Since 1772, much of Poland's territory was seized by the partitioning states. Partition was carried out three times. With time, families saw less and less chance of a successful future on their homeland. So compatriots looked for happiness and future prospects - outside the country. America, as a vast country, received emigrants from various countries, especially those where people lived poorly.
The representatives of the Zenda family were no different. One of them, Frank, emigrated to the USA. He was certainly not the only one from the Zdradziński family. This is the original, family name. Some of his descendants changed it to Zenda. They were probably not the only ones who changed their names for some reason. Some, like Józef and Walter, changed their surnames in order to be better perceived at work, so that their co-workers could pronounce and write their names down more easily.
Some people from immigrant families changed their names, probably to become more like the native American population. On the other hand, it is difficult to speak about the indigenous population of these areas, if the majority is, in fact, the immigrant population. Of course, they have been settling there for decades, hundreds of years in fact. After all, Christopher Columbus discovered America several hundred years ago. Since then, individual people, as well as whole families, have come to America from many countries, continents, in search of a better life. As happens in such cases, some have been disappointed, while others have managed somehow. Some were better or worse at being separated from their homeland and living abroad. One such place was Milwaukee.
The descendants of immigrants in the USA, those who are still alive, probably no longer remember the fate of their ancestors. However, there are probably not many of them. Most of the children of the newcomers to a foreign land are no longer alive. There are grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but they no longer even know where their family came from or what its fate was. Some of the Zdrzadziński family changed their name to Zenda. There were certainly more such families. Subsequent descendants probably do not wonder why. If they can wonder at all. After all, they would have to know that such a thing had taken place. But if the parents did not pass on knowledge of the family to their children, how are they to know?
However, some people decide to look for their origins, to look for their roots. It is a very interesting activity, a passionate matter. But you have to hurry, because your ancestors are dying, and they should be the first source of information about your family history. Then you can deal with documents, which are mostly digitised, or there are plans to do so.
It is also advisable to search in foreign languages. Ask questions in an internet search engine in the language of your ancestors. If you do not know your ancestors, then you should use the language your ancestors supposedly spoke. Everyone probably has an assumption about the origin of his or her name and family.