Birthplace: Austria/Poland

[ccaufield]

I've located a US federal census from 1900 - it lists my Grandmothers birthplace as Poland, Austria. Can anyone help me with the history that might explain why a birthplace would be described as Poland/Austria? I can understand Poland/Russia...but this one is stumping me! Thank-you!

[clancam37]

Hullo,
History and Wars altered many boundaries in Europe.
My Grandparents were born in Prague, Austria (per birth certificates) whereas people correct me today when I mention Prague, Austria. You mean Prague, Hungary.   Family History needs to be examined in context with History.
All the best with your research.
Regards
clancam37

I've located a US federal census from 1900 - it lists my Grandmothers birthplace as Poland, Austria. Can anyone help me with the history that might explain why a birthplace would be described as Poland/Austria? I can understand Poland/Russia...but this one is stumping me! Thank-you!

[mirl]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_of_Poland

Poland didn't exist as a separate country between 1795 and 1919, its various regions being absorbed by Germany, Austria and Russia.  This link helps explain it a bit.

Poland/Austria would refer to the area of Poland under Austrian administration, such a Lwow/Lvov where my wife's family are from.

Subsequent boundary changes after both world wars further confuse the issue.

[ccaufield]

Thank-you! I did some digging and read up on the partitions last night. So I can assume when I see a document indicating Austria/Poland and Russia/Poland they had ancestors from the original state of Poland, but were now living or lived in a partitioned section?

Lol, this Polish ancestry research is WAY harder than the UK and Germany! Thank-you!

[JustinL]

You will more commonly see "Austrian-Poland" referred to as Galizien (in German) or Galicia (in English).

Russian-Poland was often known as Congress Poland in reference to the borders that were defined after the Congress of Vienna in 1815.