.com
http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/WPRU/wprus.html
http://www.worldgenweb.org/~deupru
http://feefhs.org/links/poland.html

You've been very helpful. Perhaps it is Kaliszewski or one of the other examples posted. I'm laughing out aloud to myself as Kaliszewski is supposedly quite a popular name in Poland - here in Australia it raises eyebrows because it sounds so strange to people:)

Perhaps I will be able to locate my ancestor's birth now with the suggested surnames. It would look like this if you ever happen to come across the family in a database.
Albert Johannes Kaliszewski? b. 1845 approx. Clausdorf West Prussia.
Father: Andreas Kaliszewski
Mother: Wilhelmine Benhagel.
Brother: Heinrich Andreas

Thanks once again for your help.

You're welcome.

Distribution of KALISZEWSKI in Poland:
http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/kaliszewski.html
Did not find any BENHAGEL.
Were your ancestors Polish or German? If German than maybe the surname should be in German spelling.
Take a look in LDS-Mormons [Family History Center] site if church records of Clausdorf West Prussia were filmed and indexed. I suppose the first thing to do is to establish the spelling of the town. Is it Clausdorf or Klausdorf?

Thanks for looking for Benhagel. My ancestors would most likely have been German. As for the original spelling, it's hard to track down. I am attaching two documents which show the surname spelt in the handwritten hamburg passenger indexes. Albert Johannes is supposed to be in the Friedeburg passenger list, under 'K' names (can't work out which one he would be given a couple of likely possibilities) and his brother, Heinrich Andreas, with wife and two children on the 1878 Lammershagen list.

Judy

I sort of see the surname as QUALISCHEVSKY.

Is there no actual arrival manifest for this time period, you know like www.ellisislandrecords.org where there is more information about the passenger?

Another look and found this surname http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/kalischewski.html

No actual manifest as far as I am aware but I haven't gone to the archives personally. I just found the Hamburg passenger lists and located the Friedeburg. Can't actually read much of it as it is in German and difficult to see the writing clearly. Here's the link if you have the time or interest to check it out for me. Hamburger passenger lists 1850-1934...1870-1879...direkt bank 024 (5 Jan 1870-21 Dec 1870)Image 142 of 471.

Thanks again. The latest map you posted looked very interesting.

Judy

Maybe you should try posting on West Prussia's board that is if you have not already. Hopefully someone on that board should be able to help with German.
http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.ceeurope.histreg.westp...
I did reply to your other post with websites for research.
2 detail maps:
http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/3felmeres.htm
http://igrek.amzp.pl/mapindex.php?cat=WIG100
Will take a look later at the passenger list.

I've taken your advice and posted something on the West Prussian board that you linked for me. I did see your other replies to me and I thank you again for the time you have taken to help out. The hamburg shipping list I mentioned is on Ancestry.com. My ancestor, Albert Johannes Qualischefski, was supposedly on board that ship.
http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/View.aspx?dbid=1068&pa...=

I do hope someone on that board will provide further help.
You know about this site?
http://www.genealogienetz.de/genealogy.html