Geographical terms

The words below appear frequently in birth, marriage, and death records, as well as books of residents and other records.

In current use:

wieś village
miasto town or city
osada settlement / town
gmina an administrative district
powiat a larger administrative district incorporating several gmina; often translated as “county”
wojewódstwo the largest administrative unit (anglicized version: voivodeship)

No longer in use:

gubernia “territorial subdivision of prerevolutionary Russia” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Thinking of joining CRARG? Feel free to write to me (danielkazez@crarg.org) to ask if we have records for your family! —Daniel Kazez, CRARG President (a volunteer/unpaid position)

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