The origin of my maiden name LAWRUK?

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Edited by: Moderator Oct 25, 10, 04:03 #1

I'd like to know the origin of my maiden name LAWRUK... I have a few clues, but I am often asked by my relatives and friends what nationality is it.
My great grandfather was born in Austria in 1852. His name was Nicholas Lawruk and he was married to Anna (?) born in Ukraine in 1876. Nicholas came to Canada in 1911 or 1912.
Anna and her two sons Antoine (my grandfather) and Michael followed.
My grandfather, Antoine was born June 1904 in Husiatyn, Tarnopol (Austria) Poland.
My grandfather, Antoine spoke Austrian, Ukrainian and Polish and English.
Since the borders were moved so frequently back then, it is hard to pin down what nationality
'Lawruk' is and it's meaning. One relative suggested 'Lawruk' was actually a name of a town.
Was there a historical significance of why they escaped?

Help!
Kindest regards,
Stephanie Lawruk Kennery

1jolaThreads: 33 Posts: 2,737 Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂	Edited by: 1jola Oct 25, 10, 08:21 #2
The spelling of your name would be Ławruk. There are 43 people in Poland with that name: http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/%25C5%2582awruk.html and probably a lot more in the Ukraine. On the map, in red is where your possible relatives might live. Galicia.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Oct 25, 10, 09:14 #3
ŁAWRUK: Ukrainian patronymic nick from first name Lavrentiy (Eng: Ławrence; Polish: Wawrzyniec), hence originally meaning something like 'Larry's kid'.

ficelle1Threads: 1 Posts: 1 Joined: Oct 25, 10 ♀	Oct 25, 10, 14:24 #4
Good morning 1jola and Polonius3! Thanks you so much for your information. Wow! I will be sure to keep and share this information with my family. You have been so helpful. Kind regards from Canada, Stephanie

France	Apr 7, 11, 04:59 #5
Hi ! I'm also a Lawruk. My Grand-Parents were from Kolomyia in Ukraine. They came at Montreal, Quebec, Canada in april 1912. They had 4 children and only one is still alive, aunt Olga, who will be 91 yo next september.

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Apr 7, 11, 05:37 #6

ficelle1:

I'd like to know the origin of my maiden name LAWRUK

Lawruk comes either from "lavr" - "laurel" in Ukrainian, or "lavra" - which is a religious place where monks live in a separate kelias (cells). Since there is an old Bernadine church and monastery from 1610, it might well explain the origin of the name and its possible roots in this little town. Husiatyn in Ternopil region (Ukraine) is a very known historic place. Trypilian settlement was found there by archeologists and very diverse community lived in Husiatyn over its history: Ukrainians, Polish, Jews, Austrians.

ficelle1:

Was there a historical significance of why they escaped?

Years 1891-1914 are considered the 1st wave of Ukrainian migration to Canada. The conditions in Galicia, especially in regards to the land, were harsh and this forced many to look for a better life on Canadian soil. It was a lucky time to move because the WWI followed and then Ukrainian-Polish-Soviet wars which destroyed much of Galicia.

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