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Eighteenth installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. It was here that her third child, a son, was born in February 1916. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.
April 1, 1916
I’m reading from the journals sent by the minister’s wife. Some of them have such beautiful meaningful poems… We are still living in the upstairs room at Kroņi. Papa headed off again to look for a place to live. Trūtiņa and Dagmāra are very healthy and are playing with their nanny. Olģerts is crawling very well and is a quiet and dear child. But still that ear is troubling me. I look for satisfaction everywhere, and I am reading the book “Hinter den Waldern” where there is a child born without irises and with a cleft palate, but still plays like a normal child without any cares.
Part of my series of publishing the banns read in Rīga in the interwar period. See this post for more details.
March 31, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], April 1, 1925)
- Railway worker Jānis Rudolfs Kriķis (Palsmane) and Lisete Milda Beitels (Bauska)
- Merchant Kristian Marinnus Jeusen (Denmark) and Elvīra Vītols (Rīga)
- Artist Sergei Jakovlev (Vilnius) and Tekla Skrebovsky (Lithuania)
- Sergeant Martiņš Puksis (Rīga) and Lucija Katrina Solkovskis (Rīga)
- Worker Antons Rasnačs (Līksna) and Ludwiga Puga (Līksna)
- Clerk Arturs Voldemārs Elsiņš (Rīga) and Barbara Busards (Rīga)
- Merchant Indriķis Levinsons (Jelgava) and Sofija Mejerovičs (Rīga)
- Barber Ludwigs Bērziņš (Bauska) and Ieva Eiduks (Jaunbebri)
- Barber Otto Arturs Britans (Rīga) and Katrina Agnese Svicevičs (Rīga)
- Advertiser Emīls Lambergs (Rīga) and Paulina Blumbers, nee Ginters (Rīga)
- Sergeant Jānis Zinovskis (Apriķi) and Marta Wilhelmine Tiltiņš (Rīga)
- Tailor Augusts Zigurs (Alūksne) and Marija Šalkins (Rīga)
- Alfreds Bārdziņš (Cēsis) and Natālija Tiltiņš (Rīga)
April 1, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], April 2, 1925)
- Rudolfs Schlossbergs (Ceraukste) and Elizabete Kārkliņš (Rīga)
- Table-maker Jānis Kronītis (Bērzone or Bērzaune) and Anna Helena Bruševičs (Liepāja)
- Surveyor Vladimirs Omelko (Viļaka) and Irma Kristina Zvietis (Rīga)
- Worker Kazimirs Jaselvičs (Ķiburi) and Petronella Kiršaite (Paudeļi)
- Merchant Jānis Skribis (Dzērbene) and Ksenija Šačno (Rēzekne)
- Clerk Voldemārs Skadiņš (Dundaga) and Veronika Kristopaitis (Jelgava)
- Shoemaker Evalds Oskars Bērziņš (Rīga) and Lida Anete Emma Meirens (Rīga)
April 2, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], April 3, 1925)
- Fitter Fridrichs Vaks (Rīga) and Alise Leontine Šķerbele (Rīga)
- Clerk Vilis Svimpels (Lubāna) and Alma Natalija Jakobi (Rīga)
- Railway worker Jānis Persis (Terneja) and Helena Hochlova (Lithuania)
- Clerk Julians Jurgelans (Latgale) and Ludmila Dobele (Liepāja)
- Photographer Teodors Edwins von Remers (Rīga) and Antonina Schubert, nee Bartsch (Rīga)
- Lithographer Jerosei Solovisnich (Saint Petersburg) and Marcenila Tusits (Rīga)
April 4, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], April 6, 1925)
- Clerk Erusts Voldemārs Georgs Pētersons (Rīga) and Olga Emīlija Šenbergs (Rīga)
- Clerk Wilhelms Ozols (Rīga) and Benita Leonija Forkampfs (Rīga)
- Railway worker Ernsts Jākobsons (Rīga) and Jadwiga Sviluks (Rīga)
- Jānis Vindbergs (Jelgava) and Albertina Luisa Klingners (Jelgava)
- Nikolai Rischev (Jelgava) and Aleksandra Kulkova (Rīga)
- Jekabs Teodors Purnis (Jelgava) and Emīlija Pauline Latvena (Rīga)
- Typesetter Nikolājs Ēķis (
Rīga Liepāja) and Minna Sostiņš (Lithuania) (Nikolājs’ place of residence is corrected in the following issue)
Did this post help you find your ancestors? Do let me know!
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned.
Photo taken by me, October 2012. Click to enlarge.
Top Inscription: “Še duss” (“Here rests”)
Names: Milda Miezis (maiden name Zaul), born July 8, 1897, died June 6, 1925; Eduards Miezis, born May 10, 1921, died June 20, 1925.
Bottom Inscription: “Un zeme paņema ar dziļiem vaidiem, visskaistākos tēlus ar dzīves smaidiem” (And the Earth took, with great groans, the most beautiful characters with lively smiles)
Location:Meža kapi, Rīga
Seventeenth installment from the diary of my great-grandfather’s sister Alise, written during the First World War. When the diary starts, she is living just a few miles from the front lines of the Eastern Front, and is then forced to flee with her husband and two young daughters to her family’s house near Limbaži as the war moves even closer. It was here that her third child, a son, was born in February 1916. For more background, see here, and click on the tag “diary entries” to see all of the entries that I have posted.
March 25, 1916
Day of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The weather is very nice. I’m sitting in the upstairs room by the window and feeling warm in the spring sun. Olģerts and Dagmāra are sleeping in the middle of the day, so I have some time to write. A week ago we had our son’s christening, very quiet and simple, like the refugees we are. The only guests were uncle Arturs and the pastor. Pastor Sawary from the Aizkraukle congregation – he is also a refugee from the shore of the Daugava, having also left everything behind to the thieves and miscreants – right now he is in Lēdurga, having taken the place of deceased pastor Spalviņš. He is a very nice and pleasant person. At 6pm we christened little Olģerts Georgs. His sister also celebrated her “Gertrude day” [NB:Name day on March 16]. So now all of that is done – now we just need to wait and hope for a better future. The terrible war is continuing its bloody march. We hear about all sorts of horrible events and various war stories. Shortages and rising prices are growing. So long as the children aren’t lacking for bread. My little boy, born during the war. Will he also need to endure the trials ahead? I still sorrow over the small ear, but who knows maybe it will do no harm to him – maybe it will bring luck. How wonderful it will be, to have a grown son, I think he should become a doctor..?
Part of my series of publishing the banns read in Rīga in the interwar period. See this post for more details.
March 24, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], March 25, 1925)
- Students Eduards Paulis Čaibe (Īle) and Hermīne Veronika Leimanis (Mežmuiža)
- Clerk Paulis Erichs Pētersons (Straupe) and Emma Matilde Miezis (Rīga)
- Locksmith Kārlis Wilhelms Kepke (Cēsis) and Emīlija Ozols (Krustpils)
- Worker Žanis Konrads Wora (Liepāja) and Anna Garbatais (Rīga)
- Weaver Miķelis Sviestiņš (Kaunas) and Jelizavete Blūms (Rīga)
- Student Fricis Kronbergs (Durbe) and Anna Katrine Jēkabsons (Liepāja)
- Worker Andronijs Stepanovs (Rīga) and Jekaterina Mičejevs (Rīga)
- Clerk Georgs Hugo Lazdiņš (Sigulda) and Anastasija Safanovs (Rīga)
- Worker Jānis Princis (Liezere) and Alida Liba Koklītis (Rīga)
- Worker Aleksandrs Kārlis Āboliņš (Rīga) and Minna Karolina Lapiņš (Kuldīga)
- Worker Alberts Terpas (Rīga) and Emma Sanders (Rīga)
- Bookkeeper Adolfs Čepulanecs (Rīga) and Emīlija Senta Brigants (Rīga)
- Painter Jānis Arturs Putniņš (Limbaži) and Marta Govītis (Mazstraupe)
- Persijs Meijerovics (Jelgava) and Marta Jeselovičs (Rīga)
- Antons Mizkevičs (Pļaviņas) and Elizabete Fadejevs (Rīga)
- Table-maker Jāzeps Dombrovskis (Ilūkste) and Monika Bratovskis (Rīga)
- Locksmith Heinrichs Alfreds Šmits (Rīga) and Elza Marija Sāmītis (Rīga)
- Merchant Pēteris Āboltiņš (Blomi) and Liene Meirens, nee Vainovskis (Rūjiena)
- Soldier Jānis Lore (Smiltene) and Amālija Anna Leisans (Rīga)
- Clerk Aleksandrs Nagobats (Gulbene) and Agnese Šmitčens (Liepāja)
- Worker Aleksandrs Pilskalns (Balvi) and Paula Vācietis (Alūksne)
- Fitter Nikolājs Ernests Bulle (Rīga) and Marija Marta Eichentāls (Grieze)
- Locksmith Nikolajs Voldemārs Gebauers (Rīga) and Alida Elizabete Liders (Rīga)
- Locksmith Georgs Paulis Asmus (Rīga) and Nannija Otilija Wendt (Rīga)
- Student Eižens Danillers (Polocka) and Nannija Segals (Rīga)
- Weaver Jēkabs Roberts Bullis (Bauska) and Kristīna Selma Kalniņš (Umurga)
- Jēkabs Kimens (Rīga) and Dora Mēness (Krimulda)
March 26, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], March 27, 1925)
- Sergeant Edgars Sliede (Majori) and Marisa Akermanis (Rīga
- Merchant Herberts Retvinskis (Rīga) and Marija Žečovskis (Rīga)
- Augusts Zandels (Stalbe) and Elvira Valensteins (Rīga)
- Clerk Arturs Voldemārs Elsiņš (Rīga) and Barbara Lussards (Rīga)
- Baker Janis Mauriņš (Viļķene) and Alma Lubau (Umurga)
- Worker Kārlis Andrejs Krūmiņš (Rīga) and Paulina Rutkis-Rūciņš (Mālpils)
- Painter Anufrijs Muncis (Višķi) and Anna Jarošuns (Rīga)
- Clerk Jānis Galdiņš (Sērene) and Alma Blusiņš (Rīga
- Carpenter Jēkabs Kuppe (Gramzda) and Emma Matilde Alksne (Umurga)
- Doctor’s assistant Hermans Wilhelms Cālis (Jelgava) and Marija Bērziņš (Irlava)
- Businessman Emils Viktors Stanke (Vecsaule) and Berta Auguste Urme (Koknese)
- Locksmith Johan Oskars Grāve (Rīga) and Frīda Luisa Zvaigzne (Rīga)
- Technician Johans Wilhelms Avotiņš (Rīga) and Lilija Amālija Jansons (Rīga)
- Merchant Rudolfs Šulkins (Polocka) and Mirdza Dakters (Tukums)
- Worker Jēkabs Makens (Rīga) and Ieva Vinvalkis (Kuldīga)
- Merchant Nikolajs Jakobi (Saint Petersburg) and Vera Vegers (Moscow)
March 28, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], March 30, 1925)
- Iron-cutter Wilhelms Augusts Zīverts (Dobele) and Anna Pele (Strutele)
- Clerk Jānis Sīlis (Code) and Otilija Elizabete Kalniņš (Rīga)
- Teacher Andrejs Arturs Zars (Tirza) and Anna Natālija Melders (Opekalns)
- Painter Ernsts Dzenis (Gulbene) and Anna Mise (Smiltene)
- Worker Kārlis Eduards Lapsenītis (Alsviķi) and Elist Lina Butka (Palsmane)
- Antons Mickevičs (Pļaviņas) and Elisabete Fadejevs (Rīga)
Did this post help you find your ancestors? Do let me know!
This post is for The Accidental Genealogist’s blogging prompts for Women’s History Month.
Today’s prompt: If a famous director wanted to make a movie about one of your female ancestors who would it be? What actress would you cast in the role and why?
This movie would certainly have to be about my grandmother and great-aunt’s escape from Latvia during the Second World War, and the journey that took them from Latvia through Poland and Germany to Denmark, and then eventually on to Canada. You can read more about this journey here.
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to cast two British actresses. I would have liked to cast some Latvian or Eastern European stars, however, most of them are blonde, and my grandmother and great-aunt had dark brown/black hair when they were young. I would cast Annabel Scholey as my grandmother, and Zoë Tapper as my great-aunt Marta. Since this would inevitably become a love story, since both of them met their husbands in the Displaced Persons camps, it would also be important to cast my grandfather Aleks and great-uncle Jānis as well. For these roles, I’ll choose Samuel Barnett as my grandfather and Aidan Turner as my great-uncle (Aidan is Irish, not British like the rest, but since my grandmother, great-aunt and grandfather are from central Latvia while my great-uncle is from the western part of the country, I think there could be sufficient variation in accent to allow for this, if not, Aidan does a good RP accent as well). And before anyone asks, yes, I am indeed a fan of BBC’s Being Human and Desperate Romantics. Having seen these four actors being able to do both tragedy and comedy – both prevalent in the abovementioned shows, sometimes in the same scene – I think they would be able to handle the demands of such a production.
It would be a wonderful epic movie, and I don’t think it has been done before, at least not on an international release scale. Most Second World War movies focus on either the Allies or the Axis powers, and don’t pay much attention to the people who were trapped in between. It’s about time such a movie was made!
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned.
Photo taken by me, October 2012. Click to enlarge.
Top Inscription (on cross): “Salda atpūta, pēc nobeigta dzīves darba” (Sweet sleep after completing life’s work)
Top Inscription (on bottom part): “Še dus Dieva mierā” (Resting here in God’s peace)
Names: Augusts Krūmiņš, born January 6, 1867, died August 9, 1917; Marija Krūmiņa (maiden name Slotiņa), born March 18, 1873, died December 26, 1928.
Location:Meža kapi, Rīga
Tracking down your ancestors’ activities in interwar Latvia can be tricky. The official records are not online. Any birth, marriage or death record needs to be obtained from a registry office, either by going in person (cheapest), ordering through an embassy (expensive, or direct from the registry office if you’re lucky) or by asking someone in Latvia to do it for you (still cheap, but you will need to provide them with a power of attorney, which could cost money).
What to do if you can’t do those steps above? Well, there are a few options, and most of them involve the newspapers on Periodika. Many births, marriages and deaths were listed in these newspapers. Banns were also published. They are not exhaustive, but if your ancestor lived in a bigger town or city (more likely in the interwar period than earlier), you could still find who you’re looking for. When searching, keep in mind that even though the new orthography and script had been developed at that time, many newspapers were still written in the old style, probably since that was what people were used to.
I’m starting a new series here on the blog, where every Sunday I will provide the banns read in Rīga that I’ve been able to find for that week. Why Rīga? Searching for Rīga records can be a needle in a haystack, since it is so big, so unless you know precisely where your ancestor lived, it can be difficult to track them down (unless you’re lucky enough to find a passport for them that lists their residence). So every little bit helps when dealing with Rīga.
Keep in mind that the reading of the banns doesn’t necessarily mean that the couple got married, or that they got married in Rīga, but they can be a guide to tracking down when and where your ancestors were at that time. In many cases, these lists provide the occupation of the groom and where the bride and groom were from.
So, without further ado…
March 16, 1925 (published in Rīgas Ziņas [Rīga News], March 17, 1925)
- Spinner Kārlis Otto Kūsis (Dobele) and Olga Berķis (Rīga)
- Builder Jānis Tērauds (Raiskums) and Anna Vītoliņš (Rīga)
- Table-maker Jānis Hermanis Sviķe (Liepāja) and Anna Matilda Lasmanis (Rīga)
- Merchant Rudolfs Melups (Vecpiebalga) and Anna Leontine Schreiber (Rīga)
- Mason Indriķis Ronis (Naudīte) and Anna Rācenis (Aknīste)
- Locksmith Miķelis Landorfs (Sāte) and Gotlibe Selma Gatenieks (Tume)
- Concrete-layer Krišjānis Rozentāls (Rīga) and Otilija Selma Priede (Kalnciems)
- Farmer Ervins Wilhelms Švarckopfs (Birze) and Amalija Lole (Cēsis)
- Fitter Mārtiņš Alberts Ronis (Rīga) and Amalija Julija Mikelšteins (Rīga)
- Bookkeeper Samuels Lintiņš (Kalnamuiža) and Irma Cecilija Trumpītis (Jelgava)
- Bernhards Fridrichs Hardviks (Sala) and Ellen Anna Elasov (Rīga)
- Shoemaker Voldemārs Grinvalds (Rīga) and Nadedža Fleischer (Vilnius)
- Indriķis Voldemārs Rozentāls (Rīga) and Ženija Veker (Liepāja)
- Jānis Alberts Čurkste (Rīga) and Emma Kristīne Priedītis (Rīga)
- Officer Teodors Bruno Galdiņš (Rīga) and Millija Alise Zariņš (Rīga)
- Butcher Alfreds Beks (Liepkalne) and Emilija Gadsans (Rīga)
March 18, 1925 (published in Latvijas Vēstnesis [Latvian Herald], March 19, 1925)
- Farmer Jēkabs Mieziņš (Smiltene) and Emma Wilhelmine Rauzenbergs (Rīga)
- Merchant Viktors Blūms (Asīte) and Elizabete Černevskis (Gulbene)
- Pastor Roberts Heinrichs Rauks (Rīga) and Irena Matilda Durst (Jumurda)
- Shoemaker Ansis Bulmers (Zaļenieki) and Marta Andersons (Rīga)
- Clerk Edgars Baumanis (Rīga) and Eleonor Selma Kroeger (Rīga)
- Scribe Aleksandrs Kārlis Pētersons (Rīga) and Tonija Sietnieks (Rūjiena)
- Shoemaker Eduards Jānis Mūrnieks (Talsi) and Lilija Stankevics (Jaunpils)
- Surveyor Jānis Kārlis Veisbergs (Vircava) and Marija Auguste Liepiņš (Pēternieki)
- Officer Aleksandrs Fricis Andersons (Kuldīga) and Julija Sibietis (Liepāja)
- Technician Jānis Alfreds Sirmais (Gulbene) and Anna Emīlija Ābeltiņš (Gulbene)
- Teacher Žanis Rudolfs Krūms-Krūmiņš (Kursīši) and Emīlija Pauksta (Jaunjelgava)
- Ironcaster Juris Briedis (Sala) and Bogumila Dirbe (Kurmene)
- Clerk Jēkabs Weiss (Piņķi) and Berta Dambe (Liepupe)
- Metalworker Eduards Čukurs (Rūjiena) and Berta Marija Brencis (Rūjiena)
- Worker Eduards Osis (Suntaži) and Anna Pauline Kalniņš (Allaži)
Did this post help you find your ancestors? Do let me know!
This is part of my series of interesting newspaper articles that I find in the old Latvian newspapers available through Periodika. Most of the articles I post are in some way related to migration, wars or other events that are of particular genealogical note.
Source: Jaunākās Ziņas (Latest News), March 16, 1940
New Surname, by Andris Bērziņš
“It is difficult to say how many citizens we have with non-Latvian or unpleasant surnames”, says the director of the passport section of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “Based on our observations thus far, their count could be in the hundreds of thousands.”
These hundreds of thousands of people are now being moved to make use of the new surname change law.
Who is requesting a new surname? Firstly, they are Latvians, who do not know how they ended up with surnames such as Seskovičs, Hofmanis, Bočka and other similar surnames. Therefore, they would like to get rid of them, so that in a few weeks they could be known as Sarma [NB: hoarfrost], Dzelme [NB: depth] or Atvars [NB: whirlpool]. The same could be said about those who have unpleasant surnames. There are many of them as well, and they may be the happiest about the ability to change their surnames. And why not? For example, how does a young and handsome fellow feel, if he has to bear the surname Tēviņš [NB: buck, cockerel, could also mean old man] because of the whim or presumption of someone in the past? Someone involved in the temperance movement would feel even worse if they look in their passport and the name they have is Šnabovics [NB: Slavic patronymic-style derivation of "šnabis" meaning "alcohol"]. Someone with the surname Pūslis [NB: bladder] would not put down others with the surnames Muļķis [NB: fool], Šmucis [NB: mess] or similar surnames. So it is no surprise that these people have gotten rid of their unpleasant surnames, and they feel quite happy.
But the surname change movement has also made other people nervous. These are citizens with clearly Latvian surnames, that are, to them, considered too simple.
“The worst thing is is that these people are not given an opportunity to explain themselves,” says a police official. “For example, someone with the name Zaķis [NB: Rabbit] comes in and asks to change their surname. When he is told that Zaķis is a perfectly nice Latvian surname, he responds ‘The surname wouldn’t be bad if it weren’t for the fact that because of it I become the butt of jokes. For example, anyone can tell me, ‘he’s as scared as a rabbit!’ and I don’t like that.’” But then other citizens with non-Latvian surnames show up and ask if they could have their surnames changed to that same Zaķis. It also happens that people have surnames that are connected to their professions. Another police official says: “A man arrived to speak to me and told me: ‘My name is Gailis [NB: Rooster] and I want to change my surname.’ – But why? It is good. – ‘No no. My profession requires me to speak before vast auditoriums of people. If someone in the corner of the room calls out – Why is he there singing like a rooster? – then my career is over.’”
The Passport section of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has also encountered people who do not properly understand their surnames. They are predominantly simple people. After it is explained to them that Daija, Murjānis and Norītis are perfectly pleasant Latvian names, they are satisfied and say thank you and head home. In general, it can be said that people are striving to choose familiar and pleasant-sounding names. In the space of just a few months, names such as Krauja, Dzelme, Sarma, Veldre and other similar names have been restricted because they are in such high demand.
How do citizens who have Latvianized their surnames feel? “It has been two weeks since I changed my name, but I’m still not completely used to it,” says one ministry official. “And how else could it be, because I lived with it for most of my life.”
Other people with new surnames feel the same way. Asking them, one after another will mention an interesting episode.
“After the announcement in the ‘Governmental Herald’, I knew that starting the next day I would be known by my new surname,” says a higher government official, who has to sign a lot of documents each day. “Arriving at work, I was only thinking about my new surname. But as soon as the work rush started and a clerk came in with a pile of papers to sign, I had forgotten my new surname and was writing the old one on all of the papers. Of course, the documents needed to be done all over again. Now I am used to the change.”
“I feel great after getting my new surname,” says one office clerk. “Only the first week was a bit difficult, ‘adjusting my hand to a new speed’, so to speak, so that I would learn how to sign the new surname well, which was one and a half times shorter than the old one. Until I found the best way to sign it, I had worked almost as much as I would be working in the forest.” An associate, who didn’t have to change his surname, saw a friend on the street, who had just changed his surname, and called out to him, “Agrum, Agrum!”, to stop his friend, but the friend just went along by. “I called out his new surname a few more times, but he didn’t pay any attention!” he says. “Then I called: Gūtman, are you deaf! – My friend spun around quickly – he could still hear his old surname.”
New surnames have also caused confusion in telephone conversations, which one minister’s secretary described. A clerk had called him, already knowing his new surname, and then asked “Could I please speak with Mr. X?” – “There is no one here by that name.” the secretary replied. “What number do you need?” “I want to talk to the secretary.” said the confused caller. “I’m at the phone.” the secretary replied, only then remembering that the name the caller had asked for was his new surname.
These changes have also created merriment in private social gatherings. A man arrived to one function, having just changed his surname. When other guests arrived, he forgot his new surname and introduced himself with the old surname. Only after a moment did he realize his mistake, and had to reintroduce himself to the guests, saying “I’m sorry, there was a bit of a misunderstanding – now I am called by a different name.”
When hearing all of these amusing anecdotes, women just smile and shake their heads, since for them changing surnames is not unusual. Almost every woman, unless she remains a spinster, will change her surname at least once, some even two or three times. When one woman was asked, how her family felt after she changed her non-Latvian name, she just smiled and responded: “If the same husband hadn’t been by my side at the time, they would have just thought that I’d married a second time.”
I think this is an amusing collection of anecdotes on the surname change process, which I talked about in more detail here and here. Getting used to a new surname, especially after having one for decades, could not be easy. But only at the end of the article did the writer remember that almost half of the population would change their name at some point in their lives – reminding readers that the world does not revolve solely around men.
In this series, I am providing pictures of tombstones from Latvian cemeteries, all with death dates prior to 1945. I do not have any further information on the people mentioned.
Photo taken by me, October 2012. Click to enlarge.
Names: Minna Ozoliņš (maiden name Brauns), born 1862, died 1917; Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, born 1863, died 1937.
Location:Meža kapi, Rīga
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