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Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)

4. I have not, but this post caused me to look up my surname ...

Mon Apr 17, 2023, 10:59 AM

Apr 2023

Which comes from my paternal grandfather, who I know migrated from Croatia in the 1920's or 30's.

Turns out there's approx 152 of us in the entire world, and only 11 of us in the USA. My brothers and I are 3 of them (5 if you count my brother's kids, but I doubt they're in the stats as they're minors).

Interestingly there's 32 of us in Chile (I'm FB friends with 1 of them) even though it's definitely a Croatian name/word. If there's only 152 of us in the world, I suspect we're all related at least to some degree.

I'd love to visit Croatia generally but my grandfather died before I was born and my dad hated him, so he never really talked about his dad. No idea what his hometown was, nor do I specifically care to go there.

My mom's side are French Canadian and Swedish. I'd be keen to visit their hometowns there but not sure which they are. My mom might have some idea but I've not asked.

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For those of you who are able to trace their ancestry back to another country... [View all] Tommy Carcetti Apr 2023 OP

No, I haven't been able to locate the name of the English or Welsh towns my ancestors lived. Mine sinkingfeeling Apr 2023 #1

My first known American ancestor, Andrew Totty, arrived in Virginia in 1640. Aristus Apr 2023 #2

I haven't, but my brothers visited the small town in England where our relatives are from Walleye Apr 2023 #3

Yes, my mother was really into genealogy, cksmithy Apr 2023 #64

That is wonderful, I love connection to the past generations, and Americans we come from everywhere Walleye Apr 2023 #68

I have not, but this post caused me to look up my surname ... Hugh_Lebowski Apr 2023 #4

i was surprised that my mom's last name is pretty rare. mopinko Apr 2023 #17

So 'Pinko' isn't a very popular last name? Who'da thunk it? Hugh_Lebowski Apr 2023 #27

that's my da's name. mopinko Apr 2023 #36

Lol I assumed that was not your real last name Hugh_Lebowski Apr 2023 #39

it's rly cahill. mopinko Apr 2023 #43

That's what I thought from your twitter handle ;) Hugh_Lebowski Apr 2023 #44

i'm mopinko in a few places. mopinko Apr 2023 #49

Perhaps it was originally O'Pinko? Wicked Blue Apr 2023 #53

my ex had a weird surname mopinko Apr 2023 #45

I visited the home town of my father once. Wisconsin. Tetrachloride Apr 2023 #5

Only France, and the link would have been through Norman invaders. I'd love to visit more of my root GPV Apr 2023 #6

Only on one side of the family Redleg Apr 2023 #7

I have never been to my families home towns WhiteTara Apr 2023 #8

My paternal GF's last name was something Swedish Hugh_Lebowski Apr 2023 #46

nice WhiteTara Apr 2023 #47

I know where some of my ancestors lived bucolic_frolic Apr 2023 #9

My paternal family came from towns around the Firth of Forth. Chainfire Apr 2023 #10

Thanks for sharing this great story FakeNoose Apr 2023 #11

Yes I have....though only one so far....in Scotland RegulatedCapitalistD Apr 2023 #12

I haven't, so far, but my brother has recently visited Ocelot II Apr 2023 #13

First Generation bpj62 Apr 2023 #14

Supposedly Bath. Karadeniz Apr 2023 #15

not yet. some day. there are tour companies that do this. mopinko Apr 2023 #16

My grandparents were from Poland bif Apr 2023 #18

Mine too on my Dad's side. I actually visited my grandfather's brother KPN Apr 2023 #52

I haven't been able to visit either Ireland or Wales, area51 Apr 2023 #19

Visited both towns in Sicily where my grandparents were born. CanonRay Apr 2023 #20

What a cool story! i visited the Salem Witchcraft Museum to see where my ancestor was tried samnsara Apr 2023 #21

I love Midsome Murders too Wicked Blue Apr 2023 #54

My maternal grandparents emigrated from Luxembourg in the 1890s. greatauntoftriplets Apr 2023 #22

My ancestors came from Arkansas and Missouri. And before that Virginia and Kentucky. Bucky Apr 2023 #23

Hah - well, something of a case could be made that those are other countries!1 UTUSN Apr 2023 #25

Ha-ha! I've been there. That's where my cultural roots come from. Bucky Apr 2023 #28

Saw the road sign as our tour bus whizzed by. UTUSN Apr 2023 #24

I know where both sides of my family lived in The Pale. Raftergirl Apr 2023 #26

No, But I Would Like To Deep State Witch Apr 2023 #29

I have done this as well macwriter Apr 2023 #30

I probably won't spinbaby Apr 2023 #31

I accidentally did. It's what got me into genealogy. chowder66 Apr 2023 #32

Yes! And it was wonderful. kimmylavin Apr 2023 #33

Yes! In the Czech Republic. hauckeye Apr 2023 #34

I've been in Co. Galway, where my father's ancestors lived. Harker Apr 2023 #35

here's a 1 up story mopinko Apr 2023 #37

So cool you all can do this........... DENVERPOPS Apr 2023 #38

My family knew that my paternal grandmother wnylib Apr 2023 #61

Years ago DENVERPOPS Apr 2023 #71

I would not know as much about my grandmother's Seneca ancestry wnylib Apr 2023 #77

Mom's birth name originated in southeast England. BMW2020RT Apr 2023 #40

I have not been to Romania as of yet. Scottie Mom Apr 2023 #41

Ironically my only relatives from far away that I could trace their origin closely were from Ukraine LymphocyteLover Apr 2023 #42

I am living in the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. yellerpup Apr 2023 #48

Just one. peppertree Apr 2023 #50

I'm glad you had that wonderful experience Wicked Blue Apr 2023 #51

I only know a few words and phrases thanks to growing up with my grandmother. Tommy Carcetti Apr 2023 #60

And now you've taught me something in Ukrainian Wicked Blue Apr 2023 #63

no. and due to health issues may not. glad u were able to. AllaN01Bear Apr 2023 #55

We have on one of my grandparent's lines TXPaganBanker Apr 2023 #56

They eventually made it down to New Orleans? wnylib Apr 2023 #69

I haven't read it, that I can remember TXPaganBanker Apr 2023 #74

Sounds like they were French nobility or military officers. wnylib Apr 2023 #75

Recommended. H2O Man Apr 2023 #57

No, but... ZenDem Apr 2023 #58

When I was 20, homegirl Apr 2023 #59

Yep! I briefly visited Bal tha na Sluaighe... r�is�n_dubh Apr 2023 #62

Ancestry ms.pamela Apr 2023 #65

Thank you! Tommy Carcetti Apr 2023 #67

I haven't traced mine any farther back than my grandparents. ShazzieB Apr 2023 #66

I didn't know it at the time meadowlander Apr 2023 #70

I have never been to any of my family's wnylib Apr 2023 #72

Yes, that of my Eleventh GrtGrandDad and American founder Model35mech Apr 2023 #73

Yes and no. sakabatou Apr 2023 #76

Yes, I went to towns in southern Italy where my family phylny Apr 2023 #78