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Isabel Smart is looking for Jack Leights Jazzband, in which my father was a violinist. I have a photo of the band but am not techsavvy, so don't know how to get it to Isabel. Can I leave my email address for a direct contact?

What I know about my family origins:

Family knowledge is that my grandparents came from Krakow area and were possibly innkeepers. They were certainly devoutly Jewish and came to England but are not on 1891 census but are on 1901 census.

They arrived with two small children and ended up in Liverpool -it is thought they were victims of a scam and were diddled out of tickets to America.

ORMIANER surname suggests an Armenian origin, as an Armenian in the Polish language is Ormianin. It is thought that an 'ER suffix appeared when, in 1787, Jews had to have 'specific family names' which were often chosen for them by civil servants (source): Nelly Weiss: Origin of Jewish Family Names 2002)

There are quite a number of ORMIANER names that come up during my searches but I have never been able to make a direct link to any of them.

I realise it's very little to go on but there may be a Rootschatter out there that has come across a similar situation.

Thanks

Hello, I am very pleased to find Rootschat! I am researching my father's early life. His name was Harold (or Harry) Ormianer, born in 1901 in Liverpool. I have got a lot of the usual stuff but I am looking for help with:

1. His life as a musician in 1920s/1930s in the following bands/orchestras - Mirabile Band, Embassy Bohemian Band, Jack Leight's Band. I suspect they are all Liverpool-based. He also played violin on the Elder Dempster ships 'Adda' and Apapa'.

2. Origin of surname - Family (Abraham, Hannah, Samuel and Fanny ORMIANER) came to England circa 1890s and ended up in Liverpool. They were a Jewish family and Abraham became a journeyman glazier.

My research so far suggests their early roots were Armenian and they came from Krakow area.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Mike Ormian