Tunick/Tunik Origins
Many of our Eastern European Tunick/Tunik ancestors were Ashkenazi Jews living in or near the townStolbtsy, Belarus (45 miles Southwest of Minsk) during the late 1700's.
Jews began to settle in this area after 1501 when King Alexander of Poland readmitted Jews to Grand Duchy of Lithuania (an area including Belarus, Western Ukraine and Lithuania).
The name "Tunik" is listed in A Dictionary of selected Jewish Names, by Benzion C. Kaganoff, Schocken Books, New York, 1977. It states "TUNIK (G) from a town near Minsk." (page 204). The (G) refers to "Geographical, place names."
The name "Tunik" has been listed elsewhere as 'Tunik Jewish ( E. Ashkenazi): habitation name from a town so called near Minsk in Belorussia. Var.: Tunick."
The first written record of Jewish settlement in England dates from 1070, although Jews may have lived there since Roman times. They were brought to England from Rouen, France by King William the Conqueror.
Jews were expelled from England in 1290 by King Edward I's "Edict of Expulsion". They immigrated to countries such as Poland which protected them by law. A small community persisted in hiding despite the expulsion.
Jews were not readmitted into England for 365 years. In 1655 they were not officially readmitted but a small colony of Sephardic Jews living in London was allowed to remain by Oliver Cromwel.
Tuniks today throughout the world who do not regard themselves as Jews, may have had Jewish Ancestors who assimilated to avoid persecution. One example of many is Benjamin Disraeli, a British Prime Minister, who was of Jewish origin, but was baptized an Anglican (born 1804 - died 1881).
It is possible, though less likely, that some Jews garnered the name Tunik from Christian Tuniks prior to the 18th. Century. There are many references to Christian Tuniks listed in The Mormon Church LDS Records for 1550-1800.