Polish roots can be extremely interesting and sometimes very challenging.
Often unable to read or write, many early Polish pioneers came to America and were dependent upon Americans of English, Irish, or Scotch roots to understand and interpret pronunciations of Polish words and names into the English language. As a result, the names of many Polish ancestors were often misunderstood and frequently misspelled. Modern Polish-Americans often have difficulty in trying to find written records concerning their ancestors because of the misunderstandings and misspellings. Typical examples can be found in the 1910 and 1912 South Bend City Directories, where several Polish families changed their names from Marzal to Marshall, yet retained their Polish first names. As with many other names in various ethnic groups, Polish surnames have meanings, providing keys to geographical locations or deeds of valor.