Tag Archives: place names

In 2010, I wrote a series of articles on Describing Place Names in Poland. Because the borders and the administrative divisions in Poland changed so often throughout history, some genealogists may be tempted to simply enter the name of the village, town, or city where their ancestors lived followed by “Poland”. Others may decide to provide some detail to the place names by using the administrative divisions as they exist today or by using the administrative divisions as they existed at only one point in history (e.g. at the time when one specific gazetteer or map was created). To be historically accurate, the genealogist should provide the administrative divisions as they existed at the time of the event described. Recently, a genealogist friend mentioned that she was having difficulty finding the names of the powiats in which her ancestral villages were located and so I am writing this article on Identifying Administrative Divisions in Poland. Continue reading →

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of at least some of the records of sixteen parishes in the Pułtusk Powiat: Dzierżenin, Gąsiorowo, Gzy, Klukowo, Nasielsk, Obryte, Pniewo, Pokrzywnica, Przewodowo, Pułtusk, Smogarzewo, Szyszki, Winnica, Zambski, Zatory, and Żeromin. Continue reading →

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of at least some of the records of ten parishes in the Maków Powiat: Czerwonka, Gąsewo, Karniewo, Krasnosielc, Maków Mazowiecki, Płoniawy, Póżan, Sieluń-Majorat, Szelków, and Szwelice. Continue reading →

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of at least some of the records of nineteen parishes in the Ciechanów Powiat: Ciechanów, Ciemniewko, Glinojeck, Gołymin, Grudusk, Koziczynek, Krasne, Kraszewo, Lekowo, Łopacin, Łysakowo, Malużyn, Niedzbórz, Opinogóra, Pałuki, Sońsk, Sulerzyż, Zeńbok, and Zielona. Continue reading →

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of at least some of the records of thirteen parishes in the Przasnysz Powiat: Baranowo, Bogate, Brodow Łaki, Chorzele, Czernice, Duczymin, Dziergowo, Krzynowłoga Mała, Krzynowłoga Wielka, Pawłowo, Przasnysz, Węgra, and Zaręby. Continue reading →

While in Salt Lake City at the National Genealogical Society’s Family History Conference last week, I seized the opportunity to conduct some research in the Family History Library. My primary research objective was to identify the administrative divisions for parishes in the area north of Warsaw where my Burski, Chodkowski, Czarzasty, Kamiński, Klonowski, Krzyczkowski, Milewski, Mossakowski, Niedziałkowski, Rembowski, Skierbowski, Smoleński, Ślaski, and Zaboklicki ancestors lived. Continue reading →

Because the borders of Poland changed so often throughout history, genealogists may find that correctly identifying the name of the places where vital events in the lives of their ancestors occurred may be a difficult task if they attempt to enter the names of the places as they were known at the time of the events. Continue reading →

On 22 January 1863, a spontaneous protest against mandatory conscription into the Russian army broke out in Poland. The Russian government bitterly suppressed this January Uprising, as it had the November Uprising which began on 29 November 1830. The aftermath of the January Uprising included complete incorporation of the Kingdom of Poland into the Russian Empire, where it was officially called the Vistula Land (Kraj Nadwiślański in Polish). Continue reading →

In 1844, the Russian Authority reorganized the administrative structure of the Kingdom of Poland, combining and renaming some of the gubernias. Continue reading →

As a result of the November Uprising of 29 November 1830 – 05 October 1831, the Russian authority of the Kingdom of Poland reorganized the administrative structure of the Kingdom of Poland to bring it more in line with that of the Russian Empire. On 07 March 1837, the Voivodeships were renamed Gubernias (singular gubernia, plural gubernii) and, in 1942, the Obwóds were renamed Powiats (singular powiat, plural powiaty). Continue reading →