Comments on: Latvian Surname Project

By: Clare

Clare — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:22:44 +0000

Hi, my surname is Ozolins (not particularly interesting) however my grandmother’s maiden name was Vinkmanis and we (my family) don’t know as much about her side of the family – she was born in, or near, Jūrmala in 1913. I have a distant memory of a conversation with her when she said her name was Swedish in origin but I don’t know if this is correct or not.

Thanks for a wonderful site – it’s been so difficult to find Latvian genealogical information, particularly for those of us who are have a Latvian background but don’t speak or read the language.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:56:56 +0000

My last name is paura and my family is from gomez palacios Durango. Everyone tells me they’ve never heard of my last name, which got me to wondering where the name comes from. Ur help would be greatly appriciated.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:40:34 +0000

Hi, My surname is Latvian and not included, please feel free to add – Vizulis = Tinsel, and my father was orginally from Baltinava,

Regards

Alison

By: Dahrte

Dahrte — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:10:22 +0000

My submissions:

Scheema (original as in a church record in German), attested in Kaucminde, Bauske parish. It is a surname (maiden) of my grand grand mother. There was also a farm in Kaucminde with that name.
Tehrsen (original as in a church record in German), attested in Pommusch, Bauske parish. It is a surname of my grand grand father. There was a farm in Pommusch with that name. And still is, my grandmother lives there.

By: Antra

Antra — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:14:10 +0000

Ingrid,

“Sels” is most likely a variant of “Sēlis”. It is likely influenced by the Livonian dialect spoken in parts of Kurzeme (not the part that Liepāja is in, but people/dialect influences move about). “Sēlis” would mean “Selonian person” – the Selonians were one of the Baltic tribes that are the ancestors of modern-day Latvians.

The rest I will answer via email.

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Tue, 25 May 2010 14:59:01 +0000

My late father’s surname was Sels, he was born in Leipaja on May 4 1924. I have had no luck with his surname when searching Latvian records, but it does pop up continually in Holland & Belgium. I do know his father had 3 brothers who all married but had no children.
Also my mother’s grandparents were Albert Alphons Buhgin born in Griwa 5/5/1875 and Berta Natalie Palei born in Zohden 16/8/1882, married in Dubbeln on 30/5/1904. They had 2 children, my grandmother Erna born in Riga 3/5/1905 & Karl born in Riga 7/12/1907.
I haven’t researched them as yet, as I only just located a church document dated 27/9/1943 with all the above details. The church is Sv. Gertrudes 1. Draudze, and the document is in German. What can you make of this?
Regards
Ingrid Hickman

By: Antra

Antra — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:45:33 +0000

Carol,

Saulgozis is not a name I’m familiar with, unfortunately. I have not seen it anywhere yet. However, the word does mean “sunshine” in Latvian. When did your husband’s family leave Latvia? If they left during or after the Second World War, which is when most Latvians left, their naturalization documents in their new country should say where they were born.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:31:31 +0000

My husbands last name was Saulgozis. Any idea what this names means and perhaps where it’s from. I’m trying to find his family and so far no luck.

Thank you
Carol

By: Antra

Antra — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 02:54:28 +0000

Hello Inta,

I’m not familiar with the name “Paura”. I’ve never heard of a place called “Bozzitten” – are you sure that is the correct spelling? I’ve been looking for a “Bozzitten” for the past two days with no results. It is probably the German name for a place in Latvia, could it possibly be “Rositten” or “Rozitten” instead? That would be the German name for Rēzekne.

Having the farm name, Kalnezeri, is good, since that will help pinpoint a specific place when the region is figured out. In the modern day there seem to be numerous farms called Kalnezeri in Latvia. I’m working on formulating a database of farm names in the inter-war period, so I can let you know if I come across a Kalnezeri while doing so. Best of luck!

By: Inta Jahn (nee Paura)

Inta Jahn (nee Paura) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:28:54 +0000

My father (Jekabs Paura).He was born on 23 March 1924.the province closest province I have knowledge of is Kalnezeri, Bozzitten, Latvia, he went to school there in 1937. Does anyone know of any Latvians with the surname Paura?