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  • Kujawsko-Pomorskie genealogy
    • Main contributor: Craig Kanalley
    Kujawsko-Pomorskie on a map of Poland
    Location of Kujawsko-Pomorskie in Poland

    Kujawsko-Pomorskie genealogy relates to family history research in the Polish voivodeship of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship. The territory is located in west-central Poland.

    Kujawsko-Pomorskie stretches nearly 18,000 square kilometers (6,900 square miles). Its population today is approximately 2 million people.[1]

    Major cities in Kujawsko-Pomorskie include Bydgoszcz, the seat of its provincial office, and Toruń, the seat of its marshal's office. The territory was formed in 1999 as part of a reorganization of Polish provinces. It is bordered by the Polish voivodeships of Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Pomorskie, Warmińsko-Mazurski, and Wielkopolskie.

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    History of Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    Teutonic Knights castle in Toruń
    Ruins of the Teutonic Knights castle in Toruń

    The province of Kujawsko-Pomorskie has a rich history. Culturally, it is known for the prehistoric settlement of Biskupin, which dates to 1200 BC. Important historic structures include the ruins of a Teutonic castle, the Gothic Church of St. Mary, and the 13th-century Church of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, all located in Toruń.[2]

    The modern-day territory covers the historical regions of Kujavia (Kujawy), Chełmno Land, Dobrzyń Land, and parts of Krajna, Pałuki and Pomerelia. Along with Wielkoploskie, it is sometimes referred to as the "Cradle of Poland" due to its central location to the old Polish state. The area became part of Prussia after the Partitions of Poland. Eventually, in 1918, the whole territory was returned to Poland. It was lost around the time of World War II before joining Poland once again.

    Numerous ethnic groups have called this territory home. An official website of the province notes that "Here, Polish settlers coexisted with Germans, Jews, Scots, Russians, and Dutch, inter alia, all of who left their marks on the land."

    Geography of Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    Trails in Tuchola Forest National Park
    A hiking trail at Tuchola Forest National Park

    Kujawsko-Pomorskie is primarily flat with some hills. Roughly 20% of the territory is wooded areas, primarily conifers. It is home to Tuchola Forest National Park (Park Narodowy Bory Tucholskie), a pinewoods forest complex that is popular for hiking and a home to abundant wildlife.[2]

    The land in Kujawsko-Pomorskie is well known for its rich soils which make agriculture a primary source of industry.

    Waterways that flow through the province include the Vistula (Wisła), Drwęca, Brda, Wda and Noteć rivers. These rivers and canals are used for shipping and trading. A vast road network connects Kujawsko-Pomorskie with major Polish cities.

    Administrative division of Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    Kujawsko-Pomorskie is divided into 23 counties (powiats) with 19 land counties and four city counties, as well as 144 municipalities (gminas).[1] The powiats are listed below, in order of population.

    Kujawsko-Pomorskie Powiats (Counties)
    Bydgoszcz (city) Świecie Lipno Rypin
    Toruń (city) Grudziadz (city) Aleksandrów Sępólno
    Inowrocław Nakło Chełmno Radziejów
    Bydgoszcz (land) Włocławek (land) Tuchola Grudziadz (land)
    Włocławek (city) Brodnica Mogilno Wabrzeżno
    Toruń (land) Żnin Golub-Dobrzyń

    Identifying the powiat (county) can be useful for genealogy, as records are often grouped together and parish communities in each county had many social and familial connections between them.

    Surnames in Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    The most common surnames in Kujawsko-Pomorskie are Polish surnames, frequently ending in -ski, -cki, -czyk and -ak. These include:

    Kashubian, Prussian and German influences have led to other surnames being popular in the province, such as German surnames. The Polish Genealogical Society of America has a list of Kashubian surnames.

    Notable people from Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    Nicolaus Copernicus portrait in Toruń
    Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a native of Toruń, Kujawsko-Pomorskie.

    The following notable people are from modern-day Kujawsko-Pomorskie:

    Types of records from Kujawsko-Pomorskie

    Church records and civil registration records are the primary sources of genealogical information in Kujawsko-Pomorskie.

    The following collections on MyHeritage contain people from modern-day Kujawsko-Pomorskie:

    Church of the Assumption in Bydgoszcz
    Church of the Assumption in Bydgoszcz

    Digital archives that have indexes and image scans available for the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province include:

    • Kujawsko-Pomorska Biblioteka Cyfrowa(Kujawsko-Pomorskie Digital Library): Collections include newspapers, maps, postcards, cultural heritage, regional materials, exhibitions, and more. This website can be particularly useful to search for locations and specific surnames you are researching.
    • Szukaj w Archiwach: A series of Polish archives all in one database, including regional archives for the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region. This site includes digital scans for parish records, registry office records, photographs, and more. Learn more about what's available through the Polish State Archives website.
    • Geneteka: This website covers church and civil records throughout Poland, and it contains more than 3 million records specific to Kujawsko-Pomorskie. Simply click on the province on the map to begin searching. A surname (Nazwisko) is needed at a minimum, but you can also filter results by date. Digital scans of original records are linked to when available.
    • Poznan Project: A transcription project of 19th century marriages that took place in the Greater Poland region (Wielkopolskie), although it includes many parishes and towns that belong to Kujawsko-Pomorskie today. This database includes church and civil records. The year, location, groom's name, and bride's name are provided for each marriage. Parents' names are often listed, and sometimes ages of the groom and bride are provided.

    If you're looking for Jewish vital records, search for the town of interest at JewishGen, which includes Kujawsko-Pomorskie, and then check with the archive that is listed.

    See also

    Explore more about Kujawsko-Pomorskie genealogy

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Basic information about the economy of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship". Gospodarka Kujawsko-Pomorskie. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kujawsko-Pomorskie | Poland Province, History & Culture | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.


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