I have researched my geneaology (with my brother, Brad) for about 25 years. We have more or less reached the limits of what family recollection and records can provide. However, as the internet came to be, we have noticed many more possibilities, one of them being tracing families through DNA.

We are a Jewish family from central Poland, particularly the Lodz area (Lask, Pabianice,
possibly Przedborz and Alexandrow).Our name seems to be spelled like "Blumenzon" in Polish records, but was shortened to Bloom after entry to NY (probably voluntarily, by family members). Lots of connections to family were lost because my great-great grandfather died quite young, and we are not even 100% sure of his name.
We think many people with similar names are "long lost" cousins.