Family Tree

The Pomajzls of New York last updated March 15, 2018

When I was a young boy I had heard that our last name was originally spelled differently (Pomajzl). I was never very certain what nationality I was. I knew my grandfather on my mothers side was Italian (Massaro from Airola). I had heard my maternal grandmother (Demcho) and my paternal grandmother were of Hungarian ancestry (Csajko from Topoľčany). Later on in life my son Jim came home from school with homework about his Family tree. I realized that I did not know very much. Late in his life I met my Uncle Bill Pomajzl (aka. Grumpy Bill). He had changed his surname from Pomeisl back to the original Pomajzl. He was very interested in learning more about our family history. His interest really got me motivated. I dedicate this site in his memory.

I started with a photocopy of my Grandfathers baptismal certificate with the name of his parents, Joseph Pomajzl of Malešov, Bohemia and Frances Hurt of Zhor, Bohemia, that Grumpy had obtained. With the use of computers, help from family and some detective work I have managed to get a fairly large amount of information. When my mother passed away I received many of my parents old papers. I was even given my Grandfathers dog tags and a bullet they pulled out of him while he served (using his older brother Frank's name) in the US Army in Siberia!

My goals are:

• • To learn when each of my ancestors first entered the US (complete).

  • To learn when each of my wife's ancestors first entered the US (partially complete).

  • To find the connection between Jan Pomajzl (later Pomas) and his family who came to America July 4th 1876 and Joseph Pomajzl, my great grandfather, who immigrated to New York City in 1894 both from Malešov, Bohemia (complete and confirmed).

    • I have confirmed that Jan had a brother Josef and their father was František Pomajzl born in 1791.  Josef had a son named Josef who is my great grandfather. 

    • I have recently found living relatives of an older sister of Jan and Josef named Františka in the present day Czech Republic.

    • A special thanks is given here to Cammi Drevo-Amezcua who pointed me to the Czech archives.

  • Find out if my family is related to a large group of Pomajzls out in Nebraska, for example descendants of Matej Pomajzl who entered the US in 1867 from Ouhonice (Úhonice),Unhošť or Hrachová and my Great Grandfather Joseph Pomajzl who entered the US around 1894 from Bohemia (per 1910 Census). If these two families are related I would have to find the link back in Bohemia (it was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire when they came to America) or perhaps DNA.

  • To contact living descendants of Louis Csajko and Helen Mallow (complete). 

    • My sincere thanks to Barbara Csajko Casey who helped fill in so many blanks.

  • To contact living descendants of my great uncle Frank Pomisel who went with a different spelling than Pomeisl (I have contacted Bob).

  • To find any information about the siblings of my grandmother Margaret Demcho.

    • I found my great-grandmother Mary Demcho's OBIT and learned there were 7 siblings. I would like to get in contact with some living member.

    • I found what I believe to be the family grave under the name DEMSHAW in McAdoo, PA. If I can confirm who is buried there I would like to have the names listed as the monument lists only the last name.

  • To find out if there is a connection between John Demcho from Zemplin, Hungary (today Slovakia) born about 1874, who came to US in 1893 and settled in the Tresckow, PA near Hazleton working as a coal miner, and Michael and Anna Demcho (siblings, there was also another sister) from Calumet, PA near Pittsburgh.  Michael appears to have also been a coal miner who came to America in 1900.

  • Determine if there is any relation to the Austrian-Hungarian Pomeisl name and if it was the basis for Pomajzl (Czech) being changed to Pomeisl (German).  In the US the only Pomeisl I ever came across who is not related to me is Herman Joseph Pomeisl who born 09-03-1878 in Trieste, Austria (Italy).  Some Interesting Pomeisl facts:  Town - Composer - Movie - TV - Dancer

If there is any help anyone would like to give I will be grateful. Also if I can assist anyone else I will do what I can.

God bless

Ken Pomeisl

kenpomeisl@gmail.com