Searching for my Greek Grandfather's birthplace
Hi, my grandfather Giovanni D. Fotinapoulos (John Fotenakes) emigrated to the United States arriving here on 4/6/1907. I am traveling to Greece this fall and would like to visit the village where he was born. His birthdate is November 4, 1884. Any ideas on how I can search for his birthplace? My mother was one of his 7 children born March 11, 1927. She was adopted in 1931 but was familiar with her father and siblings her entire life. Traveling to Greece has been on my bucket list for many years and I'm hoping I can get some information to help me visit where my grandfather was born. Thank you!!!
Answers
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Good morning @Sara91899
Have you obtained your grandfather's naturalization records? Those should have a more complete place of birth and last residence. According to the index I found online, he was naturalized in Wisconsin, and those records are not online.
The 6 April 1907 arrival record for Giovanni D Fotinopoulos lists a last permanent residence, but the placename is difficult to read.
I suggest you post your query in the Greece Research group where you may find more specific help.
Best of luck in your quest!1 -
I agree fully with Áine's advice to ask in the Greece Research group: people there are more likely to recognize the placename, and hence read it correctly.
The manifest image is slightly better quality on FS. It has a Place of Birth as well as the last residence; I think the two are the same for line 9: Blemegarso? I may be completely off.
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I also checked the manifest on MyHeritage which sometimes has a better image quality on the Ellis Island era records. I don't know that the image is any better, but the extract/index lists the place as "Blemigano." And the relative in the USA is indexed as "At Gianacadonalis," a cousin.
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