Educational Articles
Explore In-Depth Articles on Greek History and Genealogy
Stay informed and inspired with Greek Ancestry’s curated collection of articles, offering rich insights into Greek genealogy and historical research. Our expert-written articles cover a wide range of topics that help you put your family history in context.
Whether you are just beginning your research or are already deep into your genealogical journey, our articles provide valuable knowledge and fresh perspectives to enhance your understanding of your Greek heritage. Discover fascinating stories and expert insights that will guide you every step of the way.
Asia Minor Ancestry
After the great interest expressed in this during the first Greek genealogy webinar of April 25th, 2020, we decided to share this story and information. Some time ago, our team was at the General State Archives (GAK) of Athens searching through the "Archive of the...
Greek Ancestry Education, #2: Using US records to find your ancestors’ surname and village
In this video, Carol Kostakos Petranek, a pioneer of Greek genealogy, will teach you how to use US immigration, naturalization and alien registration records to find your Greek ancestors’ original surname and village of origin.
Greek Ancestry Education, #1: Two things you need to know before starting your research
This video discusses the two things you need to know when starting your research: the family’s original surname and the family’s exact place of origin.
Ten years Hellenic Genealogy Geek: An assessment of last ten-year developments
In a few days, on April 16th, Hellenic Genealogy Geek celebrates its anniversary. When it was created ten years ago, in 2010, no one would have imagined the developments that were to follow in the field of Greek genealogy.
Retrieving lost connections: from Greece to Romania
After 100 years a family is reunited, retrieving lost connections: from Greece to Romania
In the Enemy’s hands & Tracing Freedom: 1821
Like many of her compatriots, Aikaterini Kanelli of Geraki fell to the hands of the Turks when Ibrahim Pasha invaded the Peloponnese!
Tracing Freedom: 1821 – The longest-lived warrior of the Greek Revolution
Nikolaos Sistakis of Kakodiki, Chania, died in 1904 at the age of 108. He had fought in many of the great battles of the Greek War of Independence: in Missolonghi, in Samos, in Faliro, under Karaiskakis, Brouskos, Miaoulis and Sachtouris!
Research Tips on Greek Ancestry #1: How to narrow down matches
This video will show you how to narrow down matches when searching on Greek Ancestry. Examples from our Chania databases.
“Beyond the Basics: 1856 Parish Census”, by Carol Kostakos Petranek
There comes a point in any genealogical research where we finish examining the “basic” record sets.
Statistics Meet Genealogy: Male Aging Patterns in Lakonia (1910s-1930s)
In June 2020, a special article presenting statistics on naming patterns in the prefecture of Chania, Crete, was published on Greek Ancestry. That analysis was based on our database of Male Register records of approximately 56,500 individuals born in the area of...
“Laconian Ancestry” – Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria (8/21/2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hnDJE_9g6Q
Parish Voter Lists
By Gregory Kontos To dive into family history, you need to understand your sources. This has been quite often noted in Greek Ancestry articles and webinars, yet it has to be repeated until it becomes a sine qua non in our research. Why, when, how, where and by whom...
Reflections Of My Homeland: The diary of a man from Palaia Fokaia, Asia Minor
By Alexandra Kiritsy Geia sas, everyone! We are very excited to bring you another article about life in Greek villages around the turn of the century. This week’s piece takes us to Asia Minor, where a man by the name of Theodoros Kalatzoglou once lived in a village...
Statistics Meet Genealogy: Naming Patterns in Chania, Crete (1850s-1910)
By Gregory Kontos Your grandfather was born in a village close to Chania, Crete in 1902. His name was Antonis, and you are wondering how common a name that was back then. His surname was Marinakis, and again you’re wondering “how many Marinakis were there in that...
Reflections Of My Homeland: An Account of Village Life in Geraki, Lakonia
Foreword by Alexandra Kiritsy I have always found imagining the world of my Greek yiayia, say, around the turn of the 20th century, to be a difficult task. Looking back at old black-and-white photographs of her often tricks my mind into thinking that her world was...