Can a Person Have a Polish Surname and Be Prussian?
Historical Background and Ethnic Composition of Prussia
The end of the 18th century saw the partition of Poland among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Consequently, many ethnic Poles found themselves subjects of the Prussian king. By the time Poland regained independence after World War I, the proportions of Polish versus German populations in Prussia had changed significantly. Poland had lost territories to Russia and Prussia had acquired German lands. Nevertheless, there was a continuous significant Polish presence in Prussia due to migration from Polish territories under Russian rule. Additionally, a considerable portion of the Prussian landowning nobility, known as the Junkers, had Polish or Kashubian roots, as evidenced by surnames such as Fritz, Erich, Georg, Eduard, von Lewinski, better known as Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, and Erich Julius Eberhard von dem Bach-Zelewski.
The Impact of Prussian Immigration Policies on Polish Immigrants
During a particular period in Prussian history, the treatment of Polish peasant immigrants was significantly better than in Poland itself. This led to thousands of Poles, including members of the peasant class, immigrating to Prussia and gradually Germanizing over time. As a result, a Polish person who moved to Prussia and married a Prussian girl, for example, would have a son who was half Polish and half Prussian, carrying a Polish surname. His son, in turn, would be only a quarter Polish, and by the third generation, the Polish ancestry might be mostly forgotten.
The Evolution of Surnames and Cultural Identity
The story of Poles with Prussian surnames is not unique to those who immigrated to Prussia. Over the past two centuries, there have been thousands of Poles with German names, mostly descendants of German immigrants to Poland. The intermarriage and assimilation of these ethnic groups further complicated the concept of ethnic identity.
Conclusion
The complex history of Prussia and Poland involves not only political partitions and changes in borders but also significant cultural exchanges. Surnames are often a reflection of these historical events and can provide insights into a family's past. Despite the challenges of maintaining ethnic identity over generations, surnames like von Lewinski and von dem Bach-Zelewski provide a lasting reminder of the intricate cultural mosaic of central Europe.