Re: Rejman, Swiatoniowska, Grzesik

dnowicki — Wed Feb 28, 2018 10:22 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 10:22 pm

Lmraymond wrote:

Hello, these are the three surnames I have (so far) for my Polish roots. I am curious about them because as I look at pictures of my fathers brothers and sisters I feel they may not have the "typical" Polish look as they seem to me to be a bit darker. I do come up with almost 30% Balkan ancestry so I am thinking maybe some of them were newcomers to the area from somewhere a bit more southern? I realize these surnames are from the most recent generations and they may not tell me anything about that. I am still trying to get further back every day.
Thank you for any feedback at all.
Linda

Hi Linda,

At one time Poland (The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) was the largest country in Europe and extended from the Baltic sea to the southern border with the Ottoman Empire. The Commonwealth (Rzeczpostpolita Obojga Narodów) was populated by people of various ethnic groups and thus there was no “typical” Polish look. Because of the long and complex relationship between the Ottomans and the Balkan states and due to the fact that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire bordered each other it would not be surprising for Balkan and Polish (Northern Slavic) DNA to be found in a particular given individual of Polish nationality.

Perhaps the attached map of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth may help to visualize how the DNA connection could arise.

Wishing you success in your research,

Dave

Rejman, Swiatoniowska, Grzesik

Lmraymond — Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:22 pm

Author: Lmraymond

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:22 pm

Hello, these are the three surnames I have (so far) for my Polish roots. I am curious about them because as I look at pictures of my fathers brothers and sisters I feel they may not have the "typical" Polish look as they seem to me to be a bit darker. I do come up with almost 30% Balkan ancestry so I am thinking maybe some of them were newcomers to the area from somewhere a bit more southern? I realize these surnames are from the most recent generations and they may not tell me anything about that. I am still trying to get further back every day.
Thank you for any feedback at all.
Linda

PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Rejman, Swiatoniowska, Grzesik

Rejman, Swiatoniowska, Grzesik