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Polish Genealogy Terms

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Dancing around unfamiliar words in Polish records can throw even the most savvy of genealogists off-track. But if you pay attention to these commonly encountered terms, you’ll pick up your research tempo in no time.

Polish English
akt record, document
babcia/babka grandmother
chłop peasant
chrzest baptism
chrześniak godchild
chrzestny, chrzestna godfather, godmother
diecezja diocese
dziecko child
ksiądz, kapłan priest
macocha stepmother
małżeństwo marriage
matka mother
mąż man, husband
metryka vital record, register
miasto city, town
nieprawy illegitimate; illegal
nieślubny illegitimate
ojciec father
ojczym stepfather
parobek farmhand
powiat district, county
ród clan, lineage
rodzina family
rok year
rolnik farmer
rozwód divorce
urzędnik official; clerk
Wielkopolksa Greater Poland
zgon death
zona wife
żołnierz soldier

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