Brigitte Truschinski

There is a Brigitte Erkens-Truschinski in Germany. When I first found this person on the internet, I was initially very happy. My research shows that I have a 2nd cousin who is named Brigitte Truschinsky who was born in Latvia in 1936. I looked further into this name and found her AIM "handle" and her profile said that she was 55 years old. That would mean that she was born after 1950, so it isn't the same person. Bummer.

DNA Results are in

They arrived late last night. There are 12 exact matches to people in the FamilyTreeDNA.com system. I ordered the most basic, "12 marker" test. To further refine the results, I will have to order the 37 marker test. Of course, the more matches the greater the likelihood of a close biological relationship.

It is unlikely this will yield much new information for my genealogical research, unless I get others who share a similar surname to take the test, as well. I can think of a number individuals I would like to take the test but given they don't even reply to emails, it is unlikely they will take a DNA test for this purpose.

Oh, one more thing: overall, the most matches were with people in Norway (as a percentage of those in the FamilyTreeDNA.com system). I did find that to be interesting!

I'm back

We arrived from Europe this last Monday. Jane and I visited Iceland, Sweden (2nd time for me) and Finland.

Now that I am back, I have ordered my DNA kit from Family Tree DNA. I've started a group based upon my surname. If people have a similar surname to Trusinsky, they are invited to join the group and -in return- they receive a price $50 lower than if they joined on their own. The lower price is $99 for the base kit. The kit examines the DNA of a male descendant that remains unchanged from generation to generation. It is for this reason that the group is based upon the surname, as the son of Trusinsky has the surname of Trusinsky, etc. However, that being said, I have found at least 4 different spellings of Trusinsky in the documents I have found for my ancestors. I am sure that these are relatives (unless, of course, someone was adopted along the way...).

Here is the link to the project.

You say Truschinski, I say Trusinsky...

After my wife and I get back from Europe I think I am going to order a DNA test for genealogical research. It will trace a particular gene that is passed from father to son. That means, if, for example, someone 300 years ago had three or four male children and they had children, etc., those people male children and their descendants will have the same gene and a relationship will be proven. At Family Tree DNA they then compare the results with their database. One then has the opportunity to contact others. I know I won't find another "Trusinsky", but I just might find another Trusinski or Trusinskis, etc.

Why the title? It is my own take on the ditty, "you say tomAto, I say tomOto". I mention it because there aren't many "Trusinsky's" in the world, but, as I have mentioned before, I've found at least four variations of the spelling of Trusinsky amongst the documents discovered in my research. I've brainstormed all of the variations of "Trusinsky" and checked the internet. I'm going to list them here and in another posting on the blog in the hopes that some of them find this site and send me a note!

Truschinsky

I was searching that Latvian website yesterday and found 3 Truschinskys. Needless to say, I am QUITE pleased about finding them. One was of a marriage record in Riga, but that record had listed the gentleman's birth location so I dug through those records and found his birth record. His first and last name coincided with my grandfather's uncle. Of course, that birth record listed the father's name. That's two Truschinskys. The third Truschinsky was found in a record for a female in the town where I found the birth record I mentioned earlier. I had never heard of her, so it might be an interesting chase to find her relationship. In fact, after this posting, I think I will try to find her birth record and see if there is a relationship with the Truschinsky I had just found.

The search goes on...

Oh, one more note: in two of the three records I had just found it shows an alternate spelling of Truschinsky. That is not particularly common. I have found AT LEAST four different spellings for my last name, Trusinsky.

New Pictures

Here are some pictures I received from my Gangnus contact in Germany. Thanks! And,ultimately, a BIG thanks to Petra Stockhausen who's the owner of these pictures. Remember, CLICK on the images to get a larger view of them!

This is Leontine Truschinsky.


This is Leontine Truschinsky -on left- and then her daughter, Gertrude just behind her. The gentleman in the picture is Leontine's husband, Erwin Gangnus.


Leontine, Gertrude and most likely Helmut Gangnus. If it is Helmut, it must be in 1942.


This picture is one that I got from my grandmother, Lydia (Till) Trusinsky. I posted it here because her husband, Alex (Sasha), is the brother to Leontine and the cause of my interest. While this is a picture of Lydia and her husband Alex, if you compare it with the other picture, don't Leontine and Alex look very alike??!! RIGHT click on this image to compare it with the previous image on a side-by-side basis.



This picture is of Leontine, Erwin and Gertrude (on the right side of the image). The remaining child is unknown and cannot be Helmut because there is around a 12 year difference in age between Gertrude and Helmut.



This final picture is of Leontine, Erwin and Helmut in the carriage.

Trusinskis

I know I had promised more information, but I have been working on fixing a computer for many hours over the recent days. (I still haven't been told those records I am waiting for from the LDS have arrived yet...)

Anyway, I do have some good news from today. Someone did a google search for "Trusinskis" and found this site! I am hoping that they know and/or are related to a Trusinskis in Latvia. The search did originate in Latvia, so maybe I will be lucky.

If you are that person, post a message on how to contact you!

Looking for people with these surnames...

After you read this, if you want to contact me, post a comment and I will contact you. The comment won't actually be posted, because I have to "approve" the comments before that can occur, so don't worry about your email being published!!!

The surnames below are from my family tree and had a presence in Latvia upto and, some, after World War II. I know some of them left Latvia and lived in Diplaced Persons Camps in Germany after World War II. The names with the "s" on the end are the Latvian spellings. Some chose to return to Latvia, some stayed in Germany, while others moved to Australia and (my closest relations) to the US. Most of these families would identify themselves as German families who lived in Latvia prior to WWII. If you are aware of anyone -of course, including yourself- who has a similar family story and one of the last names listed below, please post a comment on this page and I will promptly get back to you. Any information you share will NOT be published here without your permission! Indeed, even if you gave your permission, I might only add first names or maiden names or additional surnames about which I am as of yet unaware. If you live in any of the regions cited, and you know of a good online database of births and deaths, send me note so that I can find some of these people! Finally, spellings are approximations, so if you know one that is very close, but not listed here, please let me know! Thanks for your help!!!

Trusinskis
Truschinski -lots in Germany
Trusinski
von Trusinsky
Porins -two specifically in Austrailia that I know have since passed away, Leontina and Vilis
Porin
Gangnuss- Helmut, Helmuts; in Australia. Is about 65 years old. Helmut! Email me!
Till -Johan (died in 1968 in Heidelberg), Ella (died in 1977 in Berlin), Eugene (died sometime in East Germany, but was born in 1884); Johan had two children named Valentine and Waltraut; Eugene had two children (found so far) and married Carolina Gunter, who died in 1936 in Latvia. They had children named Leontina and Oda Till. Amandus Till (Tils), who died in Latvia in 1950, had three children, Johan, Anna and Marie.
Tils -same as above
Til -same as above
Balodes -may be a very common name in Latvia
Balode
Murman- Otto, born in late 1800s, married Ella Till
Ahrens- Anna, married to Ernst Till, died in 1929, but had two siblings, Eward and Alexander.

Weigart -Mary, died in Germany around 1970; had siblings named Michael, Lizette, and Edward. She had other siblings, though they died in Latvia and were named Julia and Andres
Weigarts -same as above
Wihgert

UPDATE: I have more information than listed above. Contact me if interested!

Of course, the vast majority of these people have long since passed away, but maybe some of their descendents may find this and help make some connections!