Uzhgorod archives. What to expect?

Hi Orsolya, first of all, birth of Lajos Tar should by in civil vital records of Nagymuzsaly/Muzhievo, so it may contain some information about his mother. This is what may be stated confidently. Then, it depends on information found. Rozalia may originate from other village or city, also it depends a lot on her rite.

Please check your mail, I've sent my suggestions.

Hi Maxim, I've been in contact with you before but it's been a while, and I still need help. I am still trying to find information on my grandfather Gregory (Harry) Kuchak (Feb 1882). The last name was spelled many ways, Kucsak was an early one, also Kurcsak. He was born in Drugethaza, Hungary, today's Zaricso, Ukraine, and was Greek Catholic. On a much later document he listed his father's name as Charles and his mother's as Mary Maslanik. He had a brother Andras born 1871 in Zaricso also, and possible a brother Joseph. My grandfather always went by Harry. (Gregory = Hrygorij (nickname Hryc, frequently anglicized to Harry) The Ukr. form of the name "Gregory" is Hrehir (with the h, remember, sounding almost like a k), and Hryc or Hryts is a kind of nickname, like "Greg.)

I had asked you previously if there was ever a census for Zaricso and if his family had been there at the time. At this point I don't know how the last name would have been spelled.....I can't seem to find any passenger list with his name on it when he supposedly came to the USA in 1902. I'm interested in finding out about him and his family prior to coming to the USA. Is there any info from Uzhgorod archives that even hints about him or his family's existence?

Hi Donna, it’s nice to hear from you again. Thanks for your great explanation on names spelling. It seems last time we have communicated in 2014. I only can ensure you that if you need my help, I can help you.

I write this public reply mostly for our readers because you case has been reviewed in details in private. Answering your direct question, yes, info on Kucsak family, most likely may be found. GC records for Zaricso exist and getting of information on your ancestors is possible.

Hello Maxim, I was wondering if you could help me locate a birth record or two. My great-grandfather was born Elya Moses/Mores Friedman in Sep 1898 in Skotars'ke which is now a very small own in Transcarpathian Ukraine. If you need any other information I am glad to provide any other information you might need but this may be enough.
Thanks,
Daniel

Hi Daniel, thanks for making your post. Yes, I can help you to find birth record of Elya Mozes Friedman in 1898, it should be available. You have mentioned "birth record or two". I hope you will specify this and yes, I would like to get additional information, if you please.

Please check your mail, I've sent my specifying questions.

Hello Maxim, hope you can locate my spouse mother's birth info. Name is Helena Groszoszova, born June 29, 1922 believe in Uzhorod. Thank you in advance, Ken.

Hi Kenneth, sure I can, this record should be in civil records of Uzhgorod. Please check your mail, I've sent my suggestions.

Hi Maxim, I am 83 looking for all family info for Tarahonich in Hripinye/Repinye/Repenye, Maramoros. The first I found in 1715 census, Stephan Tarachonik, 1720 - Stephanus Taraczkozi, Bustyahaza, Tesco Jaras. I know names were changed many times over the years.

I'm also looking for much more info on gfather Istvan Tarachonics, born abt 1870, who immigrated in 1907, and his wife Mary Magdic/Magdics/Magdich, born abt 1872, her father is Peter Magdics. And Istvan’s mother is Anna Cinkovich/Sinkovich.

I have a baptismal record for my father George, born in 1903 in Repenye but I can't read it. I need birth records for John, born Dec 22 1899 or Sept 15 1900, for Anna, born Dec 25 1905, and for Michaly, born Sept 27 1906.

Istvan and John’s naturalization papers say they were born in Zakerwsie. No place spelled like this. Many places sound like it with Google Translate. Anna’s naturalization papers say Repenye, born Dec 25 1905, Michaly Budapest, born Sep 27 1906. I hope you can help. Thank you.

Hi Maxim,

Hope your having a great day!

Do you know where the records for Stanovo and Lirturka, Volovets area records may be stored? I am hitting a brick wall researching my relatives. Everyone says they were Russian Orthodox but I see the area was mainly Catholic. I am not sure it they were Rusyn or not. Is Rusyn only Catholic? Mukechova is on some of the later docs I have for Lirturka. Stanovo I am thinking Muchechova is probably the closest archive as well. Do you know if there are any online archives?

My GF and his first wife (she died in 1919) owned property in Lirtuka and I have what looks to be deed info. So I am thinking that might be a way to research him a bit more if there are any records online. His mother died in childbirth, but I am not sure which child she died delivering but I think it was a sibling.

Thanks,
Charlyne

Hi Georgia, yes I can help, hopefully.

First of all, names found in 1715 census, have very conditional relation or most likely no any relation to your ancestral family in Repenye as you have described it. Almost 200 years is big time span. Having similar or identical names is not proof of kinship. I have article in my forum, Relatives or Namesakes, where I write about this problem in details. So we will put away census results for now.

So your father George (1903), John (1899-1900), Anna (1905) and Mihaly (1906) are siblings, and the family has emigrated in 1907. From George to Anna place of birth is indicated as Repenye, excluding John whose birth place is read like “Zakerwsie” which is very similar to “Zakarpattya”, local name of the land. Mihaly’s birth place is indicated as Budapest.

I would like to get readable image of George’s (1903) baptismal record, I guess I will be able to read it. It may provide a lot of valuable information instantly.

Please check your mail, I’ve sent my questions and suggestions.

Hi Charlyne, thanks for interesting post. First of all, let’s clear up locations.

Stanovo is village in modern Mukachevo region.

Latirka is village in modern Volovets region. Name “Lirturka” doesn’t exist, Hungarian version is Latorcafo.

Mukachevo city is a regional center, Hungarian name is Munkacs. This is location you mean saying “Mukechova”.

I really suggest you to read starting topic of this thread, it will answer many of your questions. But I will answer some of them briefly. There is not archive in Mukachevo, all vital records are stored in Uzhgorod. Online archives do not exist for this area, information is kept as paper books of records.

Really, Rusyns were predominantly Greek Catholic and Orthodox, other ethnic groups like Germans, Slovaks and Hungarians were predominantly Catholic and Reformat. These are “common rules”, there were exceptions of course.

About your ancestors in Latirka, I can’t say anything definite yet because you didn’t provide much information. Please check your mail, I've sent specifying questions.

My maternal grandfather Michael Kocaba was (probably) born in Serednye Ukraine in 1883. He arrived in the US in 1902, and indicated to the immigration officials that his spoken tongue was Ruthenian and was Galician. He was a devout Ruthenian Orthodox adherent. His father was George Kocaba and mother Anastasia Vassarova. We believe him to have at least on brother and one sister, perhaps more. How can I go about researching church records for these families, and verifying if this indeed was his village? He verbally referred to his village as Seredyne Vyelke (phonetic spelling), and I know they were near a river. My forays into familysearch documents all turn up Cyrillic records, and I have no idea how to understand them. Thank you for any advice and information you can offer! KP

Hi,
I'm looking for the birth records of my great grandmother, Jewish, from Munkacs, about 1888. Her parents names, trying to find her 2 sisters who immigrated to the USA.
Is there any left and open to the public?
Thanks in advance.
Eyal Bloch

Hello,

I'm looking for information on my great-great grandfather and grandmother. John Martis/Matis/Matii, born June 1860. He was Carpatho-Rusyn and from somewhere between Uzhorod and Mukachevo. According to his death certificate, his father's name was Mike. He married Mary Badneroska/Badnerosky in 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I'm trying to find the birth villages, more specific dates of birth, and names of parents.

Thank you if you can offer any assistance!

Hi Kristine, if Michael Kocaba was born in 1883 in Serednye, these are good news because GC church records are available for this village. This makes possible research on entire Kocaba family.

It’s highly probable that the ancestral village is exactly Serednye since spelling matches, and they really have a small river and a lake in Serednye. “Vyelke” means “Big”, it really was big well populated village back then. Besides, Kocaba (spelled Kotsaba) is common Ruthenian surname.

Records for this village exist as paper books held in local state archives. I can access, research and deliver results. Please check your mail for my suggestions.

Hi Eyal, probably I can help you. Answering your question, yes, Jewish and civil vital records are available for Munkacs, and specifically for time frame mentioned.

I would like to have more details about your ancestral family, in order to understand your inquiry better. So please check your mail, I have specifying questions to you.

Hi Steph, I guess, it’s OK with name and date but as researcher, I can’t help you if birth location is not clear. As you understand, there is a big number of villages between Uzhgorod and Mukachevo.

It’s necessary to clear up location first. If you have any documents which may give hints, it would be helpful to see them. Please check your mail for my questions.

I am trying to locate any information regarding my mother's family that was living in Fekete Ordo and then taken to Auschwitz in the spring of 1944. My mother's maiden name was Ruszena Kohn born in 1926. Her father's name was Yosef Kohn and mother was Henia Kohn, maiden name Berkovics.

Thank you so much, I appreciate any information you might be able to pass on.

Hello Maxim,

I am looking for help on my great and great great grandparents. My great uncle Julius Varian (Gyula Varjan) was born 4 May 1890 in Ungvar. His parents were Gyorgy Varjan and Maria Gajdos. Maria Gajdos was born about abt Aug 1868. Their children were: Etel born 18 Nov 1886 is Diosgyor in Borsod, Julius mentioned above, Maria/Mary abt 1891, maybe in Ungvar.

I am keen to find the name of Maria's father as well as any info about when and where he married my great great grandmother Susanna, who was born about Apr 1837.

Susanna married 2nd Anton Marinisz (Morenics/Marinich/Morenes/Morenus/Marinist) probobly about 1873/4. They had 3 children: Rudolf abt 1875, Wilhelmina (Vilma) abt 1875 and Kornelia abt Oct 1881. Rudolf and Vilma were born in Diosgyor and I don't know about Kornelia's nativity for sure. There was also a Veronika, born abt 1892 but I don't know who her parents were.

I would appreciate any and all information you might be able to find for me from the archive.

I did find an arrival record in Hamburg that lists Marie Martunec (grandmother) born abt 1840, Julia Varian born abt 1892 and Marie Varie Varian born abt 1891. The previous residence is listed as Mikolocz, which I believe should be Miskolcz. I have photos of the families from a photographer in Miskolc about 1899. Maybe the Julia is actually Julius and maybe Marie Martunek is my great great grandmother Susanna?

Kindly reply with your availability and any pertinent info as to cost. If you can help me to fill in some missing pieces in my ancestry, I would appreciate it! I am also interested in knowing about the reasons for families immigrating from the 1880's-1905. I was very young when my grandmother told me some stories but can't be sure if my memories are accurate. I think she told me the people in charge of the government said they didn't need such a big house and their homes were taken away and were used to house several families, and that they were forced to live in cramped quarters; also that their businesses were taken away from them. I thought socialism happened later than the 1880s/1890s? I don't know their occupations in Hungary but they owned grocery stores in America.

Cheers.

Hi Hedy, thanks for your post. There are good chances to find at least birth record of Ruszena Kohn in 1926, because it should be in civil records for Fekete Ardo/Chornotysiv, which start from 1895.

Also, if the entire family originates from Fekete Ardo, it may be possible to find more extended information about it.

Please check your mail, I have few specifying questions to you.

Hi Stephen, thanks for your post. I see the story this way – the family of Gyorgy Varjan and Maria Gajdos originates from Diosgyor/Miskolc, then they have moved to Ungvar and then they have emigrated. And accordingly to arrival record in Hamburg they have emigrated directly from Miskolc.

Family of Susanna (your gggmother) and Anton Marinisz originates from Diosgyor/Miskolc and nothing indicates their relation to Ungvar, as I understand, their 3 kids, Rudolf, Vilma and Kornelia were born in Diosgyor/Miskolc.

So it’s not clear which events of these families have happened in Ungvar, if any. Probably, your great uncle Julius Varian (Gyula Varjan) was born 4 May 1890 in Ungvar, but accordingly to other version, this person can be a girl. And family of Susanna and Anton Marinisz stayed in Diosgyor/Miskolc.

Diosgyor/Miskolc is one city in Hungary now so I would advise checking local archives first. I can recommend a couple of competent researchers in Hungary so you could consult with them at least.

Please check your mail, I've sent my suggestions.

Hello,

My great grandparents immigrated from the village of Repede in Bereg County. They changed their name to Appley in America, but I have seen it written on ship manifests and baptism records as Abel and Abely. My great-grandmother’s maiden name was Ulinecz. I believe my great-grandfather was born around 1880 and my great-grandmother around 1885. Would these records be available?

Thanks,
Alicia

Hi Alicia, thanks for making your post. Repede of Bereg County is modern Bystrytsya in Mukachevo region.

Pre-1895 church records for these families will be available only if your ancestors were Greek Catholics. In the end of 19th century population of this little village was predominantly German and Rusyn. Ulinecz surname sounds Rusyn to me, ethnic Rusyns in Bereg Megye were Greek Catholics mostly, so I see all chances.

Please check your mail for my suggestions.

Hello Maxim,

I came across this thread about Uzhgorod and wanted to ask you for some advice about researching my ancestor. I have immigration records for my great-great-grandfather, Janos Koroly, which stated he was born in 1888 in Tibava/Cibava/Tiba, Slovakia and Ungvar/Uzhgorod. He was Greek Catholic and emigrated to the US in 1913. I am having trouble finding any archives or records for Tibava and Uzhgorod online to search for his birth record. Could you advise on where would be a good resource to access to find his birth record?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Nick

Hi Maxim,

I recently found out that my maternal grandmother's family came from Iglincz, Hungary which is now Lintsi, Ukraine. The last name is Herskowitz/Hershkowitz. I have found very little about the Jewish community there, but from what I have found there were only about 70 Jews living there in 1880 (I couldn't find the original source for this, so I don't know the accuracy). My 3x great grandparents names were Israel and Esther (Klenowsky) Herskowitz. Their son Abraham/Adolf (born around 1874) came to the US around 1894 and another son Jacob/Jack (born around 1883) came over in 1899 to join his brother (according to the ship manifest). The ship manifest says his last residence was Szerednye, but his naturalization record said he is from Iglintz, Hungary. Considering that Szerednye is the largest city near Iglincz it would make sense for him to have either moved there at some point or just claimed that was his residence.

I was hoping to find some records from Lintsi about my family there, but considering it's such a tiny town with very little online information I'm not sure where to look. When I found this page I got hopeful that maybe you could guide me.

Thanks in advance!

Hannah

Hi Nick, regarding Ukrainian records, only LDS was allowed and has been filming vital records, many years ago. This way, it and its structures like Family Search have films of authentic books.

However, in Transcarpathia they have filmed only part of church books of former Bereg county, and just. This filming was stopped and never will be restarted because of current Ukrainian laws.

So if you can’t find records on LDS resources, most likely they exist as source books which are held in state archives. Only a researcher can study these records and send you results found. I guess it is so in situation with Slovakia either.

Your inquiry looks a bit confusing to me, Tibava in Slovakia and Uzhgorod are different locations, even though they are close. Could you clarify this moment about birth location?

Please check your mail for my question and suggestions.

Hi Hannah, thanks for your post. First of all, Jewish or other vital records for Iglincz aren't available online. Authentic vital records are held in state archive as paper source books. And I can help you to grant access to.

Then, you are right describing Iglincz, in fact, it’s a part of cluster around Szerednye which is bigger village. Jewish records are available so I guess it’s possible to check information about Abraham and Jakob Herschkowitz.

Please check your mail for my suggestions.

Maxim,

My Great Grand father immigrated from the Bereg Austria-Hungary in 1912. His name was Michael Tydir then Tigyar and finally Tigyer where it has settled today. Using you helpful guide I was able to find the village that he came from was Serbócz / Beregsziklás = Scherbovets’. In doing some research on this village I have found a surname which when translated is roughly Tydir. I am trying to find if the archives would have information on my Great Grandfather and his family, because I don't know any generation before him.

Thanks in Advance,
Ben

Hi Ben, thanks for your post. If you read through my forum, you know that civil recording for all cities and villages has been started in 1895. And church records are different for every location.

For Scherbovets, for example, church birth records are rather limited, however certain information about this family may be obtained. It depends on additional details which are lacking in your message.

Please check your mail, I have specifying questions to you.

Hi,

I have hit a roadblock in my research.

I know my Opalenik ancestors last resided in Kapuszog/Vorocso, Austria-Hungary, now modern-day Vorochovo, Ukraine. My great-grandmother and her brother were both married by a Greek-Catholic priest in America. I am unsure if this was the only village my ancestors inhabited, but to figure anything out, I need to locate records. My great-grandmother was born in the early 1890s, her brother was born in the late 1880s. Their parents were born in the 1860s.

Since the village is near Uzhgorod, would it be likely that their Greek Catholic records would be there? If not, maybe you can help point me in the right direction?