Compared to tracing any British ancestry you may have, tracing Polish roots can be difficult, as many records were destroyed in the war.
So begin by researching Poland’s history, as surviving record locations may have changed over time. Then find out as much as you can from your relatives, which is always a good starting point.
The following resources may help you in your search. Items preceded with ►are links that will take you to an external site. Anglo Polish Society are not responsible for the content of external sites.
- ► Ancestry Search in Poland – A.A.Watta & Co.
Professional Poland based ancestry search service, specializing in Polish, Jewish and German family history. Research on non-microfilmed records and in parishes. - ► Family Link
Any questions, please call: 0800 680 0622
Monday – Friday: 7.00am to 5.00pm (MDT) - ► FamilySearch Wiki Poland Genealogy
Guide to Poland ancestry, family history, and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records. - ► MyHeritage
Family trees and DNA testing – Payment required - ► PolandGenWeb Archives
Vital records, passenger manifests, and lists of emigrants from around Poland. - ► Ancestry.co.uk > Poland
Ancestry.co.uk’s Poland family history research page. Record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you. - ► Archives
Polish genealogy and history. Includes links to other governmental and private resources to aid you in your search. - ► ThoughtCo.com – Vital Records Around the World
Vital records—birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates and divorce decrees—are some of the best resources to help build a family tree. Access guides, links and databases of vital records in countries around the world. - ► Genealodzy.pl
Polish website including a forum and many links to resources. Polish language. - Polish Genealogy & Family History
ul.Rakowiecka 2D, 02-517 Warszawa
tel.(+48 22) 565-46-00, fax (+48 22) 565-46-14
email: ndap@archiwa.gov.pl
Access to State Archives
Persons interested in tracing their relatives who were soldiers, seamen, and airmen in the Polish Armed Forces under British Operational Command, should in the first instance write to the Polish Section MOD where their individual service files are held:
Ministry of Defence
APC Disclosures 5 (Polish)Building 1 (Ops)
RAF Northolt
West End Road,
Ruislip
Middlesex,
HA4 6NG
Telephone: + 48 20 8833 8603
e-mail: NOR-PolishDiscOffice@mod.uk
Persons wishing to trace ancestors who served in the Polish Armed Forces prior to 1939 should write to:
Central Military Archives
ul.Czerwonych Beretów
12400-910 Warsaw-Rembertów
Poland
Persons wishing to trace ancestors who served in the Polish Army in France 1939-1940 and who subsequently did not serve under British Operational Command should write to:
Bureau Central des Archives Administratives Militaires
Caserne Bernadotte
64023 Pau
France
Persons wishing to trace ancestors who were POWs following the Polish 1939 Campaign should write to:
Central Museum of POWs in Łambinowice
ul. Minorytów 345-019
Opole
Poland
With the information from the above institutions researchers can then approach the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum to request whether any additional information may be found.
Postal enquiries to the Archive take 5 – 6 months to be processed.
Useful Website: http://www.pism.co.uk/family_research.htm
Some of the above websites may require a fee for access to some or all of its content. However, Library users can currently access Ancestry.co.uk without charge.
If you have discovered any other useful sites for tracing Polish ancestry, please pass on the details to us so they can be included in the list to help others. Please use the “Contact Us” button on the Anglo Polish Society website.
Happy Searching!
