Welcome!

This project is intended to facilitate genealogical and historical collaboration among those interested in the Jewish Kuznitsky, Baron and Bard families of the Bialystok Region of Poland. The surname has been spelled and modified in a number of ways as the family made its way around the world, including Kuznitsky, Kuznicki, Kuzens, Cousens, Baron, among other variants.

The family was living in Bialystok at the turn of the 20th Century, but there is evidence that in prior generations it lived in the nearby town of Bransk.

We have determined from the Y chromosome of two family participants that the Kuznitsky and Baron families, which intermarried twice within two generations, are descended from the same individual. All we know thus far is that the common male ancestor was a member of the Levite tribe. Given the closeness of the two Y chromosomes, we expect that the two families descend from two brothers, each of whom adopted a different surname when they were imposed on the Jewish community circa 1820. Further testing will further pin down this time frame.

How can you participate?

(1) Add your branches to the Geni tree. This is a 100% shared collaboration and the tree belongs to all of us. Please do not duplicate existing entries.

(2) Upload photographs and documents to the tree. Primary materials are the lifeblood of any historical endeavor and yours are just as valuable as anyone's!

(3) Invite family members to tree. The more the merrier and maybe you may uncover someone with a latent talent for historical research!; and

(4) If you have the last name of Kuznitsky, Kusnicki, Baron or any of the variants, and have Bialystoker roots, we would appreciated your participation in helping out the different branches of the family. We encourage family members to participate by contacting family member Adam Brown.