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
 * 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]]