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List of Greek Municipalities
Here you will find links to each regional unit's Municipalities and KEP offices.
Administrative Unit of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Introduction Eastern Macedonia became part of Greece in 1913 and Thrace became part of Greece in 1920. Eastern Macedonia came under Ottoman rule in 1430; Thrace had been controlled by Bulgaria until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. Located in northeastern...
Administrative Unit of Western Macedonia
Introduction Western Macedonia, situated in northern Greece, shares international borders with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania. It has the distinction of being the only landlocked region in Greece with no access to the sea, but its multitude of lakes and...
Administrative Unit of Western Greece
Introduction Western Greece encompasses the northwestern Peloponnese and the western part of Central Greece and figures significantly in the country’s history. Bishop Germanos of Patras was among the first to call for rebellion at the start of the 1821 Revolution....
Administrative Unit of Thessaly
Introduction Thessaly, located in north central Greece, has been inhabited since 6000 B.C. and is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey by its ancient name of Aeolia. Its proximity to the Balkans fostered centuries of conquest by Slavs, Bulgarians, Vlachs and Serbs. The...
CHALKIDIKI
New Records! Messinia & Attiki
Geia sou! We would like you to know that we just released new records for the prefectures of Messinia and Attiki! The villages covered by the new records are: Messinia - Voutena, Makraina [Makrena], Kouloukada, Chalvatso [Kefalovryso], Moustafapasa [Aristomenis],...
Thessaloniki – La Madre de Israel
By Alexandra Kiritsy & Gregory Kontos When Jewish colonists were brought to the newly founded city of Macedonia around 315 B.C., no one could have imagined that Thessaloniki’s history would be closely associated with Jewish history throughout the centuries. About...
“My Big Fat Greek Ancestry Summer” Webinar
Despite the pandemic, the past summer was very productive for Greek Ancestry: new collections, new research tools, new analyses and a brand new platform! We would like to share all our news with you this Saturday, Sept. 26th, at 3pm ET (2pm CT, 1pm MT, noon PT)! Join...
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Καλωσήρθες! Welcome to the Greek Genealogy Guide!
Here you can learn everything you need to know about Greek genealogy and family history.
Written by
Gregory Kontos
and
Carol Kostakos Petranek
Hellenic ancestry is a source of extraordinary pride and unique identity. Learning the country’s history and understanding the life of its people is a continual journey of knowledge and discovery. Perhaps this is most evident in pursuing the study of one’s Greek family history. Fostering a connectedness to family can stretch beyond the living to include the departed, but only when information about them can be ascertained. What were the names of our second or third great-grandparents? How many children did they have? What were their occupations? And, most important—how do I even begin to access records about them?
Prior to now, answering these questions has been challenging. But the doors of Greek genealogy have now opened to reveal a new era in research. The work being done by Gregory Kontos of Greek Ancestry is groundbreaking and exciting. With the advent of online translated, name-indexed and searchable records from Greece, finding one’s ancestors is not only possible—it is highly probable!
By consulting this Guide, one can navigate the complexities of Greek genealogy and find the correct resources to both access and request relevant documentation for his or her ancestors. It is the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery—and love.
Carol Kostakos Petranek
January 31, 2021