Author Topic: Difficulties in Polish surname  (Read 781 times)

Offline Anthony Roberts

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Difficulties in Polish surname
« on: Monday 15 March 21 15:05 GMT (UK) »
Posting this here, apologies if it's not the correct place, but I figured there'd be no better people to ask that those with perhaps a greater understanding of European languages than I.

I have an uncle whose father moved to the UK around the time of WW2 from Poland, for reasons that should need no explanation. He may have even served in the war itself, being born in 1919.

My difficulties in finding details about his life stem from his surname. He is buried under the name Vincenty Szkola after dying in Hendon, London in 1976. I have a death record for one Wincerity Szkola in 1976, a rather unique spelling, but everything gels.

His daughters are born under the name Szkola too, but by 1971, the surviving daughter and brother have dropped the Z, and are just using Skola. The use of Szkola on his headstone may have been a way to honour his wishes. 

Here's where I'm lost. I cannot find anything else on Vincenty/Wincerity with any variation on his surname. No marriage record or further details seem to exist, even though I know he was married to a Jones, and lived in Glyncorrwg, South Wales for most of his life.

I understand the Polish L is perhaps written as ł? Szkoła?Which is not recognised by my online searches. Or perhaps the name Szkola is a shortened version of another? Any advice would be really, really appreciated.

Offline Maiden Stone

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #1 on: Monday 15 March 21 16:26 GMT (UK) »
Anglo-Polish Society Bristol & South West branch has guidance on tracing family history on its' website.
Is there an Anglo-Polish society for South Wales? Anglo-Polish Society has a Chester & North Wales branch and it's on Facebook.
Cowban

Offline Anthony Roberts

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #2 on: Monday 15 March 21 16:47 GMT (UK) »
Thank you! I'll try the Bristol and South West society as it looks like it might cover my area.

Offline Raybistre

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #3 on: Monday 15 March 21 16:53 GMT (UK) »
Hi, I suppose its possible he anglizied his name. There is a marriage in Newport, Monmouthshire of a Vincent Stokes to a Doris M Jones, March Quarter 1951.
Ray


Offline Ellenmai

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #4 on: Monday 15 March 21 16:56 GMT (UK) »
I have found  a death for Wincerity Szkola born 1/4/1919 & died Neath Glamorgan 1976.
The National Probate Calendar shows his address as 27 Heol Yr Afon, Glyncorrwg, Port Talbot & he died 13/9/1976. Probate was London 28/1/1977 amount £1,389.

Offline Anthony Roberts

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #5 on: Monday 15 March 21 18:09 GMT (UK) »
I have found  a death for Wincerity Szkola born 1/4/1919 & died Neath Glamorgan 1976.
The National Probate Calendar shows his address as 27 Heol Yr Afon, Glyncorrwg, Port Talbot & he died 13/9/1976. Probate was London 28/1/1977 amount £1,389.

That matches what I have, and the background provided from my family, I have his grave details and have paid a visit myself. My uncle and I have been to the house where he grew up in Glyncorrwg many times, so I'm up to speed on those details, but thank you for the probate record!

Offline Anthony Roberts

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #6 on: Monday 15 March 21 18:17 GMT (UK) »
Hi, I suppose its possible he anglizied his name. There is a marriage in Newport, Monmouthshire of a Vincent Stokes to a Doris M Jones, March Quarter 1951.
Ray

It's possible, but begs the question why his daughters are registered births as Szkola in 1952 and 1954. One of them died very young, but the other dropped the Z by the time she was married in 1973

His son; my uncle; was born around 1945, and his birth wasn't registered as Szkola, presumably it was under his father's original surname, but I can't find it. It's very likely actually his birth was under his Mother's maiden name Jones. There is a name and age that matches my uncle under Jones from Neath. All too confusing. By 1971 and the time of his marriage, he's going by Skola too, without the Z.

Offline Maiden Stone

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #7 on: Monday 15 March 21 21:43 GMT (UK) »
Might the surname have been transcribed as Scholes?
Cowban

Offline Anthony Roberts

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Re: Difficulties in Polish surname
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 16 March 21 11:04 GMT (UK) »
Might the surname have been transcribed as Scholes?

I can't find any Scholes that would match from the 30s or 40s.