About Us

We find the people
history tried to forget.

The Polish Genealogist is a specialist genealogical research firm dedicated to tracing family histories rooted in Poland and the wider Central and Eastern European region. We work with clients across the globe — from descendants of wartime emigrants to families separated by borders that no longer exist. Our work is thorough, methodical, and personal. Every case is different. Every name matters.

Who we are

Founded over a decade ago by researchers with backgrounds in history, archival science, and linguistics, The Polish Genealogist was built on a simple belief: access to your family’s past should not depend on knowing where to look. Many of our clients come to us having hit dead ends — records destroyed in the war, name changes at borders, villages that have changed hands between countries multiple times in a single century.

We navigate that complexity every day. Our team reads old Cyrillic, German, Latin, and Russian-era administrative documents. We know which archives hold which records — and crucially, which records survived and which did not. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of individuals piece together family stories that span generations, continents, and histories they never knew they had.

Why we stand out

Tailored to your case — not a template

Before we begin any research, we conduct a detailed intake process to understand what you already know, what you are trying to find, and what level of evidence you need. We do not offer pre-packaged reports. Every project is scoped individually, and our methodology adapts to the specific regions, time periods, and record types involved.

Your data is handled with full discretion

Genealogical research is deeply personal. It often surfaces sensitive information — adoptions, illegitimacies, name changes, trauma. We treat everything you share — and everything we discover — with absolute confidentiality. All data is stored securely and managed in full compliance with GDPR. We never share client information with third parties.

Far beyond a document search

Our research draws on civil and church records, military conscription lists, emigration manifests, land registries, census data, and DNA analysis. We work with archives in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, Austria, and Israel — and we maintain relationships with local researchers in regions where remote access is limited or impossible.

Our dedication

Genealogical research in Central and Eastern Europe is genuinely difficult. Record survival is uneven. Village names have changed — sometimes multiple times. Administrative borders have shifted across three or four different empires and states within living memory. Our team has spent years learning how to navigate this landscape, and we take that responsibility seriously. We never oversell what is possible, and we never give up before the evidence does.

“Some families ask us to confirm what they already suspect. Others have no idea what we might find. Both require the same standard of care — and occasionally, the same willingness to sit with a difficult discovery.”

Our vision

We believe that a family history is not just a list of names and dates. It is a record of decisions made under pressure — who left, who stayed, who changed their name, who converted, who survived. Understanding those decisions — and the world that forced them — changes the way people understand themselves.

Our aim is not simply to produce documents. It is to give clients something they can pass on: a coherent, honest account of where they come from, grounded in verified evidence and explained in plain language. We want that account to be something a grandchild can read in thirty years and still find meaningful.

Our values

Accuracy above speed

We do not rush findings to meet a deadline. If a record needs re-examination or a source needs verification, we take the time. Our clients’ trust is built on the reliability of our work.

Honest about limitations

Not every question can be answered. Records are lost, destroyed, or simply never created. We tell clients what we found, what we did not find, and what that means — clearly and without false hope.

Sensitivity with difficult findings

Research sometimes surfaces unexpected or painful information. We approach those moments carefully, giving clients time to process and providing context that helps them understand what the evidence shows.

Respect for the people behind the records

Every entry in a registry was a real person. We try to carry that awareness through our work — handling names, dates, and documents as the remnants of real lives, not just data points.