When your ancestors left Europe for the United States, they walked through the gates of Ellis Island – often scared, hopeful, and carrying only a few belongings and memories. For many of them this island marked the beginning of a new life – and the slow fading of the old one.
Today many descendants feel a pull in the opposite direction – back toward the roots their families left behind in Poland, in towns that are barely remembered or completely unknown.
In this article, I’d like to show you how to retrace that journey in reverse—from Ellis Island back to Poland.
The immigrants in Ellis Island. Source: The New York Public Library Digital Collections
Before looking overseas, start at home. You probably have more information than you think. Even if you have no idea where your grandparents or great-grandparents were born – because no one ever talked about it, or the place was recorded incorrectly – you may already hold the answer in U.S. documents.
On the Ellis Island Foundation website you can browse ship passenger lists for vessels arriving at the New York port between 1820 and 1957. These lists are also available on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and Ancestry.
Below is an example of a passenger list from 1927, featuring Lev Termen, also known as Leon Theremin—the inventor of a unique electronic instrument that took its name, the theremin, from his surname. You might recognize its eerie sounds from old movies, where it was used to imitate UFOs, ghosts, or to intensify spooky scenes.
From a document like this one (see item number 4), we can learn that Leon Theremin arrived at Ellis Island aboard the S.S. Majestic on December 14, 1927. He was 31 years old, single, and a physicist. He spoke Russian, German, and French, both spoken and written. He was a Russian national, born in Petersburg. His immigration visa was issued in Berlin on November 25, 1927, under the number 20425. His last place of residence was Leningrad, Russia (the name for Saint Petersburg between 1924 and 1991). His nearest relative in his home country was Mr. S. Termen, residing at Mozatstro 50, Leningrad. Interestingly, his final destination was also listed as Leningrad (likely noted as the place of intended permanent residence).
Leon paid for his ticket himself and had never been to the United States before. The document also provides details about the person he was visiting, the purpose of his trip, and his physical and mental health, as well as a description of his appearance.
In summary – even a document that might seem ordinary at first glance can contain a wealth of valuable information.
Passenger list, S.S. Majestic, December 14, 1927. Source: Ellis Island Foundation
When searching, try different spelling variations. A name might have been misspelled by a foreign official, or the immigrant themselves might have intentionally modified it—perhaps to assimilate more easily.
During genealogical research, I’ve encountered cases like Okoński becoming O’Konsky in the U.S., Sechsfinger written as Sexfinger, or Wątroba, who became von Troba in Germany.
So, if you’re finding very little or no information, try to put yourself in the shoes of an early 20th-century immigration officer hearing unfamiliar names from all over the world. Think about how the name might have sounded to them – and how they might have written it down.
Leon Theremin playing the theremin, 1928. Source: The New York Public Library
In addition to passenger lists, there are a few other interesting documents and sources that might contain the information you’re looking for. Be sure to check these out:
Look for:
Naturalization papers (especially pre-1940s documents)
Ship manifests: note last residence, nearest relative, and place of birth
Social Security applications (SS-5) and WWII draft cards
Personal family documents – like letters, old photographs, memoirs, or diaries – can also hold important clues
The tombstones – Jewish headstones usually contain the person’s and his/her father’s Hebrew names. You can read more about the cemetery clues in my article: Exploring Jewish Cemeteries in Poland: Clues Hidden in Tombstones
Petition for naturalization of Rachla Kosowska. Source: Ancestry
This is one of the hardest and most important steps. Many Polish Jews had their country of origin recorded as “Russia,” “Austria,” or “Germany” by immigration officials – reflecting political borders of the time, rather than actual cultural or geographic identity.
Still, this information is useful – it helps narrow down the region and focus your search more effectively.
Try to:
Extract town names from ship manifests, vital records and immigration forms
Google the name
Ask older relatives – even vague memories can help!
The map of Brzeziny, 1939. Source: Mapy Wig
If you’ve managed to identify a potential place of origin for your ancestors, you can start building your family tree. In my article How to Start Tracing Your Polish-Jewish Roots: A Step-by-Step Guide, you’ll find out how to begin and which tools are worth using.
I’d love to hear how it went – let me know!
I’m a professional genealogist based in Poland, specializing in Jewish ancestry research.
Here’s how I can help:
Locate your ancestors’ place of origin (even if unknown)
Check the availability of the records from the particular town and access them
Find your family’s documents
Build your family tree
Contact me today to begin your journey back 
Marta
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