Where in the World Is Galicia Posted by Anna on Jun 20, 2008 in Uncategorized
I would like to welcome all my new readers and thank you guys for commenting. It’s great to see your feedback! I also want to encourage you to ask me questions and offer suggestion regarding what you want me to write about here. Don’t be shy! Whether it’s grammar, spelling, history, or “my grandma used to make this yummy Polish dish”, I will do my best to answer all your queries.
Ed already started by asking about Galicia in his comment. So today, it’s all Galicia all the time. Ed, enjoy! And let me know if this is the information you were looking for.
The problem with Galicia is that there are actually two of them, one in Poland and one in Spain. And if you’re not quite sure which Galicia region you have in mind, it can be quite confusing –it was even to me when I was in school. Here, of course we’ll talk about Galicia in central Europe.
The name “Galicia” (Galicja in Polish) is a historical term, and as such – is no longer used to describe the area. And the region itself is now divided between Poland and Ukraine. So just where exactly this Galicia used to be? Get a map of Ukraine and look for Lviv (Lwów in Polish), then go a little bit east until you reach Ternopil (Tarnopol in Polish). From there trace a bit south-west to Ivano-Frankovsk. That little triangle is the original Galicia.
“But wait!” you could say, “It’s all Ukraine.”
Yes, it is NOW. Back in those days, Poland stretched pretty far to the east. As a matter of fact, Lvov was a Polish city. Galicia managed to grow quite substantially throughout the years. After the partition of Poland, it became an Austrian province incorporating Cracow (Kraków) to the west, Lublin to the north, and going as far south-east as the present Moldovan border. A pretty big chunk of land, wouldn’t you say?
‘Whither Galicia’ via the Head Wide Open blog
There were additional territorial changes throughout the years. Russia got a bit of Galician land to the north, a lot of stuff was happening on the eastern border, people kept moving back and forth, the usual historical stuff. The big deal happened in 1873, when the province became officially an autonomous part of the Austro- Hungarian Empire. Polish was re-instituted as the official language (along with Ukrainian in the east) and everybody hoped for bigger, better, brighter future.
Sadly, the changes were not forthcoming. Galicia might have been autonomous, but it was also one of the most populous and at the same time the poorest provinces in the Empire. So around the 1880s, the peasants decided they had enough of living in abject poverty and started moving away in droves. First to Germany, and then to the US, Canada and Brazil.
Galicians were never a homogenous breed, they were a typical eastern European mix of a little bit of everything: Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, Germans and what not. And even while emigrating, those different nationalities stuck together. Germans naturally migrated to Germany, Ukrainians – in the beginning to Brazil, and Poles and Jews – to the US and Canada.
After the First World War, when western Galicia became part of the newly restored Republic of Poland, the emigration frenzy slowed down somewhat. The estimates vary, but all in all, anywhere from several hundred thousand to a million people went looking for a better life across the Atlantic.
To help you with you genealogical search, here are some clues regarding major Galician city names:
Lviv – Polish: Lwów, German: Lemberg (currently in Ukraine)
Krosno – German: Krossen (currently in Poland)
Przemyśl – Ukrainian: Peremyshl, German: Prömsel (currently in Poland)
Tarnów – German: Tarnau (currently in Poland)
Rzeszów – German: Reichshof (currently in Poland)
Halych – Polish: Halicz, German: Halitsch (currently in Ukraine)
Sanok – German: Saanig (currently in Poland)
If you have any Galician place names you’re not sure about, just leave me a comment and I’ll see what I can dig up.
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Comments:
Steve:
A google search led me here. According to Ellis Island records in 1907, my great grandfather has this:
Ethnicity: Austria Galicy Slovak
Last Place of Residence: St. Anna, Galicy
Date of Arrival: Jun 27, 1907
Ship of Travel: Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse
Port of Departure: Bremen
I can’t seem to find the town of St. Anna. If anyone knows anything about it, that would be wonderful. Also, does anyone have a definition of the ethnicity?
Matilda Winge:
Looking for information on Nizhny Studenny as it is today.
Anything on Fedierczuk from the Borschiv area?
Mister B Sharp:
I’m hunting down my grandfather’s place of birth- it is listed as
“(Ukraine) Okniany, Galicia, Austria- later Poland”
Anybody know what Okniany is? A village? Ever heard of it?
Rosann:
I just found out about Galicia today. I looked up my mother Ruiza and Grandmother Tekla Deren on the Ellis Island site. They came to the US in 1913. There hometown were listed differently, I guess a mistake. One was Subica and the other Sulma, both in Galicia. They listed their nationality as Austria Polish. Have you heard of either town? Now knowing a little about Galicia I now understand how my mother spoke both Polish and Ukranian. Thanks for the info!
Carol Jones:
Grandmother immigrated from Buszawza Russia according to Ellis Island Clerk. Any idea where that might be?
Andrew Lebiszczak:
lebiszczak’s in usa!
Ken Niziol:
Lookinf for sibling connections for my greatgrand parents Joannis/jan/John Niziol born in 1860 and married Angela Miazga born in 1863. According to my grandfather’s baptismal certificatte attached they were from the Village of Wola Wielka. My grandfather (Andreas/Andrew) was born in 1894.
Baptismal Certifcate states:
Dioccesis – Leopoliensis
Parochia: Lipskoensis
Districts: Cienanovionsis
Any suggestions where I should be looking for ancestories?
Thanks for your help and advise.
Ken
20100222125715179.pdf
Pola:
where is Terszakow ad Komarno in 1900’s. Under the impression that it is in Galicja. Possible near Stryj. Could not find it on the map.
Any help will be great.
Tom Martin:
What a great site. I have always known that my grandmother came from Galicia but had no idea where. Through some family baptismal records I have learned that she either came from Sanok or Poraz. I have seen both towns mentioned. Her maiden name was Osenkowska. Have also seen several spellings of this. I am considering a trip to Poland and would be happy for any information I can gather in the next year before I make the trip. It is my belief that when she came to the states about 1900 with four other sisters there were two still left in that area and I may have some second or third generation cousins still there. It would be great to find them.
Sandy Fischer:
Hello! I was wondering if you had any idea where Genszow (spell??) in Galicy, Poland would have been? That place name is what was deciphered from the ship manifest.
Thanks for your help!
Sandy
Shannon:
Hello,
I am looking for information about Stroze, Galacia. My great grandfather came from Poland and I was looking up my ancestry for my son’s project on Ellis Island immigration. I thought it would be very interesting to find out my history. Thank you,
Shannon Fisher
Nancy Bayer:
Im looking for my grandfather and grandmother ancestry they where Ukrainian living in Poland, he was born 1886 in Baragot. Where is that in Poland or Ukraine today?
Kathleen:
Just returned from two weeks in Galicia, Poland and would be happy to share any observations or information. Most of my time was spent in two areas: (1) Krakow and the towns immediately south on the road to Zakopane (my grandfather came to the U.S. from Chabowka in 1892 and I have newly discovered relatives in Skomielna Biala, Rabka, Spytkowice, and Nowy Targ) and (2) Grodzisko Dolne, whose Jewish community was destroyed by the Germans in 1939. I was in Grodzisko (northeast east of Rzeszow near Lezajsk) on behalf of a friend whose grandfather was born in Grodzisko and whose great-grandfather is buried in the Jewish cemetery mainly destroyed by the Germans. I visited the cemetery and actually found his great-grandfather’s intact headstone. It survived intact as he was the patriarch of the village and had the largest stone. Other stones exist, some broken, but many still legible.
For those looking for Roman Catholic records, and you are fortunate enough to be within the Rabka parafia, the Rabka church has superbly detailed and intact records going back to 1605.
Kathleen (a new member)
Kathleen:
For Alessandro regarding economic status of Galicia towns and movement of population after Poland joined the EU:
I just returned from Galicja, where I spent most of my time in small towns where the growing season is short and the economy pretty tough. Nearly every family I visited had one immediate family member who worked part of the year in England, Germany, or Ireland. Many had children who had left permanently for, usually, England or Ireland, sometimes Italy. In most of the families I met, it was the wife who worked abroad because her English was the best. But I have one male relative who spent four months in Stavanger, Norway on a big project that required his plumbing expertise.
I came to the conclusion that Polish families who wish to stay in their home villages must supplement their incomes with foreign earnings.
Kathleen
Grace Nolan:
What a great site! I have read through all the inquiries and posts, but haven’t found anyone else looking for a town called Witkow. My grandmother was Anna Zymrus. I have found the passenger information record for her immigration to the US which states that she came from a place in Galicy called “Witkowize”. I believe I saw a town called Witkow on a map somewhere, but I can’t find it again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Eliane:
Great site thanks for the work you have put in. I’m in the process of trying to trace my dad’s past with little information. (unfortunate that I didn’t have enough interest when he was living, to ask him) What I know is that he was born in 1916 in Ukraine a town either Pilo or Pila I am not able to find this on any map. I also know he was in Germany as a displaced refugee in 1948-1949. The identity card says “control commission for Germany” British Zone. Camp D-33 Dorsten, It states he is Ukraine(polish) Birth place Pilo-Galigja. He than was in France where he met my Mom and had me. I’m curious to find out how he ended up in Germany, what he did there and how he than ended up in France. I do know at some point in his earlier life he was an orphan, maybe his parents died in the famine. Where can I possibly find his birth records or any from his family. Thanks for any help.
Pam Moore:
Thank you so much for a good and easy to understand explanation and map of Gaicia. For readers trying to find roots in Galicia I would like to suggest http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=localitysearch&columns=*,0,0. Type in the village or town. LDS has been microfilming Galician Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic Church records, I believe in the confines of present day Ukraine. They have not completed this process, however, if available, these films provide a wealth of information. My grandfather emigrated from Baworow. The baptismal, marriage, and death Catholic Church records for Baworow from 1769-1945 are available. I’ve been able to trace his great-grandfather and other relatives and I have about 127 more years of records to go through! You need to be near an LDS Library to order and view the records ($5.50/roll at the branch I use), and they take two to six weeks to arrive. They are also written in Latin, but don’t let this intimidate you. They are suprisingly readable by simply translating some key words. I hope this helps someone in his or her search! For those searching in Baworow, I am curious about the surnames being searched.
asperula:
Hello,
could you please help to identify below places – written on a WWI monument (kuk Feldjager no 11):
Sempiechow
Ditkowicze
Terszakow
Potoczek
Debina
Jangrod
Thanks!
Cheryl McNutt:
I am looking for the exact area that my grandparents, Nicolaus Asafajlo or Mary Hyrcyk from Galicia were from.
I have a baptismal paper that reads Dioecesis Prenisliensis, Districtus is Turka, Palatinatus Leopoliensis, Decantus is Fukotynensis, Parochia, Michnisviec.
Do any of these look familiar as the exact city, village, province that they were from? I appreciate your help. Would like to visit to see exactly where they were from. Thank you, Cheryl
Susan Grzyb:
Cześć – a comment to Cheryl McNutt: if you are doing Polish family genealogy, try Jonathan Shea’s book, Going Home. It’s all about doing genealogy for people of Polish descent, to find your family both in the United States and in Poland. Hope this helps-
Wszystkiego najlepszego- Susan
stan:
Great site. I’m looking for information on a lost relative. His name is Serafin Metzger. He was born in Rawa Ruska. Not sure if he was Catholic or Jewish. Before WW2 he moved to Krakow. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I believe both cities were in Galicia.
Cynthia:
Hello!
Thank you for your article. I was skeptical that my grandmother was from Spain!
I am looking for information on what city in Galicia she was from. All I have on her passport is ‘Galicia’ . Her name was Tekla Wszolek and she married Majiec Rojowski. His birth is listed as Autria. They immigrated in 1906 (about) and lived/died in Detroit/Hamtramak.
Thank you
Karen Trout:
Wonderful article on Galicia. Having trouble finding 3 towns/city names from Austrian Galicia as transcribed by Polish Church secretary for parents.
Prezedborz – person born 1892
Cieklin – person born 1879
Zaleza – person born 1877
I searched the internet and can’t find places of this name or similar. Getting too old to do this much longer.
Thank you,
Karen Trout (b. Wiencek)
david “thomas Kush” Bohuslavsky:
adopted as a bohuslavsky. my family came from galacia in the 1830’s. what nationaliy am I? Here are the names of my past relatives and I am trying to figure out the Austria and Galicia section
tA granddaughter of Ludwik and Margaret BOGUS KUSH found the marriage entry in the St. Stanislaus records, Duncan, Platte County, Nebraska:
Ludowikus Kus’ (and in parents column:) Michael Kus’ & Sofia Augustin
Margaritha Bogus (and in parents column:) Barth. Bogus (Blasiu) & Apolonia Czarczon(?) or Garczon(?)
Ludwik’s birth record
LDS microfilm 1898738, item 10, pg 134, #62, Leki Parish, Galicia, Austria Poland
1854 August, date of birth 17, date of bapt. 20, house #191, Leki Gorne
Ludovicus, Catholic, son, legitimate
Father: Michael s/o Michaelis Kus’ and Apollonia nee Dudek – cmetho
Mother: Sophia d/o Antonius Jagustyn and Sophia nee Skorupa – cmetho
Godparents: Ludovicus Bandur and Catharina wife of Joannis Koziol
Are these mixed natioalities? and can you help me determine if bogus is a shortened version on my great grandma’s name.
thanks,
Joyce Moir:
Where would I find information about OKNO, Poland- trying to trace relatives who were born there in 1913.
pedro guetter:
I’m looking to form a family tree of my family, but little information about my grandfather, Joannes GUTNER (or Guntner) who was born in Ternopil on July 07, 1875, was baptized in Parochia of Ternopil on May 6, 1889, was son of ANDREAS GUTNER (or Guntner) and MAGDALENA REISS and arrived in Brazil on December 15, 1894
Leslie:
Regarding the posting from Brian Schultz/Szulc and the need to find the manifest of the ship in question —–
It has been a year since the posting so I sincerely hope that you have found your answer elsewhere by now — but in case not, the ships arriving in the year that you require are not indexed by passenger name. However, since you have the name of the port of arrival and the year, the ships in that year and to that particular port can be found in a search through Collections Canada website. Unfortunately, a one by one search through all of the manifests that come up with your search parameters is the only way to locate your relative on the list. If you have the port of departure (or the ship name) this would narrow the search results considerably – if not, this is a lengthy and tedious exercise, but it CAN be done. I have done it myself and you MAY be lucky enough to find the correct manifest early in the search. Good luck!
Leslie
janet Ciottoni:
Have you ever heard of a tonw in galicai called Zarnaceska, There are differnt spelling of this on ellis Island passenger list. I am trying to find grat grandfathter who I think listed his town as this. Could it also be the town of Poznanka. thank you for any help
Janet Ciottoni
Iam tying to find gonta family in Galicia Poznanka.
eliane wilks:
My Dad was born in 1916 in a town called Pila or Pilo, think it was Ukraine maybe Poland can’t find it on any map. Found Galicja on one of his papers. Any help would be appreciated.
nancy stubenrauch:
I am looking for info for:
skawice, galici listed on a ship manifest for my grandfather who came in to ny-ellis island.
also, lorkowice, austria-grandmother had that on her manifest.
RJ:
My great grandparents were Galician Poles, both born in 1892 and both immigrated to NY in 1901 and eventually settled in Western Pennsylvania. I cannot locate their home towns on any map, via google or other sources. Her last name was Fal, from Viebieszozany in Galicia. His last name was Wozniak, from the town of Dolin, Austria. Any help is appreciated!
Denis O’Connell:
Could you please tell me where Krosno and Nowy Targ (Galicia) are located today in what country. Thank you, Denis
Victoria:
Greetings,
My sister and I are going crazy trying to decipher the residence posted on our Grandfathers shipping manifest. It reads “Komigklno”, Galicy, Austria, Polish
Everyone that I’ve shown this to (Russians, Czechs etc) say, “That’s mispelled”! Oviously they know something language wise that we don’t. Our grandfather came to American in 1906 at 18 years old. He died long before we were born and our Busia is gone now too. Any light you can shed on this would be helpful.
Thank so much.
Anthony E. Rutkowski:
My mother came from Poraz Poland in 1921 on a ship Caronia through Ellis Island. Her last name was Latusek. Her first name was Helena. She was 8 years old. She arrived with her mother Mary,and brother John (or Jan) Do you have any info about Poraz at that time,or pictures,then,or even now. Is there any way (web site) or otherwise you can suggest tracing back my family beyond her in the past?
Catherine:
My grandfather left Yastrubichi?? in Galicia in approx 1909 at age 17. His name was Wasyl and his brother was Anton Iwankewyz. Surname could be spelled in several ways. When Wasyl arrived in Canada the name was written down as pronounced (Evankevich). We do not know the original spelling. He maintained he was Austrian. I contacted the familysearch site and they have not released the microfiche to cover this town. Is there anyone researching the same family?
Jeff:
My grandpa and great grandpa Panek moved to America in 1900. They come from Austria. I am trying to find the town on the map where they grew up. Last residence was Preterica and Rozenbrok.I am wondering where can I find the information.
Thanks
June Burrows:
I’m very happy to fine your website. I’ve been trying to research my grandparents for about a year. I sometimes give up but then find someone like you. From what I can read on the ship manifest, my grandmother arrived in 1907 from Galicia, Rohalyn. I think I’ve deciphered the little town as Debowiec. My grandfather came in 1910 with their first 3 children. Wow!
Her name was Amela (properly spelled Amelia I think) Glaser. Her arrival was 4 Sep 1907 on ship Bremen from Bremen Germany. Does this make sense? Do you know of this town Debowiec? Is it possible to research their lives through the churches?
Thank you. Loving grandaughter June
Molly:
I am looking for the following three places. Grodzisko & Gnojnice & Trugow. Thank you!
Brian Schultz:
In response to Leslie’s Posting on January 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm. I have found the actual manifest where my Grand parents landed in Halifax, Canada. I have also found that my Great grand mother also landed there two years later with my uncle. My current difficulty is that the spelling of their surname shows several variations. I finally found a Baptismal record (in latin) from Baworow, Tarnopol of my Uncle with his parents listed. So much digging to do still
Brian Schultz (Szulc):
Response to Pam Moore,s Posting on July 17, 2010 at 1:20 pm. Thank you for sharing your info on Baworow. My Grand parents are also from the same location, and I now have another avenue of information to search. Thanks
Pam:
In response to Brian Schult’s posting on 12/30/11 – Have you examined church records from Baworow through LDS for answers? My grandfather emigrated from Baworow in 1910. I have found many records for him, his siblings, parents, and grandparents, and others with his surname. They are not indexed by name so they do take some time to go through. Have you tried the spelling Szucs?
Elizabeth Dobiesw:
I am doing a research on my grandmother and her family. Some documents indicate that she was from Romanowka,Galicia….also spelled Roanowe Sioto. It appears that my grandmother considered herself “Austrian”. she was born in 1887 and left for the USA in 1907. Where was this region (city?) in 1887 and where is it today? any help would be greatly appreciated. Betty Dobies 248-373-0707…..bettydobies@wowway.com
Tom:
To Anthony Rutkowski—Please contact me at JTM1221@aol.com regarding Poraz. Anyone else having a connection to Poraz I would like to hear from you as well.
Kaye Sas(s):
Welcome to the Leki Gorne google satellite map! This place is situated in Debica, Podkarpackie, Poland, its geographical coordinates are 49° 59′ 0″ North, 21° 11′ 0″ I found the passenger list for our Stanislaus Sas that shows in 1883 his residence was Leki Gorne Poland. What area is this. Is this in Galicia. Help. This is the first clue of where he came from. His census in US shows Austria/Poland.
Kimberly Kline:
Hi Anna,
I just got started doing a search of my Grandfather’s parent and have hit a block because I found that they both came over to the United States 1909 and 1904. His name was Jacob (Jakob) Kmiecik and it appears he was born in Jaslo, Poland and her name was Karolina Pietroska (I’ve found several different spellings “Piotroska or ending in an “i”) and lists Galacia, Poland. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am so thrilled I came across this site and hope that you may be able to provide some family information if possible.
Thank you so much for your time.
Kimberly Kline
Carol:
My maternal grandparents – Chaim and Sima Roisa emigrated from Turka Galicia in Austria-Hungary before 1915. A passenger ship listed only my grandfather as arriving in N.Y. aboard the Caiserin Augste Victoria in 1907. I am assuming my grandmother came over later with their children – Harry and Clara. They were living in Philadelphia before 1915.
A document states my grandfather was from Turka in Austria. There are quite a number of Turka’s in Galicia and is now Poland and the Ukraine. Any suggestions on how I can figure out which Turka they came from?
John Ignaczak:
I came across this after I began researching my geneology, and was curious as to where my family came from, I was always told poland, but now I have a better understanding as to the region… is there any resources you have that can help me better pinpoint as to where my great grandfather (also my namesake) and his wife Mary originally immigrated from, they apperently came to the US in 1907, as best as my records seem to know, any help would be greatly appriciated, I now have 3 children, and I’m trying to show them their family lineage, you can E-mail me at jignaczak@abpowell.com, thank you in advance
Pamela:
Thanks so much for the awesome info!I haven’t seen any inquiries for the last name Ramsz, (Catherine),from Galicia Poland.Im researching my grandmother .She was married in Phila.1918.
I have no info about her other than she was orphaned when her parents died in a fire.She had siblings but I don’t have their names.If anyone comes across this name, can you please post it? Thanx
Dawn:
Yes I am researching Galicia which is part of the Astro-Hungary
Barbara Stinson:
Can anyone tell me which Debowiec villages would have been in Galicia in the 1880s besides the one south of Jaslo?
Thanks.
Barbara