Count Markuszewski

The Counts Markuszewski.

The family of Markuszewski were from the Lewart [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewart_coat_of_arms] or Lepod Clan created in the mid thirteenth/early fourteenth centuries. The Lewart clan was small and membership to the clan was closely guarded. The title of Count was adopted in the post partition era due to the status of the family with its property holdings and land being on the scale of an English county or 'Earldom'. The title was legally ratified during this period by the other noble family of Poland due to the fact there was no monarch. The Markuszewski's land was mainly in the area of Novogrudek and by the early 19th century still owned vast forests, land and a number of villages.

World War One, the Polish-Russian war and World War Two took their toll with the family being almost wiped out - leaving only one surviving hier to the title, Countess Irena Markuszewski, the daughter of countess Sophia Tracewskia and Count Leon Markuszewski- who was murdered because of his noble background at Katyn (Forest). [ [http://www.electronicmuseum.ca/Poland-WW2/katyn_memorial_wall/kmw.html Katyn Memorial Wall ] ] .

The title is Hereditary and was conferred upon both male and female progeny meaning the title could be continued through a daughter. the current holders of the title are Countess Irena Markuszewska, Countess Krystina Gotha-Markuszewska-Selwyn-Bogg and Count Samuel Leon George Markuszewski-Gotha-Selwyn-Bogg.

The Markuszewski Branch - Lewart Clan

Markuszewski Family Tree with the Title able to be Inherited through the female as well as male line. Counts of the area around Novogrudek in modern day Belarus

Below is a short family tree.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Family-tree--MArkuszewski-l.gif

References