Our Stern Origins – Our Roots

We do not know exactly what Esther’s last name is. It has shown up on various documents as Stern, Sternerson, Sterner, Stein, Skay.
Esther’s sister, Rose, mostly went by the name Stein but on her death certificate it says Sterenson
Esther’s brother, Sam, used Sternonoz when he first arrived in the US. but later went by Stein.
In the Odessa database in Jewish Gen, Stern shows up as Shtern and Shterin. You can also find those spellings in the Ukranian and Bessarabian databases.
Vinukur does show up as a surname in Odessa and Ukraine.
We know Herman and Sarah had at least 3 children: Esther, Rose and Samuel.
Esther’s grandparents were Dov Ber Sterenson or Stein or Stern, and Miriam / Mary Krenza. They are said to be from “Russia”.
- However, their oldest daughter, Sadie Stein / Stern (1854 – 1934) is listed as being born in Miasto Białystok, Podlaskie, Poland. Before 1900, though, that are did belong to Russia.
- Their youngest son, Pincas Stein, is listed as being born in Odessa in 1866.
- It thus appears that the family moved from the Bialystok area to Odessa and that is how, or why, our great-great-grandfather, Herman, met his wife, Sarah Vinekur, in Odessa.

To read what Odessa was like, when Esther lived there, go to the Odessa page.

Sources