Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition

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

[[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

[[Media:Lica Catsakis 13 Appendix B, Names, English Equivalents, Namedays.pdf|Appendix B GREEK GIVEN NAMES, THEIR VARIATIONS, ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS AND NAME DAYS]]
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