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]]................................................................... 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

[[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

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

Chapter 1. Family History Research]] Chapter 2: Sources for Genealogical Research]] Chapter 3: History]] Chapter 4: More About Greece]]