Genealogy Chat

I've just started researching for a friend. He was brought up being told his father was born in Germany and arrived in the States in 1904/05, when he was 3 or 4......I've found three U.S. census stating the father and his parents were born in Turkey and spoke Greek! He believes his parents spoke german.....Any suggestions for the country differences??? Thank you.

Hi The Turkish/Greek part could be explained by the fact that Turkey occupied Greece for several hundred years, so if they were born in what is now Greece they would speak Greek, even though it was officially Turkey!! - if that makes sense to you. A theory anyway. Davina

Hi Davina, Thank you, that does makes sense. :~) Now, just have to figure out why they said they were German. 'Pete' is an older gentleman, so this has not only come as a surprise, but a shock. Thank you for your help. I'll pass on your information.

Hi there, Another explanation and maybe a simpler one, is that many people of Greek ethnic origin live in Turkey. There is even an arch- bishopric of the Greek Orthodox Church here. Hope this helps

Hi Jane. Thank you for your thoughts! The Greek/Turkish relationships certainly make sense now, but he was convinced his parents were German and is actually dismayed to find out after all these years that what he thought was true, might not be. I've triple-checked the census information against the names in his family and I know I have the right census (1910, 1920, 1930). We can't understand why he was told the family was from Germany, and he does believe they spoke German when he was growing up. Thank you, Jane. :~)

Maybe the family moved on to Germany later? Many Greek families were in trade, perhaps they followed business opportunites? Have you checked passenger and immigration lists, that might give you an idea of where their journey started

I don't know how/why but whenever I see tv programmes about immigration Germany has a very large Turkish population. Perhaps they were Greek speaking Turks that moved to Germany and then moved to the USA. I think there is a proper reason based in the history why Germany has all these Turks. I know that Ottoman empire and Austro-Hungarian empires were spread about a bit but not sure of the exact history. When I went to Turkey we went to Kos for the day that was half an hour on the hovercraft but had a Byzantium fotress as far as I can remember. Modern boundaries are very different to how fluid things were before.

Hi again, The Turks in Germany were recruited in the 1960's to work in industry, I don't think there were many there before that. They came with the idea that they would save a lot of money, and return home, but gradually they brought their families over, and it sort of snowballed. So too late to be an influence in your family history Back to the Turkey- Germany connection, my hisband has just remined me that Turkey and Germany were very close allies in the 1870's onwards, and as all the trade and business men in the Ottoman Empire were Greek or Jewish ethnic origin, your relative's family could have indeed moved on to Germany as I theorised earlier Hope this is of help Regards, Jane (on the banks of the Bosphorus as I speak, LOL)

HI Jane and Pippa. I've passed along the prior information to Pete and will be sure to give him the other ideas, as well. Actually, I was wondering if his ancestors were German, then moved to Turkey for one generation before arriving in the States. Hadn't thought of having to move for work (from Germany to Turkey); there's a possibility! Now that I'm rereading the census...one census clearly states the grandfather was born in Turkey. Another says, for 'place of birth for this person' and place of birth for his parents: 'Turk EU Greek', so perhaps he and his parents moved around alot? Thank you all; without your help I wouldn't have thought of the possibility of living in different areas! My ancestors lived in Ireland and England for generations, so I just 'assume' people stay put! Thank you!!!! And, thank you 'Jane's husband'. PS Can't find any immigration information which is odd, because they didn't all arrive at the same time. One would think I would run across at least one record?