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jfbjax

Joined: 24 Dec 2014
Replies: 12

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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 5:16 pm Post subject: Berk, Barg or Berch?

GGF was supposed to have been Mayor of Ostroleka around the turn of the century. My GM's death certificate shows her as the daughter of Joseph Berch. Her immigration manifest shows her name as Berg, but she was also Roman Catholic. Her GF was a German Count who was one of 7 sons. When he died the estate was only divided six ways and her father got nothing and went to Ostroleka. A noble family named Von Berg, and a family named Berk in Barranowao Parish have a son with six brothers
I've been told Berg and Berk are pronounced the same, as is Berch. Berch was the name my GM's family used in the US. I haven't fpund a church record in Ostroleka, so I a, confused. What was her name? Could vpn Berg become Berg? Or Berk, Berk?

Philip
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Joined: 03 Mar 2014
Replies: 117

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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 3:07 pm Post subject:

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What was her name? Could vpn Berg become Berg? Or Berk, Berk?

Yes it is very possible it has changed over time. Especially due to the translations from Polish to Russian and again to Polish and then in English for making it easier to spell.

Quote:

Her GF was a German Count who was one of 7 sons.

If it is of german origin, all Berg, Berk and Berch are possible surnames.

Berg surname distribution in Germany: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Berg_(Familienname)

Berch surname distribution in Germany: http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Berch_(Familienname)

Berk also exists as surname, but just a few people have this surname probably misspelled from the other two.

Quote:

I've been told Berg and Berk are pronounced the same, as is Berch.

In my opinion that's not true. Knowing both german and polish there is a big difference in pronouncing these surnames.
But mistakes due to translations were very common in the past.

Quote:

I haven't fpund a church record in Ostroleka, so I a, confused.

Here there are some docs: http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/73/1435/0/?q=Ostrołęka+XSKANro:t&wynik=4&rpp=15&page=1#tabJednostki

More will be uploaded in the future: http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/search?q=Ostrołęka

Philip

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