ErieAtalntic7597
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Replies: 10
Location: SW FloridaBack to top |
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:29 pm
Post subject: Raykiewicz/Rajkiewicz family story in the USA, as I know it
My name is Bruce Francis Raykiewicz, named right after my wonderful Polish grandfather. I was always aware of my Polish heritage, but did'nt know much more. My grandfather was brought to the US as a very young child, and raised in Paterson,NJ. He and my grandmother, who was Polish/American, born in Paterson,NJ in 1885, of Polish parents, had many native Polish friends. I grew up amongst these fine people.
My grandparents had only sons. My father and his three brothers. My grandfather, by what we knew, was an only child. So all of my relatives with the "Y" in their name, are direct decendants of my grandfather. He changed the last name when he was a young man to make it easier to say in English.
However, recently, one of my sisters came across a life insurance policy document written on my great father by my great grandmother, Kathrine in 1897.
I had never know my great grandfather's first name until a few months ago. It was Wladyslaw Rajkiewicz.
Now to recnet times and my name. A hand full of native Poles, some of whom are close friends, had already told me that my name was spelled incorrectly. that the "y" should be a "j'. And, that my name was somehow "special". I had never heard that before recent times. Even a person in the Polish consulate in Washington,DC said the same thing to me by phone.
So, here I am, asking if there is anyone here that can help me find my true roots in the home land of my great grandfather.
Sorry for rambling on so. Any help will be appreciated.
Bruce F. Raykiewicz
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1532
Location: PolandBack to top |
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:57 am
Post subject:
Bruce,
Thank you very much for sharing your family history. I would like to help you from the perspective of research in Poland. I have a few hints as well as questions which could possibly throw some light into your family search.
| ErieAtalntic7597 wrote: | However, recently, one of my sisters came across a life insurance policy document written on my great father by my great grandmother, Kathrine in 1897.
I had never know my great grandfather's first name until a few months ago. It was Wladyslaw Rajkiewicz. |
Could you share the most important information from this document? Are there any information about places or dates (births, marriage)? If you want, you can also scan the document into a file and upload it here for all of us to analyze it (now in our Forum with have such possibility to upload pictures from your hard drives directly into your message, click here: http://forum.polishorigins.com/viewtopic.php?p=373#373 to read how to do it). Without this information it will be very difficult to achieve anything...
| ErieAtalntic7597 wrote: | | I've been told, by native Poles that are personal friends, this name is very eastern Polish. It even shows up in a Belarus nobility/aristocricy listing. By what I can find out, my grandfather was born in a place called Gurino, Poland. I believe it was under Prussian control at the time. 1886. Gurino shows up in Belarus today. |
I have found in http://maps.google.com one Gurino located in eastern Belarus, click here: http://tinyurl.com/59vzqk . This Gurino was under Russia, not Prussia rule in 19th century. (BTW, We are working currently on a map of Poland territory in 19th century for you to locate in under what partition of and old Poland territory your ancestors used to live). So, it would agree with the information you have as well as with the findings from the Register of Polish Nobility (link to the post of Rajkiewicz/Raykiewicz surname: http://forum.polishorigins.com/viewtopic.php?p=363#363 ) about origin of Raykiewicz/Rajkiewicz. Distance between Nowogrodek (where, according to the Register the Raykiewicz noble family lived) and Gurino is about 370 km (miles). So this is quite far. That's why more information is so needed.
I also recommend you very informative thread in our Forum 'Where to look in the USA' click here: http://forum.polishorigins.com/viewtopic.php?t=40 where you can find another valuable hints.
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ErieAtalntic7597
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Replies: 10
Location: SW FloridaBack to top |
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:00 pm
Post subject: Raykiewicz/Rajkiewicz name
Zenon,
Once again, I must thank you for your time and effort on my behalf. You certainly have enlightened me as to my own Polish family origins. For this, I will be eternaly grateful.
I took on this search late in my life. But through good people like yourself, and a few chance meetings, the search has been interesting and fun. I look forward to finding out more about my distant Rajkiewicz ancesters.
Sincerely,
Bruce f. Raykiewicz
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