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Polish Ancestry

ANCESTRY

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Shmuel Agnon
Author
17-Jul-1888 17-Feb-1970 'Tmol Shilshom
Alessandra Ambrosio
Model
11-Apr-1981   Brazilian supermodel
Kevin Anderson
Actor
13-Jan-1960   Sleeping with the Enemy
Guillaume Apollinaire
Poet
26-Aug-1880 9-Nov-1918 Alcools, Calligrammes
Daniel I. Arnon
Biologist
14-Nov-1910 20-Dec-1994 Photophosphorylation
Richard Axel
Scientist
2-Jul-1946   Odorant receptors and olfactory organization
Julius Axelrod
Chemist
30-May-1912 29-Dec-2004 Research of neurotransmitters
Hertha Ayrton
Physicist
28-Apr-1854 26-Aug-1923 Electric arc
Hector Babenco
Film Director
7-Feb-1946   Kiss of the Spider Woman
Carroll Baker
Actor
28-May-1931   Baby Doll
Ehud Barak
Head of State
12-Feb-1942   Prime Minister of Israel, 1999-2001
Paul Baran
Scientist
29-Apr-1926   Early networking pioneer
Christine Baranski
Actor
2-May-1952   Mary Sunshine in Chicago
Kristen Bell
Actor
18-Jul-1980   Veronica Mars
Maria Bello
Actor
18-Apr-1967   Dr. Anna Del Amico on ER
Eusebius J. Beltran
Religion
31-Aug-1934   Catholic Archbishop of Oklahoma City
Pat Benatar
Musician
10-Jan-1953   Love is a Battlefield
Kenneth Bialkin
Attorney
1929   Mergers & Acquisitions lawyer
Eli Black
Business
9-Apr-1921 3-Feb-1975 Swan dive onto Park Avenue
Robert Borski
Politician
20-Oct-1948   Congressman from Pennsylvania, 1983-2003
Lisa Boyle
Model
6-Aug-1964   Cover of October 1995 Playboy
Sydney Brenner
Scientist
13-Jan-1927   Genetic regulation of organ development
Adrien Brody
Actor
14-Apr-1973   The Pianist
Reva Brooks
Photographer
May-1913 24-Jan-2004 Photographer
Mika Brzezinski
Journalist
2-May-1967   Co-Host, Morning Joe
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Government
28-Mar-1928   National Security Advisor, 1977-81
Susan Bysiewicz
Politician
1961   Connecticut Secretary of State
Sid Caesar
Comic
8-Sep-1922   Your Show of Shows
Helen Caldicott
Activist
7-Aug-1938   Anti-nuclear crusader
King Canute
Royalty
c. 994 AD 12-Nov-1035 King of England, Denmark, Norway
Michael Chertoff
Government
28-Nov-1953   US Homeland Security Czar
Aaron Ciechanover
Scientist
1-Oct-1947   Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation
André Citroën
Engineer
5-Feb-1878 3-Jul-1935 Europe's Henry Ford
Robert Clary
Actor
1-Mar-1926   LeBeau on Hogan's Heroes
Marie Curie
Chemist
7-Nov-1867 4-Jul-1934 Early nuclear chemist
Karen Czarnecki
Government
?   Conservative commentator
Henry Czerny
Actor
1959   The Tudors
Leon Czolgosz
Assassin
1873 29-Oct-1901 President McKinley's assassin
Sandra Dee
Actor
23-Apr-1942 20-Feb-2005 Gidget
Janice Dickinson
Model
15-Feb-1955   1970s supermodel
C. Douglas Dillon
Government
21-Aug-1909 10-Jan-2003 US Treasury Secretary, 1961-65
John Dingell
Politician
6-Jul-1926   US Congressman, Michigan 15th
Stanley H. Durwood
Business
5-Aug-1920 15-Jul-1999 Father of the multi-screen movie theater
Robert Dutkowsky
Business
2-Jan-1955   CEO of Tech Data
Felix Dzerzhinsky
Government
11-Sep-1887 20-Jul-1926 The Black Pope of Bolshevism
Samuel Eilenberg
Mathematician
30-Sep-1913 30-Jan-1998 Category theory
Artur Ekert
Physicist
19-Sep-1961   Quantum cryptography
Gertrude B. Elion
Scientist
23-Jan-1918 21-Feb-1999 Developed medicines for leukemia, herpes, AIDS
Hans Eysenck
Psychologist
4-Mar-1916 4-Sep-1997 Intelligence and personality
Peter Falk
Actor
16-Sep-1927   Detective Columbo
Richard Feynman
Physicist
11-May-1918 15-Feb-1988 Surely he's joking
Stanley Fish
Scholar
19-Apr-1938   Deconstructionist literary critic
Barney Frank
Politician
31-Mar-1940   Congressman, Massachusetts 4th
Martin Garbus
Attorney
8-Aug-1934   Attorney for Lenny Bruce
Lucretia Garfield
First Lady
19-Apr-1832 14-Mar-1918 Wife of US President James Garfield
Frank Gehry
Architect
28-Feb-1929   Postmodern architect
Estelle Getty
Actor
25-Jul-1923 22-Jul-2008 The Golden Girls
André the Giant
Wrestling
19-May-1946 27-Jan-1993 Professional wrestler with Giantism
Barry Goldwater
Politician
1-Jan-1909 29-May-1998 US Senator from Arizona, 1953-65, 1969-87
Samuel Goldwyn
Film/TV Producer
17-Aug-1882 31-Jan-1974 Put the G in MGM
Arlene Golonka
Actor
23-Jan-1939   Millie Swanson in Mayberry RFD
Jesse L. Greenstein
Astronomer
15-Oct-1909 21-Oct-2002 Co-Discoverer of quasars
Brandon Grove
Diplomat
8-Apr-1929   US Ambassador to Zaire, 1984-87
Fritz Haber
Chemist
9-Dec-1868 29-Jan-1934 Synthesized ammonia
Theodor W. Hänsch
Physicist
30-Oct-1941   Quantum optics
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
TV Personality
28-May-1977   The View
David Helfgott
Musician
19-May-1947   Subject of the biopic Shine
Leona Helmsley
Business
4-Jul-1920 20-Aug-2007 Queen of Mean
George Herbig
Astronomer
2-Jan-1920   Herbig-Haro objects
Seymour Hersh
Journalist
8-Apr-1937   Uncovered the My Lai Massacre
James P. Hoffa
Labor Leader
19-May-1941   Jimmy Hoffa's son
Roald Hoffmann
Chemist
18-Jul-1937   Woodward-Hoffmann reaction
Robert Hofstadter
Physicist
5-Feb-1915 17-Nov-1990 Investigated electron scattering and nuclei
H. Robert Horvitz
Scientist
8-May-1947   Genetic regulation of organ development
Leonid Hurwicz
Economist
21-Aug-1917 24-Jun-2008 Mechanism design theory
Laura Ingraham
Pundit
19-Jun-1964   The Hillary Trap
George Isaak
Astronomer
7-Mar-1933 5-Jun-2005 Resonant scattering spectroscopy
Vic Janowicz
Football
26-Jan-1930 27-Feb-1996 Winner, 1950 Heisman Trophy
Leon Jaworski
Government
19-Sep-1905 9-Dec-1982 Watergate special prosecutor
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Novelist
7-May-1927   Heat and Dust
Scarlett Johansson
Actor
22-Nov-1984   Ghost World, Lost in Translation
Jenny Jones
Talk Show Host
7-Jun-1946   The Jenny Jones Show
Erica Jong
Author
26-Mar-1942   Fear of Flying
Ted Kaczynski
Criminal
22-May-1942   The Unabomber
Herman Kahn
Scholar
15-Feb-1922 7-Jul-1983 Hudson Institute founder
Eric R. Kandel
Scientist
7-Nov-1929   Signal transduction in the nervous system
Marek Kanievska
Film Director
30-Nov-1951   Less Than Zero
Paul Kanjorski
Politician
2-Apr-1937   Congressman, Pennsylvania 11th
Marcy Kaptur
Politician
17-Jun-1946   Congresswoman, Ohio 9th
Bernard Katz
Scientist
26-Mar-1911 20-Apr-2003 Neurotransmitters and the pineal gland
Harvey Keitel
Actor
13-May-1939   Pimp from Taxi Driver
Nastassja Kinski
Model
24-Jan-1959   Cat People
Larry Klayman
Activist
20-Jul-1951   Founder, Judicial Watch
Jerry Kleczka
Politician
26-Nov-1943   Congressman from Wisconsin, 1984-2005
Philip M. Klutznick
Government
9-Jul-1907 14-Aug-1999 US Secretary of Commerce 1980-81
Max Kohl
Business
12-May-1901 14-Dec-1981 Kohl's Department Stores
Mort Kondracke
Columnist
28-Apr-1939   Tolerated by Fox, McLaughlin
Arthur Kornberg
Scientist
3-Mar-1918 26-Oct-2007 Synthesized DNA
Roger D. Kornberg
Scientist
24-Apr-1947   Molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription
Killer Kowalski
Wrestling
13-Oct-1926 30-Aug-2008 Professional wrestler, 1947-76
Dennis Kozlowski
Business
16-Nov-1946   Disgraced CEO of Tyco
Jon Krakauer
Author
12-Apr-1954   Into Thin Air
Jane Krakowski
Actor
11-Oct-1968   Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal
John Krasinski
Actor
20-Oct-1979   Jim Halpert on The Office
Amazing Kreskin
Magician
12-Jan-1935   Frequent guest mentallist on the Tonight Show
Sir Harold Kroto
Chemist
7-Oct-1939   Co-Discovered first fullerene
Gene Krupa
Drummer
15-Jan-1909 16-Oct-1973 Pioneering drummer
Mike Krzyzewski
Basketball
13-Feb-1947   Duke Head Coach
Richard Kuklinski
Criminal
11-Apr-1935 5-Mar-2006 The Iceman
Ted Kulongoski
Politician
5-Nov-1940   Governor of Oregon
Frank Kush
Football
20-Jan-1929   ASU Head Coach, 1958-79
Stephanie Kwolek
Chemist
31-Jul-1923   Invented Kevlar
Carole Landis
Actor
1-Jan-1919 5-Jul-1948 A Scandal in Paris
Joe Lando
Actor
9-Dec-1961   Byron Sully on Dr. Quinn
Meyer Lansky
Criminal
2-Jul-1902 15-Jan-1983 The brains behind the Mafia's money
Piper Laurie
Actor
22-Jan-1932   Catherine Packard in Twin Peaks
Frank Lautenberg
Politician
23-Jan-1924   US Senator from New Jersey
Geddy Lee
Bassist
29-Jul-1953   Bassist for Rush
Jerry Leiber
Songwriter
25-Apr-1933   Hitmaker for Elvis
Rula Lenska
Actor
30-Sep-1947   Alberta VO5 commercials
Liberace
Pianist
16-May-1919 4-Feb-1987 Rhinestoned pianist
Joseph Lieberman
Politician
24-Feb-1942   US Senator from Connecticut
James Lipton
TV Personality
19-Sep-1926   Host, Inside the Actors Studio
Susan Lisovicz
TV Personality
c. 1956   CNN Financial Correspondent
Maxim Litvinov
Government
17-Jul-1876 31-Dec-1951 Soviet foreign minister ousted in nod to Hitler
Tzipi Livni
Politician
8-Jul-1958   Israeli Foreign Minister, 2006-09
Jan Lukasiewicz
Mathematician
21-Dec-1878 13-Feb-1956 Invented Reverse Polish Notation
Jean-Marie Lustiger
Religion
17-Sep-1926 5-Aug-2007 Archbishop of Paris, 1981-2005
André Lwoff
Scientist
8-May-1902 30-Sep-1994 Operon theory of genetic control
Eric Mabius
Actor
22-Apr-1971   Tim Haspell on The L Word
Ray Manzarek
Musician
12-Feb-1939   Keyboardist for The Doors
Ted Marchibroda
Football
15-Mar-1931   Retired NFL head coach
Rose Marie
Actor
15-Aug-1923   Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Donald F. Mazankowski
Politician
27-Jul-1935   Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, 1986-93
Adam Michnik
Activist
17-Oct-1946   Gazeta Wyborcza
Barbara Mikulski
Politician
20-Jul-1936   US Senator from Maryland
Ralph Miliband
Scholar
7-Jan-1924 21-May-1994 Parliamentary Socialism
Arthur Miller
Playwright
17-Oct-1915 10-Feb-2005 Death of a Salesman
David Miscavige
Religion
30-Apr-1960   Leader of the Church of Scientology
Chesty Morgan
Pornstar
1928   Double Agent 73, Deadly Weapons
Henry Morgentaler
Doctor
19-Mar-1923   Abortion rights in Canada
Frank Murkowski
Politician
28-Mar-1933   Governor of Alaska, 2002-06
Lisa Murkowski
Politician
22-May-1957   US Senator from Alaska
Stan Musial
Baseball
21-Nov-1920   St. Louis Cardinals
Ed Muskie
Politician
28-Mar-1914 26-Mar-1996 US Senator from Maine, 1959-80
Barnett Newman
Painter
29-Jan-1905 3-Jul-1970 Abstract expressionist
Karen O
Singer
22-Nov-1978   Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bohdan Paczynski
Astronomer
8-Feb-1940 19-Apr-2007 Gravitational microlensing
Alan J. Pakula
Film Director
7-Apr-1928 19-Nov-1998 All the President's Men
Joseph Papp
Theater Director
22-Jun-1921 31-Oct-1991 Founder, New York Shakespeare Festival
Harvey Pekar
Author
1939   American Splendor
Daniel Pinkwater
Author
15-Nov-1941   The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death
Harold Pinter
Playwright
10-Oct-1930 24-Dec-2008 The Birthday Party
Daniel Pipes
Government
9-Sep-1949   Influential neocon
Roman Polanski
Film Director
18-Aug-1933   Chinatown
Elena Poniatowska
Journalist
19-May-1932   Mexican feminist writer, journalist
Ron Popeil
Business
3-May-1935   Ginsu knives, Mr. Microphone
Chaim Potok
Novelist
17-Feb-1929 23-Jul-2002 The Chosen
Stefanie Powers
Actor
2-Nov-1942   Hart to Hart
Casimir Pulaski
Military
7-Mar-1745 11-Oct-1779 Polish General in the American Revolution
Maggie Q
Actor
22-May-1979   Mission: Impossible III
Bogdan Raczynski
Electronic Musician
c. 1977   Boku Mo Wakaran
Abraham Ribicoff
Politician
9-Apr-1910 22-Feb-1998 Senator and Governor from Connecticut
Hyman Rickover
Military
27-Jan-1900 8-Jul-1986 Built the nuclear navy
Irv Robbins
Business
6-Dec-1917 5-May-2008 Co-Founder of Baskin-Robbins
Ernestine Rose
Activist
13-Jan-1810 4-Aug-1892 Suffragette and abolitionist
Dan Rostenkowski
Politician
2-Jan-1928   Congressman from Illinois, 1959-95
Mstislav Rostropovich
Cellist
27-Mar-1927 27-Apr-2007 Cellist and conductor
Murray Rothbard
Economist
2-Mar-1926 7-Jan-1995 Anarcho-capitalist
Mike Royko
Columnist
19-Sep-1932 29-Apr-1997 Syndicated Chicago columnist
Jack Ruby
Assassin
25-Mar-1911 3-Jan-1967 Killed Lee Harvey Oswald
Johnny Rzeznik
Musician
5-Dec-1965   Goo Goo Dolls frontman
Pat Sajak
Game Show Host
26-Oct-1946   Wheel of Fortune
Richie Sambora
Guitarist
11-Jul-1959   Bon Jovi
Henry Samueli
Business
20-Sep-1954   Co-Founder of Broadcom
Bernie Sanders
Politician
8-Sep-1941   US Senator from Vermont
Andrew V. Schally
Scientist
30-Nov-1926   Hypothalamic hormones (brain peptides)
Debbie Schlussel
Radio Personality
9-Apr-1969   Conservative pundit
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
Politician
22-Jun-1952   Congresswoman from Texas, 2006-07
Frank J. Selke
Hockey
7-May-1893 3-Jul-1985 Montreal Canadiens GM, 1946-64
Maurice Sendak
Author
10-Jun-1928   Where The Wild Things Are
Chloe Sevigny
Actor
18-Nov-1974   HIV-infected girl in Kids
Jane Seymour
Actor
15-Feb-1951   Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Ted Shackley
Government
16-Jul-1927 9-Dec-2002 The CIA's Blond Ghost
Ariel Sharon
Head of State
26-Feb-1928   Prime Minister of Israel, 2001-06
Harry Shearer
Comic
23-Dec-1943   Almost half the voices on The Simpsons
Casey Siemaszko
Actor
17-Mar-1961   Young Guns
Gerry Sikorski
Politician
26-Apr-1948   Congressman from Minnesota, 1983-93
Igor Sikorsky
Business
25-May-1889 26-Oct-1972 Helicopter magnate
Curtis Sliwa
Activist
26-Mar-1954   Founder of the Guardian Angels
Leelee Sobieski
Actor
10-Jun-1983   Eyes Wide Shut
David Sokol
Business
1956   CEO, MidAmerican Energy Holdings
Peter Steele
Musician
4-Jan-1962   Frontman for Type O Negative
William Steig
Cartoonist
14-Nov-1907 3-Oct-2003 Shrek, The New Yorker
Avraham Stern
Military
23-Dec-1907 12-Feb-1942 Founder of Lohamei Herut Israel
Martha Stewart
Business
3-Aug-1941   Professional housekeeper, insider trader
Leopold Stokowski
Conductor
18-Apr-1882 13-Sep-1977 American Symphony Orchestra
Trish Stratus
Wrestling
18-Dec-1975   100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed
Gloria Swanson
Actor
27-Mar-1897 4-Apr-1983 Sunset Blvd.
Loretta Swit
Actor
4-Nov-1937   Hot Lips on M*A*S*H
Eric Szmanda
Actor
24-Jul-1975   Greg Sanders on CSI
Edmund Cardinal Szoka
Religion
14-Sep-1927   Archbishop of Detroit, 1981-90
Burton M. Tansky
Business
c. 1938   CEO of Neiman Marcus
Lionel Tertis
Musician
29-Dec-1876 22-Feb-1975 First prominent violist
Marc A. Thiessen
Columnist
c. 1967   White House speechwriter, 2004-09
Michael Todd
Film/TV Producer
22-Jun-1909 22-Mar-1958 Around the World in Eighty Days
Nina Totenberg
Journalist
14-Jan-1944   NPR reporter
Jack Tramiel
Business
13-Dec-1928   Commodore Business Machines
Richard Trumka
Labor Leader
24-Jul-1949   AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Tom Tyler
Actor
9-Aug-1903 3-May-1954 Adventures of Captain Marvel
Leon Uris
Novelist
3-Aug-1924 21-Jun-2003 Battle Cry
Harold E. Varmus
Scientist
18-Dec-1939   Genetic causes of cancer
Michael Vartan
Actor
27-Nov-1968   Never Been Kissed
Gore Verbinski
Film Director
16-Mar-1964   Pirates of the Caribbean
Bobby Vinton
Musician
16-Apr-1935   Sealed With A Kiss
Erich von Manstein
Military
24-Nov-1887 10-Jun-1973 Nazi general
Wilfrid Voynich
Activist
31-Oct-1865 19-Mar-1930 Voynich manuscript
George Wald
Biologist
18-Nov-1906 12-Apr-1997 Physiology of the retina
Lillian Wald
Activist
10-Mar-1867 1-Sep-1940 Henry Street Settlement
Eli Wallach
Actor
7-Dec-1915   The Magnificent Seven
Stella Walsh
Track and Field
3-Apr-1911 4-Dec-1980 Olympic sprinter found to be actually male
Jude Wanniski
Columnist
17-Jun-1936 29-Aug-2005 Supply-side theorist
Jack L. Warner
Business
2-Aug-1892 9-Sep-1978 Co-Founder, Warner Bros.
Sanford I. Weill
Business
16-Mar-1933   CEO of Citigroup, 1998-2003
Ronald Weiser
Diplomat
7-Jul-1945   US Ambassador to Slovakia, 2001-04
Melissa F. Wells
Diplomat
18-Nov-1932   US Ambassador to Estonia, 1998-2001
Frank Wilczek
Physicist
15-May-1951   Deep structure of matter
Betty Williams
Activist
22-May-1943   Peace activist, Nobel Prize recipient
Jayson Williams
Basketball
22-Feb-1968   Retired NBA player, accused murderer
Alex Wojciechowicz
Football
12-Aug-1915 13-Jul-1992 NFL Hall of Famer
John Wojtowicz
Criminal
9-Mar-1945 2-Jan-2006 Bank robber inspired Dog Day Afternoon
Paul Wolfowitz
Government
22-Dec-1943   President of the World Bank, 2005-07
Aldona Wos
Diplomat
?   US Ambassador to Estonia, 2004-06
Steve Wozniak
Computer Programmer
11-Aug-1950   Co-Founder of Apple Computer
Xuxa
TV Personality
27-Mar-1963   Model children's TV host
John B. Yasinsky
Business
c. 1939   CEO of OMNOVA Solutions, 1999-2000
Carl Yastrzemski
Baseball
22-Aug-1939   Red Sox left-fielder, 3000 hits, 400 homers
Philip Yordan
Screenwriter
1-Apr-1914 24-Mar-2003 The Battle of the Bulge
Roger Zelazny
Novelist
13-May-1937 14-Jun-1995 Damnation Alley
Samuel Zell
Business
28-Sep-1941   Equity Office Properties billionaire
Marion Zioncheck
Politician
5-Dec-1901 7-Aug-1936 Congressman, committed suicide




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