Dancyger Family of Russia and London

In the records of Sandy's Row Synagogue in London, we find at least three marriages of people with the surname of Dancyger. In all three, the only information given about their families is that their father is listed as Harris Dancyger, beyond that not much is known.


A check of the 1901 British Census finds the family of Harris Dancyger living at 35 Scarborough Street in Whitechapel.

From this census we find that Harris age 48, is a Jewish Minister from Russia. His wife, Jane is also 48 and is herself from Russia. From the census we find that there are 7 children still living at home at the time of the census. In addition to the family of Harris we find three other families of the same surname. While the name is not a common one and they are most likely all related, the census just doesn't give us enough information to know for sure.

There is however a great source for this time frame. In 2004, Miriam Pollak released her great work on the Jewish Chronicle of London. That work, The Jewish Chronicle Project; Personal Announcements 1900-1909 (FHL CD#2697) is a must for those researching England families at the turn of the twentieth century. In searching the database for the surname Dancyger, we get 6 hits. Of those hits, one adds a great deal of information to what we already know. It says:

Death 28 Oct 1904

Jerrochaim (Jerochoam) Dancyger

of 16 Brantridge Street, Bow

In his 81st year

Wife; Mrs. B. Dancyger

Relatives: Rev. H.Dancyger (son) 35 Scarboro Street

Mr. S. Dancyger (son) 27 East India Dock Road

Mr. J. Dancyger (son) 435 Commercial Road

Mr. J. Dancyger (son) 18 Brantridge Street

Mrs. London (daur) 65 Ellen Street, Commercial Road

Mrs. Saunders (daur) 331 Commercial Road

Mrs. Fisher (daur) 16 Brantridge Street

Jewish Chronicle 4 Nov 1904

Additional Notes: Tombstone set at Edmonton Cemetery 19 Nov 1905.

With the additional information provided by this great source, we now know that the other three Dancyger families are indeed the parents of Harris, and the families of his two brothers Jacob and Joseph. What began as three sinple marriage records is now a combined family numbering close to fifty people. What a wonderful source.

The records of the Dancyger family can be found in the Jews of the British Isles.