"Thanks, for the info Tom. I also have a friend named Tom O'Kruta from WVA/OH areas. Cathy Raber" - - - - - - - - - - Hello again Cathy ... It's interesting that the Polish surname Okruta has evolved into O'Kruta as you spell it. Unless you know the specific reason surrounding this evolution, as is obvious, there was probably an Irish connection somewhere "up the line". I've never seen this transformation, in this way, in the past, however, I can tell you that in all my research into the old records of Poland, and for that matter, even in the US, the first to settle in most area's were the Irish. There are sections of Poland where "colonists" were permitted to settle in the extreme early years. Over time, they became acculturated and assimilated, speaking the Polish language with the Irish surnames eventually overwhelmed by the Polish. Every once in awhile I would see an "Irish" surname listed, but this was the exception by far, never the rule. In this particular case, the Polish surname spelling has been retained with the seperation indicator between the letters "O" and "k" which is common enough in the Irish way. Very interesting. Tom Lassek Eufaula Alabama