Looking for the Klarnett Family

Dear Friends Can any one help me. I am trying to research my family from Lipno Poland. The name is Klarnett some times said Clarnett. The person is Marks Klarnett and his wife Leah? Thank you. Douglas Rimmer.

No-one in today's Poland is named Klarnett and there is no record of anyone having it. There is also no-one named Klarnet (one t) at present, but the name has been registered. Either they have all died off or emigrated or data is incomplete.
Klarnet is the Polłish translation for the reed instrument clarinet. The double t looks a bit German but in German the instrument is called eine Klarinette. However, in the field of onamastics (name sturdy) so many different things have occurred -- misspellings, respellings, abbreviations, translations (eg Górski to Berg when the Germans marched in and took over) that most anything is possible.

Thank you for your reply to my question about the search for the Klarnett family. You are correct I have found the spellings different Clarnett may yeald some results. I think in the past the name was written as it was heard so K and c get mixed up. Any Clarnett, Clarnet, Klairnette, or other spellings may help me. I will keep trying. Yours sincerely Doug

Dear Friends During my research into the Klarnett family name the area of "Lipno" has come to light a couple of times. I was wondering does the area still exist today in modern poland, and what is it like? I would love to know if there is a synagogue in that area. This may help me trace my ancestors. Clarnett may also be the same name as spellings do change. Thank you. Yours sincerely Doug.

your metnion of a Jewish conenction makes sense, because roving Jewish musicians had long been a standard fixture throughout the sprawling Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (in Polish: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów -- once Europe's largest land empire!) and beyond. Music-related surnames such as Skrzypek or Grajek (Fiedler in Yiddish), Cymbalista (Zimbalist), Śpiewak (Singer), etc. were quite common and some form of Klarnet would certainly fit in.

Dear Polonius3 Thank you for your thoughts on the family links. My research shows that Marks Klarnett was a Tailor and not a Musician. I am not sure about the surname connection to music but I wont discard it until I know the truth. It is an interesting addition. Does the name schwartz have any connections like this as I just found out Marks wife was a Leah Schwartz. I was also told by a local polish man that records were destroyed during the war to keep the people safe from the Germans. Is there any truth in this? I guess it makes sense if your trying to hide to save your life. And things done in the war would be very different to peace time. Doug.

We are talking about the possible origin of the surname Klarnet (in whatever spelling), and that has no conection to your ancestor's practiced profession. By then Klarnet was probably already fuicntioning as an inherited surname, so he did not take on the name Schneider (Tailor), as people of earlier centuries would have done. Just as people today named Piekarz (Polish), Becker (German/Yiddish) or Baker do not necesdsarily bake bread for a living. Schwarz or Schwartz is German/Yiddish for black. The original bearer may have ineed been dark-complected with raven hair, but again that does not mean someone several generations on looked exactly ther same. Or he may have been called that for toponymic reasons, ie he hailed from Schwarzfeld or Schwarzdorf (Blackfield or Blackville).

Dear Polonius3 Thank you again for your help. I understand what you mean about the origin of the surname now, just like Cooper may have made barrels etc. Fletcher Arrows and so on. If I assume no Klarnetts are left living in Poland today I would need to back track several generations to find the missing links to my family. Are there records of the Klarnett/Clarnett surname before 1900 and if so where would I find them to look at? If I could trace a birth record for Marks I might be able to find his mothers details. His gravestone gives his father as Samuel. A marriage certificate would also be really nice. I am just unsure if this type of record still or ever existed. Here in England we have census records every ten years giving details of family's living at one address. Does this exist in Poland? sincerely yours Doug

I don't know if the Mormons of Salt Lake City have Jewish records on hand, but it's worth checking into. Here in Poland you'd have to touch base with a genealogical researcher. Let me know if interested.

Dear Polonius3 Thank you very much for all your help and answers to my questions. I will try looking at the Mormon index for Jewish records as they may be helpful. I will let you know in due time if I choose to employ a researcher in Poland. But for now I want to try and solve the puzzle myself. In the meantime if you come accross the name Klarnett/Clarnett in any records I would love to hear about them. Thanks again for your time and kindness. Sincerely Yours Douglas W Rimmer.

Dear Friends
Can any one tell me if ships passenger lists sailing from Poland to England about 1874/5 exist or am I just wishful thinking? It would be helpful if I could find the Klarnett/Clarnett family traveling to the Uk. The dates are just a guess based on the last child born in Poland was Sarah in 1873 and Isaac born London 1876. The web seems to have a number of these lists from England to America but few coming the other way. The Klarnett surname does show up in America but I cant connect them to the family at the moment. Thank you. Doug.

Have you visited polishroots.com? Among its resrouces it contains ship-passenger lists which may be helpful. Good luck!

Dear Polonius3 Thank you for the latest suggestion I will try the Polishroots.com site today. I know this research is not easy but I think you will agree the chase is most exciting. Thanks again. Doug