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Polish Genealogy Terms

By Editors of Family Tree Magazine

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Map of Poland with a small Polish flag

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.

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PolishEnglish
aktrecord, document
babcia/babkagrandmother
chłoppeasant
chrzestbaptism
chrześniakgodchild
chrzestny, chrzestnagodfather, godmother
diecezjadiocese
dzieckochild
ksiądz, kapłanpriest
macochastepmother
małżeństwomarriage
matkamother
mążman, husband
metrykavital record, register
miastocity, town
nieprawyillegitimate; illegal
nieślubnyillegitimate
ojciecfather
ojczymstepfather
parobekfarmhand
powiatdistrict, county
ródclan, lineage
rodzinafamily
rokyear
rolnikfarmer
rozwóddivorce
urzędnikofficial; clerk
WielkopolksaGreater Poland
zgondeath
zonawife
żołnierzsoldier

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