You most probably bumped into that case. Your ancestors listed in census records, obituaries and other sources as from Bohemia - and then you search and search and search to find out they came from Moravia or Silesia. How is it possible? Why Bohemia is written instead of Moravia? What were the reasons?
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In fact the reason was just one: it was easier. You have to have in mind that before 1918 word "Czech" was used only for nationality. There was no Czechoslovakia or Czech Republic, just Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. People from these lands were of Czech or German (less often Polish) nationality, not Bohemians, Moravians or Silesians.
If someone said he was from Moravia, almost no one knew where it is. But if you said you were from Bohemia - almost everyone knew. Ah, yes, part of Hapsburg monarchy, right? Central Europe, Prague, tasty beer (yes, even in 19th century), great craftsmen! So people tend to say they were from Bohemia because then they weren't forced to explain where Moravia or Silesia is. And as people tend to make their lives easier, they started to use Bohemia instead of Moravia.
David wrote in a comment to this blog "I have also noticed in U.S. Census records that we seen Bohemia listed often, but Moravia hardly ever." Well, it's not completely true - for example 1900 U.S. Census shows 461,269 records for Bohemia and 310,418 for Moravia. But many of those who had Bohemia listed were in fact from Moravia. My experience says that about half of people who left to U.S. was from Moravia - and Moravia is much smaller than Bohemia (about 2/5 of Bohemia's area)...
So if your ancestors stated anywhere (even in their memories) they were from Bohemia... Trust, but verify as one Czech proverb says. :)
David wrote in a comment to this blog "I have also noticed in U.S. Census records that we seen Bohemia listed often, but Moravia hardly ever." Well, it's not completely true - for example 1900 U.S. Census shows 461,269 records for Bohemia and 310,418 for Moravia. But many of those who had Bohemia listed were in fact from Moravia. My experience says that about half of people who left to U.S. was from Moravia - and Moravia is much smaller than Bohemia (about 2/5 of Bohemia's area)...
So if your ancestors stated anywhere (even in their memories) they were from Bohemia... Trust, but verify as one Czech proverb says. :)
Same story for Prague.... many people listed ( or it was listed for them ) that they were from Prague. Some were, but many were not.... Most people knew about Prague, but no-one had heard of some tiny village 40 miles from Prague.... do keep an open mind !
ReplyDeleteMark Bigaouette, founder CGSI.org
Hi Mark, Prague is exactly the same case. I mentioned it in previous blog about Prague conscriptions but I think I should have mentioned it in this one too. Thanks!
DeleteAnd thanks for visiting my blog, it's an honor. :)
Have you ever heard of the surname Bartu? Im not sure if the spelling was changed when they arrived in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteThey were from Moravia.
DeleteHi Michael, yes, I have heard about this surname, I even have Bártů family among my ancestors. Do you know from which part of Moravia they were?
DeleteAnyone have site suggestions for Duchcov, Bohemia records? My gggrandparents came from there in 1865 to USA. I have no information about their life except they were Catholic...
ReplyDeleteTheir names were Simon and Barbara Robl. ..maybe Ruhl or Roeble? It was americanized to Rable...
DeleteLooking for Weiss/Horzinek about 1880 to 1910
ReplyDeleteLooking for Weiss/Horzinek about 1880 to 1910
ReplyDeleteWell, it's not "Czechoslovakia" or "Bohemia" or even "Czech Republic" anymore, but "Czechia"!
ReplyDeleteLooking for Cerva/Hrdlicka
ReplyDeleteMy husband's ancestor, b. 1820, came to the US about 1847. And within about 5 years, shortened his name so that he has been very difficult to find during the earliest years. The original name was handed down verbally, but not written, so that made it even more difficult. Fast forward about 20 years, I think I have finally found the name: Gustave Joseph Linde v. Hantschke. He shortened the name to Joseph Linde. He reported his place of origin as Bohemia. But, I still don't have a place of birth to investigate the family line further. One other family researcher had the name of the town, Tetchen, but I have no idea where they came up with this and if it is even accurate. Have you heard of this surname? Would this be a Christian surname or could it be Jewish. My husband's DNA came back a 2% European Jew.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandfather's surname is Safarik born in 1885. My road block is that on all the documents I have found place of origin is different. They are:Uljanik, Slavonia;Bohemia, Austria,czech. I know the ship he came over on is Kiln in 1904. Help...
ReplyDeleteOh and another one was last place of residence:Hun, Hrv
DeleteOne thing I learned from a friendly source was they at one time Bohemia was part of Austria .So if your ancestor was listed as Austrian and you know they were born in Bohemia/Czech,they probably are not Austrian.
DeleteI don't suppose you've heard of the surname Gall? My gggrandfather Andrew was born in Hungary in 1851. When his son John, my ggrandfather was born in 1877 it was Podhorany, East Bohemia, Slovak Republic, but 1900 U.S. Census says Hungary is his place of birth.
ReplyDeleteI'm in search for my ggrandparents Paul Knocik and Caroline Rapsick. The only place I have found was they were from Austria. I can't find there info before they came to USA? Any suggestions where to look? I see all these books with villages and house numbers, I don't understand how to find this info.
ReplyDeleteWhat about BOHEVIA. That would be great !!
ReplyDeleteResearching. Adalbert Spina/Spena from Burotitz Bohemia (can't find on any map) married in Dushnick Bohemia 1863, immigrated in 1866 to USA.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if the name Sigut or Schigut is Moravian?
ReplyDelete