This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Link & Parr Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/wl4.2ACEB/478 Message Board Post: I recently uncovered this information from the National Archives of Canada, but my reach has stopped there, anything more would have to come from Europe directly. In 1927, my grandfather Wilhelm (Later William) Parr (age 34) immigrated to Canada from Poland alone. He departed from Liverpool on the ship “Montrose” and arrived in Quebec, his destination was listed as (L.I.B. 439 Main St. Winnipeg Manitoba.) He was born (1892) in what was then Ugartsberg or (Ugersberg) (Lwow), Galacia (Austrian Poland) and is now L’viv, Ukraine. He was listed as a Farmer by occupation. I know he had a brother named Filip (Philip) Parr also from the same place. Two years later in 1929 his wife and four children immigrated to Canada on the ship “Antonia” Cunard arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Their destination was listed as Wolseley, Saskatchewan. His wife Selma K. Link, (age 28, born 1901) along with their 2 daughters Fryda K. Parr (age 9) & Matyida K. Parr (age 4) and 2 sons Edward Parr (age 5) & Wilhelm (William or Bill) Parr (Age 7). They were all born in what was then Jaworow, Galacia (Austrian Poland), and is now Yavoriv, Ukraine. They lived in Neudorf, Saskatchewan with the 4 kids and had 11 more. (Alvin, Annette, Rudolf, Bruno, Jack, Harold, Clarence, Albert, Marlene, Helen, and a baby which died at birth.)- total of 9 boys and 5 girls (excluding the baby). Their nationalities were listed as Poland, but their Race/People and spoken Language was listed as German. I would like any existing information on their ancestors or relatives living or dead. I have had a near impossible time trying to find any direct data on their surnames. Seems they had very rare names for the region. If anyone has any information or knows where I can access the data I need, please let me know. I have tried every Genealogy, Geographical and Historical reference site I could find but nothing has come up. Special Note: I did come across a site that listed a Jakob SCHANZ – born 3 JUN 1862, in Ugartsberg, Galicia. Married to Karolina PARR born 19 NOV 1889, in Ugartsberg, Galcia. And having 4 Children : 1. Wilhelm SCHANZ - born 13 AUG 1890, Ugartsberg, Galicia. 2. Philipp SCHANZ - born 27 DEC 1892, Ugartsberg, Galicia. 3. Katharina SCHANZ - born 13 NOV 1894, Ugartsberg, Galicia. 4. Michael SCHANZ - born 23 SEP 1896, Ugartsberg, Galicia. Perhaps Wilhelm took on his Mothers Maiden Name for reason and continued to pass in on through his marriage to Selma. If these are in fact his true parents. I could be completely wrong about this, but his first name is spelled the same way, and he lists a brother named Filip Parr, and his birth date is almost exactly as estimated with a difference of only 2 years. The similarities are amazing. I was also told that Wilhelm served in WW1 and WW2. I am told that some of his sons also served in WW2 from Canada. On the side of the Allies. I have yet to collect any Military information on them. However with the help along the way I get closer and closer to solving the mystery each day. Sept 18, 2001 – A new twist to the mystery. Information sent to me by my half sister (Diane Parr) that she said was presented to her by a well known Polish Author. These names are not Slavic, and none of my sources on Polish or Ukrainian names mention them. According to the _Dictionary of Surnames_ by Hanks and Hodges, PARR can be a name of English origin, from Old English _pearr_, "enclosure." But it can also come from a Low German term _parre_, "parish, district," perhaps meaning "member of the parish." I would think a German name would be more likely to show up in Ukraine than an English one, althouogh of course there are always exceptions. LINK generally comes from German _linke_, "left hand," which could be a name borne by Germans or by Jews, referring to an ancestor who was left-handed. Germans left their homeland, fleeing war, economic trouble, and religious persecution, to resettle all over eastern Europe. We find large numbers of them in Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and so on. Unfortunately, I can find nothing about either name that is much help in trying to trace an individual family. Germans and German-speaking Jews moved east beginning in the Middle Ages and continuing until recent centuries, so in most cases the move happened too long ago for any records to exist or survive that would shed light on a specific family's history. I also spoke with mom who said that her mother celebrated Jewish holidays, that she would cook on Hanukkah and ash Wednesday and they could never figure out why..lol. She also said that her father said his religion was Orthodox before coming to Canada but she said her mothers was something completely different but not Catholic. She doesn’t think her mothers was Orthodox but seeing as she did recognize the Jewish holidays, perhaps she was or she was following a different religion altogether having lived in Poland. So, another headbanger..lol. These were the only parr names that were found during the 1600's for Parr at one site, just don’t ask me where that site was. Parr, -- ... 1469 Parr, Cathar ... 1463 Parr, Elizabeth ... 1635. Parr, John ... 1635 I also found a couple of names for Link as well... Link,Tadeusz Link,Jan Link,Andrzej This was the one death relating to link in the town of Jarawow that I could find, althought one is a parent of Chane so I’m not sure if that’s related.. The Father of the deceased: Osias Link Mother Chane 1882 B 347 1882 F Osias LINK Chasie HALPERN 1394 So there may be some better luck through the Jewish communities, Grandmother may not have been an Orthodox Jew but I am sure there is more than one Jewish religion. Ill send whatever I find when I find it or receive my enquiries back Sept 18, 2001 – Special Note: Trying to connect some of the clues together. 1. Mother said that Grandmother had sold an Apple Farm to get the Money to bring herself and the 4 children to Canada. 2. Wilhelm had $86 in his possession when he immigrated to Canada in 1927, and Selma had $100 when she came with the children in 1929. This was far more money then the majority of ships passengers who were recorded with most carrying up to $25. So they seemed to fairly well off back home in Galacia. 3. They left Galacia many years before WW2 began. If they were well off then why leave it all behind to start a new life in Canada, a strange land with nothing at the time? 4. Mother said that her Parents were an arranged Marriage, and being that their oldest son at the time was 7 years of age, then one might assume that she was around 20-21 and he was 26-27 when they married. 5. The surnames seem non-existent in the region of their origin. Could they have had longer names which they shortened and could they have changed religions (From Orthodox to Lutheran) when they immigrated to Canada? 6. It has been said that Wilhelm forbid Selma to speak Polish and made it very clear that they must only speak German. (This must have been back in Galacia) Why? 7. When the Family was growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada, it was said that the community they lived in constantly picked on them. It was mainly German speak immigrants but the Parr’s German was not the same as the other German. Why? 8. Why would our Grandmother celebrate Jewish Holidays if she was not of Jewish descent or affiliation? 9. Grandmother was recalled to have mentioned Russians coming into their town and taking their livestock. 10. Seems Grandmother may have been a Polish Speaking Protestant AB Orthodox Jew, and was arranged to Marry Grandfather a German speaking Austrian. 11. The name “Link” comes up in several Jewish databases for L’vov (Lwow) Getto 42-45 and in holocaust survivor records. So its more likely she was in fact Jewish as far as her surname relates.