Albania Genealogy

= Population =

The Albanians are considered to be descendants of Illyrian and Thracian tribes who settled the region in ancient times. The country is ethnically homogeneous with 96 percent of the population being Albanian. There are two major subgroups of Albanians - the Gegs and the Tosks. Historically, the Gegs of northern Albania were herdsmen, mostly Muslim and Roman-Catholic. The Tosks of the south were more generally settled farmers, and their religion was more often Greek-Orthodox but also many Muslims. Today their differences in dialect, religions and social customs are distinguishable but not pronounced. Ninety-five percent of the population are ethnically Albanian. Greeks are the largest minority; they constitute 3% of the population and live in the southern portion of the country. The other 2% include Vlachs (akin to Romanians), Gypsies, Bulgars, and Serbs.

= Useful Websites =


 * Albania Genweb Project
 * Family Tree Magazine: Albanian Toolkit
 * Federation of East European Family History Societies (FEEFHS)

= Additional Research Articles =


 * Church Records in Albania
 * Civil Registration in Albania
 * Population Registers and Census Records in Albania
 * Ottoman Detailed Cadastral Surveys in Albania