Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS.pdf|TABLE OF CONTENTS]]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................. x

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... xi

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH.................................................................................. 1

Chapter 1 BEGINNING YOUR RESEARCH................................................................................. 2

A. Before you begin research you need to..................................................................... 2

1. Know the exact place of origin.......................................................................... 2

2. Know the exact Greek name ............................................................................. 2

3. Know the Dimos/Koinotis................................................................................. 2

4. Know basics about............................................................................................. 2 a. Greek History............................................................................................. 2 b. Greek Migration......................................................................................... 2 c. Record Keeping in Greece ......................................................................... 2 d. The Greek language ................................................................................... 2 B. Write down the information you have....................................................................... 2 1. Using a computer software................................................................................ 3 2. Using printed forms........................................................................................... 3 3. How to record the information .......................................................................... 3 C. Writing Greek Names................................................................................................ 3 Names of persons .................................................................................................. 4 Names of towns..................................................................................................... 4 D. Searching for information ......................................................................................... 4 Survey of Previous Research................................................................................. 5 1. Ask relatives............................................................................................... 5 2. The Internet................................................................................................ 5 3. The Family History Library....................................................................... 5 4. Is it your family? ........................................................................................ 6 E. Beginning Original Research .................................................................................... 6 Research in the U.S.A. .......................................................................................... 6 Research in Pontus, Asia Minor, East Thrace, and other areas of Turkey............ 7 Research in Cyprus, Albania, and Hungary .......................................................... 7 Research in Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America etc. ........................... 7 Chapter 2 SOURCES FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH Where to look for information and what to look for........................................................ 9 1. Records............................................................................................................. 9 Record Keeping ............................................................................................. 9 Types of Records ........................................................................................... 10 a. Church Records.................................................................................... 10 b. Civil Records ....................................................................................... 11 c. Military Records................................................................................... 13 How were records kept and what to expect ................................................... 14 How to use the records................................................................................... 15 How to search records when you do not know Greek ................................... 16 vi Where can you find the records you need...................................................... 17 2. Archives............................................................................................................ 18 3. Libraries............................................................................................................ 19 The Family History Library........................................................................... 19 Records Collection................................................................................... 20 Patron Resources...................................................................................... 21 Personnel.................................................................................................. 21 Family History Centers............................................................................ 21 Education ................................................................................................. 21 Microfilms................................................................................................ 22 Books....................................................................................................... 23 Maps......................................................................................................... 23 Family History Library Catalog............................................................... 23 Other Libraries............................................................................................... 24 4. The Internet ..................................................................................................... 25 5. Books............................................................................................................... 25 6. Newspapers of Towns..................................................................................... 26 7. Government Gazette ....................................................................................... 26 8. Relatives.......................................................................................................... 27 Relationships.................................................................................................. 27 Interviewing Relatives................................................................................... 30 9. Photographs..................................................................................................... 30 10. Icons [pictures of saints].................................................................................. 31 11. Organizations................................................................................................... 31 Genealogical Societies................................................................................... 31 Greek Societies .............................................................................................. 31 Samples of records........................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3 GREEK HISTORY Greece - Hellas...................................................................................................... 45 History Map of Greece .......................................................................................... 52 Chapter 4 MORE ABOUT GREECE The Land................................................................................................................ 55 Religion ................................................................................................................. 55 Ethnic Groups........................................................................................................ 55 Turks.............................................................................................................. 56 Slavs............................................................................................................... 56 Vlachs ............................................................................................................ 56 Albanians ....................................................................................................... 57 Armenians...................................................................................................... 57 Jews................................................................................................................ 57 Gypsies........................................................................................................... 58 Administrative Structure ....................................................................................... 58 Administrative Map of Greece .............................................................................. 60 Regions: ......................................................................................................... 61 Counties: ........................................................................................................ 61 vii Capital Cities of Counties...................................................................................... 62 Capital Cities of Districts...................................................................................... 63 Chapter 5 GREEK MIGRATION .................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 6 LOCATING PLACES IN GREECE Names of Places .................................................................................................... 71 Gazetteers.............................................................................................................. 71 Variations of Names of Places .............................................................................. 75 Chapter 7 CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS In Greece ............................................................................................................... 77 Eκκλησία της Ελλάδoς [Church of Greece] .................................................. 77 Catholic Church ............................................................................................. 77 Baptist Church ............................................................................................... 78 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints........................................... 78 Evangelical Church........................................................................................ 78 Jehovah Witnesses......................................................................................... 78 Jewish Synagogues ........................................................................................ 78 Orthodox Churches in Other Countries................................................................. 78 America - Archdiocese of America - Greek Orthodox Church ..................... 78 Cyprus - Church of Cyprus............................................................................ 78 Turkey - Ecumenical Patriarchate.................................................................. 79 Addresses of Dioceses, Archdioceses and Patriarchate........................................ 80 Chapter 8 RESEARCH BY MAIL Letter Writing ........................................................................................................ 93 Before You Write........................................................................................... 93 Relatives......................................................................................................... 93 Greetings.................................................................................................. 94 Closings.................................................................................................... 94 Town Halls, GAK Archives, and Dioceses ................................................... 95 Addresses....................................................................................................... 96 Cost ................................................................................................................ 97 What to Expect............................................................................................... 97 Sample Letter to a Relative ................................................................................... 98 Introducing Yourself...................................................................................... 98 Translation .............................................................................................. 98 Requesting Information ................................................................................. 99 Translation ............................................................................................... 99 Instructions for Family Questionnaire................................................................... 100 Instructions for Form Letters................................................................................. 100 Family Questionnaire ............................................................................................ 101 viii Form Letters.......................................................................................................... 102 Letter to a Mayor Asking for a Birth record (English translation) ............................................. 102 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 103 Asking for a Death record (English translation)............................................ 104 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 105 Asking for Family Structure (English translation) ........................................ 106 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 107 Letter to a Diocese Asking for a Marriage record (English translation)....................................... 108 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 109 Letter to the General Archives of Greece (ΓΑΚ) Requesting Birth information (English translation)....................................... 110 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 111 Requesting Marriage information (English translation) ................................ 112 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 113 Requesting information about the family structure and death of an ancestor (English translation)..................... 114 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 115 Follow up letter (English translation).................................................................... 116 Form letter in Greek................................................................................. 117 Chapter 9 LEARN ABOUT NAMES Given Names......................................................................................................... 119 Naming children............................................................................................. 119 Given names indicating place of origin ......................................................... 120 Name changes in adulthood........................................................................... 120 Variations of given names ............................................................................. 120 Middle Names ....................................................................................................... 120 Surnames ............................................................................................................ 121 History of Surnames ...................................................................................... 121 Surnames in Greece ....................................................................................... 122 How are Surnames Formed............................................................................ 123 Endings that indicate the place of origin........................................................ 125 Grammar and Surnames........................................................................................ 125 Chapter 10 THE LANGUAGE It’s All Greek to Me .............................................................................................. 127 How to Work With the Language ......................................................................... 127 The Alphabet ......................................................................................................... 128 Diacritic Marks .............................................................................................. 128 About Transliteration ............................................................................................ 129 Transliteration Chart – The Simple Transliteration System.................................. 130 Pronunciation......................................................................................................... 131 Diphthongs..................................................................................................... 131 Digraphs......................................................................................................... 131 ix The Handwriting.................................................................................................... 132 Grammar ............................................................................................................ 132 Greek Genealogical Word List.............................................................................. 133 Key Words..................................................................................................... 133 Words Indicating Relation ....................................................................... 133 Words Indicating Birth ............................................................................ 133 Words Indicating Status of Birth ............................................................. 133 Words Indicating Baptism ....................................................................... 134 Words Indicating Marriage ...................................................................... 134 Words Indicating Death ........................................................................... 134 Colorful Expressions for death ................................................................ 134 Words Indicating Burial........................................................................... 134 Words Indicating Types of Records ........................................................ 134 General Words............................................................................................... 135 Chapter 11 NUMBERS AND UNITS OF TIME Numbers ............................................................................................................ 139 Numbers in Numerical Order......................................................................... 139 Cardinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order ...................................................... 140 Ordinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order........................................................ 140 Numbers in Alphabetic Form......................................................................... 141 Units of Time......................................................................................................... 141 Days of the Week........................................................................................... 141 Months........................................................................................................... 141 Appendix A GLOSSARY Greek Words.......................................................................................................... 143 English Words....................................................................................................... 145 Appendix B GREEK GIVEN NAMES, THEIR VARIATIONS, ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS AND NAME DAYS ........................................................................................................ 149 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ........................................... [[Media:Lica Catsakis 1a Introduction.pdf|Introduction]] [[Media:Lica Catsakis 1b Family History Research.pdf|Chapter 1. Family History Research]] [[Media:Lica Catsakis 2 Sources for Genealogical Research.pdf|Chapter 2: Sources for Genealogical Research]] [[Media:Lica Catsakis 3 History.pdf|Chapter 3: History]] [[Media:Lica Catsakis 4 More About Greece.pdf|Chapter 4: More About Greece]]