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New Lošinj Publications Underway

A publication transcribing the cemetery grave listings is currently being compiled into one collection for the cemeteries on the island of Lošinj, Unije, Susak, and Ilovik, and includes the communities of Nerezine, Sv. Jakov, Cunski, Mali Lošinj, Veli Lošinj, Unije, Susak, and Ilovik. The title will be "The Cemeteries of Lošinj, Ilovik, Susak and Unije".

Here is an extract from that publication:

"Many of the original surnames in the cemeteries of Lošinj, Ilovik, Susak, and Unije dated back to the seventeenth century. The marriage records for Mali Lošinj for the period from 1622 to 1666 includes 68 different surnames. A few of these families in Mali Lošinj came from the neighbouring town of Veli Lošinj a few kilometres away. Early on Veli Lošinj families settled in Mali Lošinj, including the Ifcovich, Ragusin, Stuparich, and Verbas families. They continue up to today to compose in Veli Lošinj. Other Lošinj based families also settled on the nearby islands. The Rerecich family today is found also on Ilovik and Unije; the Nicolich surname is also on Unije; and the Budinch, Bussanich, Mattesinich, and Tarabochia family name from the early Lošinj records are common surnames on the island of Susak. The two communities closest to Mali Lošinj in the north acquired the families of Hroncich and Knesich from Mali Lošinj in Cunski and Knezich in Sveti Jakov. Unije itself in the seventeenth century received the families of Carcich and Radoslovich and they in turn spawned new families in Cunski and Mali Lošinj in the following century. Sv. Jakov also has family surnames that are associated with the area of Nerezine. These include the surnames of Masslin, and Satalich. Nerezine contains surnames of Bracco, Kamalic, Lechich (Lekić), Rucconich, and Socolich (Sokolić) that are not found in Mali Lošinj during the seventieth century."

Another publication underway covers the Lošinj shipbuilders who came to the United States and Canada from Mali Lošinj. This latter publication is currently being researched. The new publication will be entitled, "From the Kvarner to the New World: Lošinj Mariners and Shipbuilders in the America’s 1748-1974."

Here is an extract from that publication:

"A Lošinj crew along with others from Dalmatia and Venice were hired to travel from Cadiz in Spain to Cartagena, Colombia and Vera Cruz, Mexico, at that time part of the viceroy of New Spain. Also on board were 32 marines. It is not known what exactly happened to the Lošinj crew. They may have left latter in 1747, but is it more likely that it was in March of 1748 when a convoy of 17 merchant ships and nine Spanish ships of the line which were there to escort the poorly defended merchant ships, left for New Spain. Four days after leaving Cadiz the convoy was attacked by six British war ships resulting in the capture of fix merchant ships. The rest of the convoy sailed on. Some of the same ships were attacked again in October 1748 near Havana off the coast of Cuba on their return trip to Spain. What happened to the Lošinj ship and seamen is not known. It is presumed that Captain Giacomo Marchettich died in the Indies, since he is recorded as deceased in a 1755 document ."

A large number of small watercraft were constructed by Lošinj shipbuilders in the Americas. Men like Francesco Martinolich from Mississippi, Frederick Scopinich of Freeport, Long Island, New York, John A. (Giovanni Agostino) Martinolich of Dockton, Washington, and Venanzio Nicolo Martinolich of Ladner, British Columbia started out in Mali Lošinj and then brought their boat building skills across the Atlantic. This publication traces their work and roots back to Lošinj, Croatia.

To be alerted on the release of these publications contact gkarcich@durham.net.

Surname Project for Karčić / Karcich / Carcich

A surname DNA project is a genetic genealogy project which uses genealogical DNA tests to trace male lineage.

In most cultures there are still few or no matrilineal surnames, or matrinames,[1] so there are still few or no matrilineal surname projects. But note that DNA tests are equally important for the two genders (see genealogical DNA test).

Because (patrilineal) surnames are passed down from father to son in many cultures, and Y-chromosomes (Y-DNA) are passed from father to son with a predictable rate of mutation, people with the same surname can use genealogical DNA testing to determine if they share a common ancestor within recent history.

When two males share a surname, a test of their Y-chromosome markers will determine either that they are not related, or that they are related. If they are related, the number of markers tested and the number of matches at those markers determines the range of generations until their most recent common ancestor (MRCA). If the two tests match on 37 markers, there is a 90% probability that the MRCA was less than five generations ago and a 95% probability that the MRCA was less than eight generations ago

Only a small number of participants with the surnames Karčić, Karcich, or Carcich have had their DNA tested. Anyone wishing to participate in this or a related Surname Project can contact gkarcich@durham.net for more details.

(Source: wikipedia.org "Surname DNA project")  

Croatian Genealogical Society (Hrvatsko Rodoslovno Drustvo) Meetings for 2014

Hrvatsko rodoslovno društvo "Pavao Ritter Vitezović" or the Croatian Genealogical Society is a national Croatian genealogical organization headquartered in Zagreb. Named after a seventeenth century historian, the Society was founded in June of 2005 with Peter Strčić as president. The Society was formed to encourage and support genealogical research and to educate researchers by the exchange of information on genealogical issue, archival administration, and information technology.

Meetings are usually held at the Croatian State Archives, Marulićev Square 21 (near the Botanical Gardens) in Zagreb.

• on 6th February 6, 2014 Željko Poljak will present on Ivo Andric his unpublished letters from his Zagreb period.

• on March 11, 2014 at the Zagreb Classical Gymnasium, Preradovićeva 44, Dr. Tijana Trako Pole will have a presentation on the "Croatian national flag from the perspective of Croatian citizens: meaning, importance and commitment".

• on March 3, 2014 prominent writer and poet Gold Buyan Kovacevic will talk on the topic of "Genealogy and local speech".

• on March 6, 2014 a lecturer will be offered by Dr. Dubravka Peić Čaldarević on "Professional female society in Croatia 1918 to 1945"

• on March 23, 2014 during the Night of Books 2014 there will be a book promotion From the correspondence of Dr. Mile Budak (1907-1944), Zagreb 2013.

• on September 9, 2014 for European Heritage Days listen to a lecture by Dr. Tamara Bjažić Clare on "Socially responsible building Zagreb between the Wars" (1918 - 1941), and attend the historical and mapping workshops.

• on September 31 attend the scientific conference on "Symbol, the identity of the Patriotic War" in collaboration with the Croatian Heraldry Society.

• on October 1, 2014 Dr. Ivan Juric will speak on "Genetics: selection, knowledge, and Darwinism".

• on October 17, 2014 attend the lecture of Dr. Ante Milosevic, director of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments on "Tracing the old beliefs in Christianity and the early Middle Ages".

• on December 4, 2014 a lecture will be given by Dr. Mario Stipančević "Interpretatio vitae Emilia Laszovski". Laszowski was a member of the Croatian intellectual elite in the late 19th and early 20th century and one of the founders of the Zagreb's libraries, museums, and archives.

Previous Croatian Genealogical Society meetings are available for 2013, 2012 and 2009 to 2011.: