Ganczarz (Gancarz) and Skiba from Stare Siolo, Galicia

[Larry S]

I have noted several references to the family name “Gancarz”, and wonder if there are connections to my family.

My Grandmother was Eva Ganczarz, born in Stare Siolo, Galicia.
Different documents I have come across have interpreted her surname to be Gancarz, Ganiare and Gantorz.

Born March 10, 1878, she traveled to Canada aboard the SS Bulgaria, arriving in Halifax, June 5, 1899, and continued by train to Winnipeg. As a travel document, she was issued a Testimony of Baptism certificate by the local Greek Catholic church in Stare Siolo, dated May 12, 1899.

This document identifies her father as Tomas (or Tominko) Ganczarz, and her mother as Anna Jakimicha, daughter of Georgii Jakimicha. Witnesses are shown as Anna and Cassimirus Ganczarz. All parties are of Stare Siolo.

Many of the relatives she traveled with settled in the Dauphin/Sifton area of Manitoba where Ganczarz eventually became Gancher.

In Winnipeg, she married my Grandfather, Georgius Skiba ( Юрій СКІБА ), also born in Stare Siolo. He traveled to Canada aboard the SS Arcadia, arriving in Montreal, May 2, 1897, and continued by train to Winnipeg.

His Testimony of Baptism certificate issued Oct 13, 1896, by the same Greek Catholic church in Stare Siolo, shows his date of birth as May 3, 1860. His father is shown as Ioannes (Ivan) Skiba, son of Jacobi Skiba and Eudocia Woroniak, possible daughter of Demetrio Woroniak. His Mother is shown as Catherine Czay, daughter of Josephi Czay and mother Maryae. Witness is shown as Theodorus Skiba. All parties are of either Stare Siolo, Sucha Wola or Lipina.

Their marriage certificate, issued in Winnipeg, confirms the names of their parents.

I also have family links to Petrashko, Tracz (Tpay) and Rudko, all from Galicia who settled in Manitoba.

Any feedback or comments on these people would be much appreciated.

[IreneLviv]

I have been on three expeditions to Stare Selo exploring the Castle- have spoken to many villagers - but no Skiba or Hanchar among them. This name Hanchar exists in Ukraine- it is different from Honchar, but not as popular. Skiba is a very popular name.

[Hannia]

Welcome Larry,

There were two Stare Siolo (Old Village) in Galicia during the Austro-Hungarian Period. I suspect that
your ancestral village might be the one located in what is Poland today??? The one in Ukraine was
in the Bobrka powiat during Hapsburg Period. Today it is in Peremyshlyany raion/district.
_____________________________________________________________________________

From late 18th century to 1919 wies/village Stare Siolo was predominantly a Ruthenian/Ukrainian village
w/its own Greek Catholic Church. The filial RC Church and the Jewish Kahal were in Oleszyce. Cieszanow
was the POWIAT (administrative district-county) and Lubaczow was the GMINA (judicial-tax district)>
Galicia Province, administered by ethnic Poles for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1919 thru WW2,
the region came under Reconstituted Poland's domain, Technically Poland had not existed as a geopolitical
entity for the previous 125 yrs. Under Polish domain Lubaczow became the powiat and Lwow was the
wojiwodstwo/region. Post WW2, Poland was under Communist domain.

Stare Siolo was/is 2.5 miles ENE of Sucha Wola. Lupina/?LIPINA and Sucha Wola abut each other.
Sucha Wola had its own GC Church. Everything else re govt same as above.

I used Mapquest (M) on Stletlseeker to locate villages above.
JewishGen ShtetlSeeker – Town Search

[Larry S]

Originally Posted by IreneLviv

I have been on three expeditions to Stare Selo exploring the Castle- have spoken to many villagers - but no Skiba or Hanchar among them. This name Hanchar exists in Ukraine- it is different from Honchar, but not as popular. Skiba is a very popular name.

Thank you for your response. Just some quick notes.

- My Grandparents were from Stare Siolo, Austrian Empire, circa 1897, now in present day Poland, not from Stare Selo, southeast of L’viv, where the castle is.
- Does Ganczarz translate to Hanchar ?, something like Гaнчаг ?, or am I way off. My Ukrainian is not very good, but I’m learning.

[Larry S]

Originally Posted by Hannia

Welcome Larry,

There were two Stare Siolo (Old Village) in Galicia during the Austro-Hungarian Period. I suspect that
your ancestral village might be the one located in what is Poland today??? The one in Ukraine was
in the Bobrka powiat during Hapsburg Period. Today it is in Peremyshlyany raion/district.
_____________________________________________________________________________

From late 18th century to 1919 wies/village Stare Siolo was predominantly a Ruthenian/Ukrainian village
w/its own Greek Catholic Church. The filial RC Church and the Jewish Kahal were in Oleszyce. Cieszanow
was the POWIAT (administrative district-county) and Lubaczow was the GMINA (judicial-tax district)>
Galicia Province, administered by ethnic Poles for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From 1919 thru WW2,
the region came under Reconstituted Poland's domain, Technically Poland had not existed as a geopolitical
entity for the previous 125 yrs. Under Polish domain Lubaczow became the powiat and Lwow was the
wojiwodstwo/region. Post WW2, Poland was under Communist domain.

Stare Siolo was/is 2.5 miles ENE of Sucha Wola. Lupina/?LIPINA and Sucha Wola abut each other.
Sucha Wola had its own GC Church. Everything else re govt same as above.

I used Mapquest (M) on Stletlseeker to locate villages above.
JewishGen ShtetlSeeker – Town Search

Thanks Hanna: Yes, it's the Old Village in today's Poland. I have managed to find these locations on Google Earth.

[Hannia]

Larry,

Have you examined the LDS films of GC Records for Stare Siolo (Poland)?

#2003195 POL Stare Siolo Church records 1857-1928, Oleszyce records 1865-1926
______________________________________________________________________

Have you ever used LDS (Mormon Library) for research?

First locate the nearest Family Center below and then order the following films listed by number.
Cost is nominal and films become available to you for several weeks. If that's not enough time,
you can always extend the rental.

FamilySearch.org - Family History Centers
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does Ganczarz translate to Hanchar ?, something like Гaнчаг ?

You are correct, Polish letter grouping RZ is equivalent to letter Р in Ukranian and Gangarz is Ганчар.
Additionally, Skiba is an old interesting surname. It could mean one of two things: MAN, w/MARRIED DAUGHTER,
WHO LIVES ALONE or FERTILE LAYER OF PLOWED SOIL.

Eva Ganczarz

Probably called Yevka by family members. Nickname for Eudokia.

possible daughter of Demetrio Woroniak. His Mother is shown as Catherine Czay, daughter of Josephi Czay and mother Maryae. Witness is shown as Theodorus

Demetrius is polanized version of Dmytro. Catherine Czay = Katerzyna Czay (surname means TEA). Maryae = Marya. Theodorius is polanized version of Teodore (frequent nickname is Fedor or Fedko).

[Larry S]

Hi Hanna:

Thanks for the info on LDS film researching. You’re right, this is the next step.

As, to Skiba, I have found on-line Polish translators that interpret it to mean: ridge, chunk or slice.
In addition, information from some geologic web sites provide the following “technical” descriptions:

The geology of the Carpathian mountain region, “south of Stare Siolo”, contains an overthrust belt (an area where thick rock layers are pushed over one another by compressional forces) of isoclinal folds (when two limbs of a fold lie parallel to each other). The thrust planes are composed of Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene beds of black shales and siliceous sandstones containing an assemblage of foraminifers (marine protozoan) known as the Skole Nappe. The Skole Nappe comprises both Cretaceous and Paleogene flysh (a soft sedimentary rock), and is subdivided into six large overturned slices or faulted folds known as the SKIBA structure units.

So, either my ancestors took their name from, or gave it to, these unique rock structures when they settled in the area.

Any thoughts on the origin of Ganczarz = Gangarz = Ганчар ? I have been told it may have something to do with “pottery” or a “potter”.