PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Swedish soldiers from Deluge

dgawell — Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:25 am

Author: dgawell

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:25 am

My grandparents came from Niwiska, south of Warsaw, north of Rzeszow. In the WWII history is a story about Niwiska that the graves of Swedish soldiers were found when bombing destroyed some old oak trees. The graves were under the trees. Seems that an old Swedish tradition is to plant an acorn over a grave. There are a number of old oak trees in the region, and people there speculate if they would find more bodies if the trees were unearthed.

My DNA reveals about 18% Scandanavian ancestry but that is only because I am 25% Swedish. I have not located any Polish relatives through my DNA but some Swedes have contacted me and our DNA results match up perfectly to our trees, which were indpendently well researched and documented.

Both my DH and I did the ancestry DNA testing which has not opened up much for me. So many people who I am supposedly related to have either no trees to share or set their status to private. I think many people just want the breakdown of their ancestry.

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Jessicacreativity — Wed Aug 31, 2016 7:32 am

Author: Jessicacreativity

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 7:32 am

I wished to start with historical places, culture and move to learning ancestry. Thank you! I'll looking for information in order to make my trip effective.

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Agnieszka Pawlus — Wed Aug 31, 2016 6:22 am

Author: Agnieszka Pawlus

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 6:22 am

Jessicacreativity wrote:

Sorry, if I write to the wrong threat, but it looks suitable. I currently live in Murietta, United States. Some time ago I had ancestry testing at dna servicenhttps://dnasu.com/ They found out that I'm 50% Polish. Now I'm very exciting to find out more about my ancestry. I would like to start with trip to Poiland, learn culture, and then (may be at next trip) get to know about history of my family. May be you can advice any places I can visit with this purpose. It will be my first time in Poland.

Jessica, welcome to our Forum! I hope that you will find something interesting for you.
What are you interested in, while travelling? Nature? Mountains, lakes, see? Historic cities? Countryside and traditional culture? You will have to narrow down what you'd like to see, as we have all of this in Poland

Start with finding out where exactly (from which area of Poland) your ancestors came from. Remember that Polish borders were changing many times so it is possible that they lived, for example, in today's Ukraine...

Ask you parents (grandparents if possible) about your family history: some names, places. Look for some old documents, photographs (check the backside of the pictures for some inscriptions), letters (check the envelopes for the addresses). There must be some traces... You can post here the information and we will try to help you.

Good luck!
Aga

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Jessicacreativity — Tue Aug 30, 2016 11:17 am

Author: Jessicacreativity

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 11:17 am

Sorry, if I write to the wrong threat, but it looks suitable. I currently live in Murietta, United States. Some time ago I had ancestry testing at dna servicen https://dnasu.com/ They found out that I'm 50% Polish. Now I'm very exciting to find out more about my ancestry. I would like to start with trip to Poiland, learn culture, and then (may be at next trip) get to know about history of my family. May be you can advice any places I can visit with this purpose. It will be my first time in Poland.

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Agnieszka Pawlus — Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:22 am

Author: Agnieszka Pawlus

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:22 am

During this year's Roots Tech conference in Salt Lake City there was an interesting lecture by James Rader: "Introduction to DNA for Genealogists".

You can watch it here

This might be useful for those who would like to start with DNA testings. Mr. Rader is comparing different tests offered in USA, describing his personal experience and results of the test, and giving some basic information about the genetics in general.

Re: DNA testing and Poland

sirdan — Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:57 am

Author: sirdan

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:57 am

Not a material that you could work on, but interesting how DNA is mixed among nations. The research is based only on 1490 people, and no data for North America.
If you click on Polish, the results are expected. Much admixture from Norwegian and enermous admixture from Lithuania. Did the Polish-Lithuanian Commmonwealth have such influence in genes addition? Hmm, date on the bottom indicate genmix had occured earlier?
Polish genes had big influence to many south and east neighbour nations in Europe!
Here is a graphical representation http://admixturemap.paintmychromosomes.com/

Re: DNA testing and Poland

dnowicki — Wed Feb 05, 2014 5:38 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 5:38 pm

EdK,

The Potop Szwedzki (Swedish Deluge) to which Elzbieta referred was the invasion of Poland by Sweden in which almost the entire country was overwhelmed by the Swedish army. One of the last bastions of Polish resistance was the monastery on Jasna Gora. The tide of the war turned at that point and hence the Polish devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa since that icon was housed in the monastery. Since almost the entire country was overrun in that invasion the DNA results are not really surprising. When you also consider that three of the elected kings of Poland were Swedes of the house of Vasa who involved Poland in wars to further their claims to the crown of Sweden which undoubtedly involved soldiers from Scandinavia the chances of Scandinavian DNA only increase. Also keep in mind that the Vikings did most of their raiding via rivers and the Vistula is a major river so it is hard to say when that DNA entered your family line.

Dave

Dave

Re: 100% Polish but related to Finns and other Nordics?

Elzbieta Porteneuve — Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:22 am

Author: Elzbieta Porteneuve

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:22 am

EdK wrote:

Does anyone know if the Swedish army went through the area of Garwolin?

Hi,

Potop Szwedzki.

Poland was invaded by Swedish in 1655.

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potop_szwedzki

Elzbieta

Re: DNA testing and Poland

stankieta — Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:11 am

Author: stankieta

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 10:11 am

Hi Shellie,
Did you do the DNA testing that you talkied about in this post? If so, which test did you take? Did you find anything interesting? I just took the DNA test from Ancestry.com recently but haven't gotten the response yet. From other posts on PolishOrigins it looks like I should have taken a different test. One of my cousins took a DNA and managed to use the information to trace his fathers line back to the 1600's. - Stan Kieta

100% Polish but related to Finns and other Nordics?

Lisa — Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:49 pm

Author: Lisa

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:49 pm

Hi,
My family (the members I know of) came from just outside of Krakow. As far as I know, they were completely Polish. I've never heard of a story like yours before. Very Interesting!

100% Polish but related to Finns and other Nordics?

EdK — Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:33 pm

Author: EdK

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:33 pm

I had my mother's autosomal DNA tested through Family Tree DNA and her DNA matches 1 person from Denmark, 1 from Sweden, 1 from Norway, and 5 from Finland (out of a total of 83 individuals). Both sides of her family come from about 25 km SW of Warsaw, near Garwolin and I've traced her father's line and her mother's paternal line back to the mid 1700s (some even further) in that same location. I've only been able to trace her mother's maternal line back to the mid-1800s so far. Has anyone gotten matches with people from Norway, Sweden, or Finland? Does anyone know if there have been any settlements of people from those areas in Poland and what some surnames are that reflect Finnish-Polish ancestry? The only thing I can think of is that there was some mixing with people from those areas during the Swedish invasion in the mid-1600s, since the Swedish army consisted of people from all of these areas. Does anyone know if the Swedish army went through the area of Garwolin?

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Lisa — Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:42 pm

Author: Lisa

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:42 pm

Hi,

I'm glad you had such success with DNA. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. For the better part of 10 years I've been trying to learn the identity of my maternal great-great-grandfather. Three years ago or so I had a male cousin who was generous enough to get tested. (We went through Ancestry.) The results were inconclusive and confusing.

I have another cousin who is is interested in DNA testing and is trying to get an elderly uncle to have his DNA tested through a different company.

It's been a slow and discouraging process. I'm hoping as time goes by DNA testing will become more advanced and my family and I will have better luck.

To those of you who have had success with DNA, congratulations! For those in the same boat as I am the only advice I can give is be patient and keep trying!

Regards,

Lisa

DNA testing

efc3011 — Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:17 pm

Author: efc3011

Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 5:17 pm

I have had great success with DNA testing recently. While I have tested with Familytree DNA, and have also tested quite a few family members and acquaintances in Poland, my most recent test was the most fruitful so far. I had my son's DNA tested by "23 and ME". I chose them because I was looking for medical information, which they provided along with the long list of DNA cousins. (They have been told to temporarily cease and desist by the FDA on the medical stuff, but the other parts of the test are still offered.) As a result of the test, I am now in contact with a second cousin born in Ukraine, whose great grandmother was the sister to my grandfather! It was wonderful to make that contact, and I now have information about that family fleeing Poland in 1945, and the relatives who still live in Ukraine today. And I am happy to have new and interesting relatives.

While the connection to the newly found relatives was made through 23 and ME, it could have just as easily been through Family Tree DNA. I would definitely recommend the Family Finder test at FT-DNA, now reduced to $99, or the 23 and Me test, also $99. The Ancestry test is not as popular with my DNA friends.

Results from all 3 testing companies can be uploaded to GEDmatch.com a free site that can be used to compare your results with those who tested through a company other than yours.

DNA testing is another great tool for genealogists!

Ancestry.com DNA Test Results In - Now What?

educatorvirtual — Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:53 am

Author: educatorvirtual

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:53 am

Hello, everyone:

I have my Ancestry.com DNA results in hand - a little bit surprised. I was expecting, like a lot of others I have read about, that there would be some variation to my "Europe East" genealogy; however, Ancestry.com says that I'm "100% Eastern European." Since I don't know too much about the buzzwords for the DNA testing, can someone please steer me in the direction(s) I might go now? I have downloaded the raw data to my hard drive. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated from those who have experience with this. Thank you. "Clarusia"

PS: The test was the "basic" Ancestry.com DNA test.

Y-DNA 37

efc3011 — Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:29 am

Author: efc3011

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:29 am

I just checked the website. The Y-DNA37 price is $129 for this sale.

Elaine

FamilyTree DNA sale

efc3011 — Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:25 am

Author: efc3011

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:25 am

As I mentioned earlier, FTDNA has sales. I just received notice of a current sale, from one of the project managers:

FTDNA SALE end 15 Jul 2012 http://www.familytreedna.com/ and http://www.familytreedna.com/products.aspx

Family Finder $199 [discounted from $289]

YDNA 37 $169 [discounted from $169]

YDNA 67 $199 [discounted from $268]

mtFullSequence $199 [discounted from $280]

Family Finder + YDNA37 $328 [discounted from $438]

Family Finder + mtDNAPlus $328 [discounted from $438]

SuperDNA $428 [discounted from $548]

His email shows Y-DNA $169 reduced from $169! I'll have to check on that one!

Elaine

Re: DNA testing and Poland

brianminnie — Fri Jul 06, 2012 3:45 pm

Author: brianminnie

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 3:45 pm

Hi Elaine - your analysis is great and matches what I understand. You've done a very good job of explaining it in a way that's easy to understand.

efc3011 wrote:

did you have any surprises with the population finder portion of FF?

I wouldn't call it a surprise, more like some confusion. The population finder for my test shows 86% "Europe (Western European)" and only 14% "Europe" (or Eastern Europe, based on their map). Since my father is of French ancestry and my mother Polish, I would have expected it to be closer to 50-50%. But I know the 2 areas are geographically adjacent and also that the population finder isn't an exact science (it's based on comparison to others' test results and known ancestral origins). I'm curious to see what the population finder looks like for my mother or my uncle, if and when I get FamilyFinder testing done for them.

I find it interesting that your results also had a high percentage of "Europe (Western European)" too.

Re: DNA testing and Poland

efc3011 — Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:03 pm

Author: efc3011

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:03 pm

If you test your relative's Y-DNA, you will find out his Haplogroup, which tells you the very early migrations of your ancestors in HIS line, and you'll get matches for his direct line only. I know people who have gotten hundreds of matches. My two males got a couple dozen each. The cheaper Y-DNA test gives you fewer markers to compare 12, 25, 37, 67--depends on what you want to pay. The fewer the markers tested, the more likely you'll have matches because the relationships are not as close. The more markers you test for, the fewer results you'll get, but the relationship will be closer. You'd be able to join the projects to compare the DNA to others. All of this depends, of course, on which people related to you have tested. If they haven't tested, there is no way to compare to them. An obvious observation, but something I didn't think of early on.

Family Finder is much more expensive--wait for a sale or coupon--you can save from retail $289 to coupon $179. FamilyTree Facebook page sometimes offers them. The Family Finder tests autosomal DNA, which does not distinguish between male and female. It can find matches from all of the relatives who are not in your direct paternal or maternal line. If you think of your family tree as a huge V with you at the bottom, your 2 parents above, your 4 grandparents above, your 8 great grandparents above, and so on.... Well, the Y-DNA test only gives results of males following only the very outer line of the V, and the mt-DNA shows females in the other side of the V. The autosomal test will find matches from all of the other people within the V. If you realize that by 10 generations we all have 1024 great grandparents in that generations alone, and 2046 great grandparents altogether, it gives you a picture of all of the possible matches are possible with the Family Finder.

So I guess choosing a test is a matter of what you hope to find out, and how much you want to pay. Ancestry.com emailed me (and probably everyone else) and said they will be selling DNA kits. I don't know how competitive their pricing will be.
Brian, please correct me if you disagree with my analysis. I'm surely not an expert, and I'm giving my opinion of things.

Elaine
PS Brian, did you have any surprises with the population finder portion of FF?

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Cheri Vanden Berg — Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:35 am

Author: Cheri Vanden Berg

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:35 am

Shellie wrote:

Thanks for the great feedback Brian and Elaine.

So, did I understand that for my older male distant cousin that I KNOW is related to me (descended from my great-great-grandfather's brother) the recommended test from the Family Tree-DNA company would be the Y-DNA and not the family finder?

Shellie,
Both you and Brian posted while I was writing mine...If the cousin you are talking about has the surname you are interested in - that surname having been passed from father to son, etc. then I would say that you would want the Y-DNA test. Someone else would have to comment on the other test since I haven't done that.
Cheri

Re: DNA testing and Poland

Cheri Vanden Berg — Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:27 am

Author: Cheri Vanden Berg

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:27 am

Elaine,
Thank you for the interesting post. I didn't find it to be long at all! It's wonderful that you have found participants in Poland!

I have also used FTDNA, but unfortunately not for my Polish side of the family. I do not know of any male descendants of either of my grandparents lines that live in the U.S. or Poland. Also, one of my great grandfathers was born out of wedlock, so while that would definitely be interesting to find a match if I did find a male descendant, I do realize that it a long shot. I did read about someone here at Polish Origins trying to do that, and I sincerely wish them luck.

I have been happy enough with FTDNA. Of course I've learned that it is best to go with a bigger company in order to find matches. When I began reading about what can be learned from Y-DNA, I decided to try it with the most common surname I was researching. I paid for a very distant cousin's test (I met him searching for the same family online), and it has been worth every penny to me. I didn't expect to find any matches, but ended up with a number of exact matches at 67 markers (I've learned that 37 markers would have been enough to have tested). Also, it has helped to know who we are not related to. It helps to sort through the people with the same surname living in the same area.

Just like you, we don't know how we are related to the cousins that match, but many have worked together to try to find out. There is also the hope that as more people are tested, we could put more pieces of the puzzle together. In that regard, I feel that this is like money in the bank - someday there may be a payoff. There are lines of this family that we fear might lose the Y-DNA for if there are only females born, so it can be critical to get people tested.
Thanks again,
Cheri