Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition

This is the linked Table of Contents to the online version of


 * Catsakis, Lica. Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition. Phoenix, Arizona: 2010.

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS.pdf|TABLE OF CONTENTS]]
Chapter headings are clickable links. ACKNOWLEDGMENT .....................................................................................................

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 1a Introduction.pdf|INTRODUCTION ]]............................................................................................................ xi

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 1b Family History Research.pdf|FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH]]....................................................................................... 1

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 1b Family History Research.pdf|Chapter 1 BEGINNING YOUR RESEARCH]]
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
 * 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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 2 Sources for Genealogical Research.pdf|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
 * 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
 * FamilySearch 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--38

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 3 History.pdf|Chapter 3 GREEK HISTORY]]

 * Greece - Hellas................................................................................................... 45
 * History Map of Greece ....................................................................................... 52

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 4 More About Greece.pdf|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
 * Capital Cities of Counties.................................................................................. 62
 * Capital Cities of Districts................................................................................... 63

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 5 Greek Migration.pdf|Chapter 5 GREEK MIGRATION]]
Greek Migration............................................................................................................ 67

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 6 Locating Places in Greece.pdf|Chapter 6 LOCATING PLACES IN GREECE'']]
Names of Places .......................................................................................................... 71

Gazetteers.................................................................................................................... 71

Variations of Names of Places .................................................................................... 75

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 7 Churches and Religious Denominations.pdf|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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 8 Research by Mail.pdf|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 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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 9 Learn About Names.pdf|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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 10 The Language.pdf|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

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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 11 Numbers and Units of Time.pdf|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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 12 Appendix A Glossary.pdf|Appendix A GLOSSARY]]
Greek Words........................................................................................................... 143

English Words......................................................................................................... 145