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Greek Ancestry Summer Webinar #1: Prof Gonda van Steen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gYU9oQLZN8 Prof Gonda van Steen prepared the following handout especially for Greek Ancestry's followers! You may download it by clicking on the button below. Adopted-from-Greece-Where-to-StartDownload
The Kasotakis Family: The history behind the name
By Giannis Michalakakos - Teacher of Family Studies, Msc Cultural Management In Greece, most of the surnames derive from nicknames, patronymics (paternal given names), occupations and places of origin. The surname "Kassotakis" is an example of the latter case, meaning...
Interview with Angelyn Balodimas-Bartolomei, Recipient of First VPHI Grant
Angelyn could not conceive that the passion engendered by her family history research would lead to her distinction of being the first beneficiary of Greek Ancestry’s VHPI Grant!
Beneficiary Chosen for 1st Village History Project Initiative (VHPI) Grant
Announced in the last session of the International Greek Ancestry Confrence, the VHPI aims at helping people connect and exchange information by fostering collaboration.
Tracing Freedom: 1821 – The Revolution of 1821 and its impact on your ancestors
By Giannis Michalakakos, MSc in Cultural Management In order to fully understand the impact of the 1821 Revolution on Greek families, we have to understand life before, during and after the Revolution. Most of the examples discussed below focus on Lakonia, my...
Distinctions of Geronthres, Lakonia
By Gregory Kontos, Historian & Founder of Greek Ancestry Introduction After the Greeks’ long and painful struggle for their national independence (1821-1829), they naturally held great expectations for Otto’s Regency Council. However, the Council of this infant...
Newsletter – November 2021
New Records Release, Our Photo Contest, Upcoming Conference, Carol’s Research Tips and… Lots More!
Newsletter – October 2021
New Records Release, New VHPI Grant Beneficiary, Jennifer Aniston’s Hero Ancestor, Our Photo Contest, Carol’s Research Tips and… Lots More!
Beneficiary Chosen for Village History Project Initiative (VHPI) Grant
Greek Ancestry is excited to announce that “Amykles Villages – Χωριά των Αμυκλών History Project” has been awarded the third Village History Project Initiative (VHPI) grant!
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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,
Alexandra Kiritsy
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