Comments on: Myths About Latvian Research

By: Antra

Antra — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:03:13 +0000

Hi Morrison,

“Birznieks” is Latvian, and would mean “someone from the grove”.

By: Morrison birznieks

Morrison birznieks — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:56:31 +0000

My last name is birznieks and it’s from Latvia for all I know
is it from German Latvia or Russia ?

By: Antra

Antra — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:19:26 +0000

Hi Holly,

What is your last name? You can email at admin at celmina.com if you don’t want to share it in public here. I might be able to help you figure out what it might have been originally, and from there, we can figure out the best way for you to proceed with the research.

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:34:42 +0000

Hi Antra,
My last name is not in your database, nor is it particularly common. I’m a little stumped as to how to research it. My grandad was latvian and came to england in ww2 but he died a number of years ago. He left his first wife and brothers and extended family in latvia but we lost touch. We believe the last name could have been spelt differently and changed to match the pronounciation? I was planning on visiting latvia for the first time this february 2011 and was wondering if you had any tips for getting started.
Thanks for any help,

Holly

By: P. Szelewski

P. Szelewski — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:37:18 +0000

Hi Antra,
Certainly I would be interested in having some items translated for my own use, likewise, if they could further your own research I would be happy to share them with you via e-mail attachments. It is clear to me that you have a genuine passion and if I can add information to your pool that would ultimately benefit others that would be good too. It’s obvious to me that there are a lot of us trying to make out the past with little information. Could be that I have photos that include others. I am not trying to be pushy. I have followed your suggestion to look at the Raduraksi and think that I might have found Janis Jakobsons on the Smiltene list but will need to have a look closely with a dictionary to be sure. Any how keep up the good work Antra I will definitely be following your blogs. Best wishes, P

By: Antra

Antra — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:26:14 +0000

Pauline,

I’m not quite sure what you mean by “receiving”. Do you mean researching other people’s backgrounds, or compiling/translating the documents they have, or something else?

By: P. Szelewski

P. Szelewski — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:55:14 +0000

Hi Antra,
Well done for all the work that you have done so far. Are you interested in receiving other people’s backgrounds? I have documentation and photos from my Dad’s time prior WW2 Smiltene, through to DP Camp in Germany and then transfer to DP Camp in England. I keep trying to find out more but not speaking Latvian, German or Russian and with the reluctance of Dad to share details of his traumatic past it’s a bit of a slog. I would really like to join the dots and perhaps visit his birth place at some time but would like to be sure that I’m not just doing the tourist run. Good luck with all your ventures.
Pauline

By: Brenda

Brenda — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:44:04 +0000

Thanks for that, Antra. I am learning a lot from you!