Bursztyn,??? ,Europe 1800s?

Question

Bursztyn is in Ukraine (Now) but back in the 1800s was it Polish or Ukrainian? (Need info for Family tree research). I am trying to find out my ethnicity.

Answer 1

Hey,

I checked the Polish version of Wikipedia and the way I understand it, Bursztyn was a town in Poland until September 17th, 1939.  Now it's in Ukraine.

My family is originally from Lwow (Lvov), which was a Polish  city until 1939 as well.

A lot of regions of Poland were given away to neighbouring countries after WWII.

1800s?  Poland was partitioned in 18th century in the years 1772-1795 and "disappeared" from most of the world maps for approx.120 years

Answer 2

It was a Jewish shtetl from its inception. Its people spoke Polish and were considered Poles until after WWI. Now they're considered Ukrainian by nationality by are called "ethnic Poles" or "ethnic Hebrews" in research. When a shtetl was created it attracted Jews from all over the region. They could have been from anywhere in the Empire and been allowed to relocate there.

Answer 3

In the 1910 Chicago Census Wladyslaw Bursztyn 30 years old was born in Austria.  In 1920 Hyman Bursztyn 46 b. Russia lived in Manhattan, and Joseph Bursztyn 75 b. Poland lived in Buffalo.  If you know if you are descended from any of these men, I can look up more information on them, or you can get a membership to Heritage Quest, if your library has a subscription.