Popiel - Popel - Pappal Heritage

If its Tuesday it must be… ahh… Poland?

Poland didn’t exist as an independent nation from 1795-1918. Our ancestors and old country relatives lived in several countries without moving from their house, so their nationality depends on the year in question. They were ethnic Rusyn (one of the Ukrainian ethnicities), Boiko specifically. The country at the time they immigrated (1909-1914) was Austria and the province was Galicia.

Sometimes the country they were living depends on which side of the San river they had their homes. The river was the border between Poland and the USSR after WWII. The river splits Chmiel and Zatwarnica and I haven't been able to determine on which side of the river they were living. The Popels were probably in the USSR part. In 1951 Poland/USSR negotiated a border adjustment and both villages became entirely in Poland. But, regardless, by that time everyone was forcibly moved out, no one lived there.


This time-lapsed video illustrates the border changes from year 1500 to 2000. Our ancestors born before 1772, Like Kasimierz, were likely born in what was called Poland at the time.


Nations Timeline 1500 to 2000

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Where ethic groups lived was much more stable over time. What country they lived in, not so much.

Ethnic Groups 1910

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