Gemütlichkeit!

I have often wondered what exactly brought my Latvian ancestors to settle in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The first of my Latvians to settle here was Fricis Vinakmens with his family. I am not sure if Kitchener was their original destination or not, nor do I know the entire story of his immigration (maybe one day I will find out!), but Karlis Vinakmens joined him here in 1956 with his family. Maybe Fricis helped him to secure a job here? Again, not sure! Arvids Akerfelds followed suit in 1957, to be reunited with his future wife.
In any case, whatever brought them, probably to their surprise they settled in a city with a very strong German heritage, home of North America’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations. Kitchener was settled by German mennonites, and originally named Berlin, but the name fell out of fashion quickly during WWI, and was changed to Kitchener in honor of British Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the 1st Earl Kitchener who died the same year as the re-naming. The festival has been officially running only since the late 1960′s, understandably since a festival with such roots would probably have been frowned upon in the WWII era.
Celebrations in Kitchener kick-off on the Friday before Thanksgiving, and typically include a parade, a Miss Oktoberfest pageant, polka music, traditional German dress (lederhosen and dirndl), a free-for-all pancake breakfast, an official keg-tapping ceremony at city hall, a barrel- or keg-rolling race, schnitzel and Oktoberfest sausage with sauerkraut, and of course, beer. Festhallen and biergartens are run by local German clubs (the Concordia club, Shwaben club, etc). The festival’s mascots are Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda, two roly-poly orange-skinned characters in traditional German garb.
Imagine the Latvians’ surprise when they came to Canada only to meet people with German surnames of German descent and watched Kitchener transform into a Bavarian festival for nine days each October! Or, was the prevalence of German-speakers part of the reason why Kitchener was chosen as a new home?

 

Document: Fricis Ozolins?

I may or may not have found Fricis Ozolins’ baptism record. It’s hard to put all your eggs in one basket when searching for a common surname in a large parish, but my reasons for believing that this might actualy be my Fricis are:

1. While there are a slew of Ozols, Ozolins families are relatively few in Talsi. I have turned up 5 couples who were bearing children during the specified time period. Only one Fricis baptised.

2. The record is from 1883. This would make Fricis 31 at the time Berta was born. This seems to jive with my guess that Berta was somewhere in the middle of the birth order of her 6 siblings. If he was born in 1883, he could have easily have been 24-25 when he was married, bringing us to 1906ish… which we have no records for.

3. No other Fricis Ozolins to be found… Mind you, just because Berta was born in Talsi does not mean her parents both were. I wish Talsi had records up until 1909 like Tukums!

(click to enlarge) A baptism for a Fricis Ozolins

No. 105. Fritz, born on April 6, 1883 (baptised the same day) at Luick Remmess(sp?), son of Janne Ohsolin (can’t quite make out his occupation) and his wife Lawihse, both Lutheran. Godparents are wirt Ans Wachstein, of Luick Remmess, Ehwart Jakobsons (same occupation as Janne Ohsolin), and Marri Wachstein, madchen.

Latvian Surnames: Birds

Another common idea that made for popular Latvian surnames were birds. Some examples of bird names I have come across in my research are:

Balodis (dove or pidgeon)
Cirulis (lark)
Cakste (shrike)
Dzerve (crane)
Dzenis (woodpecker)
Erglis (eagle)
Gailis (rooster)
Gulbis (swan)
Irbe (partridge)
Rubenis (grouse)
Strazdins (thrush)
Vanags (hawk)

These bird names are less often combined with other words than tree names are, but it is definitely not unheard of to do so.

Latvian Surnames: Trees

In addition to the common “Ozols” and it’s many variations and diminutives, other tree’s names are similarly used as Latvian surnames, including (but not limited to):

Abols (apple tree)
Alksnis (alder tree)
Apse (ash tree)
Eglis (fir tree)
Klavins (maple tree)
Liepa (linden tree)
Osis (ash tree)
Priedis (pine tree)
Vitols (willow tree)

These words are sometimes paired with prefixes or suffixes such as:

Jaun- (new)
Vec- (old)
Liel- (large)
Maz- (small)
-nieks (people)
-itis (diminutive for people)
-ini or -ins (diminutive for people)
-kalns (hills)
-lejas (valley)
-laps (leaf)

In addition, Latvians use a different suffix for males and females. Male names typically end in “is” or “s”, while female names “a” or “e”. Examples: Ozolins/Ozolina, Ozolitis/Ozolite.

Latvian Culture: Oak Trees

I am still combing through the Talsi churchbooks for my Ozols-Ozolins ancestors. The books are quite voluminous, and different books overlap time periods, so work is slow. In addition to Ozols, Ozolins and Ozollaps, I have also found Ozolkalns and Ozolnieks (Oak hills and “people from the oaks”) surnames. Ozols again is by far the most popular, and it seems that the different families were close… there are several of them who would have children and name them after each other or one another’s other children… it makes for a lot of confusion, and a lot of “Janis Ozols”!

So, why would so many people want to be known as “Ozol…s”, or name their farms “Ozol…s”?

“Ozols” is “oak tree” in Latvian. Oak trees are an important symbol in Latvia, a deep-rooted tradition. Keeping with ancient Latvian’s pagan folkloric roots, the mighty oak was a male symbol and was considered sacred. Medicines using infusions of oak bark were common. Farmers tilled their fields around large old oaks, leaving them to grow, out of reverence. Even today, Latvia’s coat of arms is traditionally wreathed in oak branches.

Kaives ozols is the largest (thickest) oak tree in the Baltics. It stands as a monument in Tukums novads, near the old Kaives manor between Tukums and Talsi. The trunk of this oak is believed to have been a pagan ritual site, and today is considered good luck to visit. It is believed to be around 800 or 1,000 years old. Nine people with outstretched arms can wrap around the circumference. Unfortunately, the top of the tree was struck by lightning in the 1920′s, and only a few large branches remain. In it’s days of glory, the top of this tree would have been even larger!

Kaives Ozols, c. 1970's

Kaives ozols, c. 2000's

Wordless Wednesday: Bensheim Auerbach 2

 

 

 

Along with my grandmother Rasma Vinakmens on the left, are Olga Petrausken, a Lithuanian displaced person, and the dark-haired girl is named Marichen, possibly also Lithuanian.

Document: Talsi Church Books 1900-1905

I’ve begun combing the Talsi lutheran church books for Ozols-Ozolins families (and in doing so, am effectively putting off the task of going through the much larger Tukums books). Ozols and Ozolins are the surnames I am hunting, and this is no easy task, since both are quite common. I started working backwards from 1905 down. I’m at 1900, and so far I’ve found Ozols, Ozolins, and Ozollaps surnames. Ozols seems to be the most common, and I have put together several different Ozols families who were having children in this time period, as expected. I must happily note that I have only found one Ozolins family so far.
I am searching for Fricis Ozolins, his wife Mathilde Ozols, their daughters Milda, Velta, Lilija and Berta, and 2 sons, of whom I don’t know names yet. Sometimes this family went by Ozols-Ozolins, combining their mother’s and father’s surnames. I don’t believe Fricis and Mathilde were married prior to 1905, so chances are I will not find one of their children’s baptismal records. The best I can hope for is to try and find their own baptismal records… And hope that there aren’t multiple Fricis Ozolins and Mathilde Ozols baptised in the area at the same time…
So far though, I have noted the popularity of the name Mathilde in the area, and also Bertus or Berts for a man. The names here seem to be a little more inventive than the Janis, Ievas, Annas and Jekabs of the less urban Embute/Gramzdas/Valtaiki areas (although of course those are prevalent as well).
Onward…

Place of Interest: Talsi

Talsi (Latvian), Talsen (German), Талси (Russian)

Talsi is both a city and a district in northern Kurzeme, known for its historic beauty. There are numerous natural parks, cherry and apple orchards, lakes, hills and cobblestone streets. Talsi is one of the oldest cities in Kurzeme, the ancient Curonians built forts here.

This is the birthplace of Berta Helene Ozols-Ozolins, and possibly the place of origin for my Ozolins ancestors.

Document: Latvian House Registers

 

House registers were kept in Latvia in later years as cities grew and so did their need for administration. When a person moved, they would notify the authorities who would record:

- New street address
- When occupant began residing there
- Surname, name, marital status, maiden name, as well as any children under the age of 16 in their care(typically children would be listed with their mothers)
- Date and place of birth
- Employment
- Former place of residence
- Passport information
- When authorities notified of move
- When occupant departed place of residence
- When struck off list by police (aka, authorities notified of move?)

These records are kept by the Latvian State Historical Archives in Riga. They’re the kind of record that you need to physically go to Latvia and visit the archives for (unfortunately for me). However, I have been lucky enough to have a fellow Latvian history researcher/enthusiast volunteer to help me by finding two house registers for both Karlis Vinakmens and his wife Berta Ozolins and sending me transcriptions. Rather than posting his transcriptions, I’ll tell you what new information I was able to assume based on the transcriptions I was sent.

Karlis and Berta were probably married around December 11, 1936. Berta’s passport information says that this is the date she was issued a new passport (likely due to a name change to Vinakmens).

It seems that they first lived at Rigas iela 16, then moved to Kaleju iela 5, apt#4 on April 6, 1938, then Balozu iela 3, apt#8 on May 5, 1939 (all are in Tukums). These 3 addresses are all very close, in the same section of Tukums, not far from Karlis’ work. Note the close proximity to the train station as well, where Berta is said to have worked prior to her marriage.

Interestingly, their daughter Rasma is listed on her father’s house register for Balozu iela, rather than her mothers, which is not unheard of, but also isn’t common. She doesn’t appear on either house register for Kaleju iela, which is also sort of odd, since she was born in 1937.

Karlis’ current Pase at the time was issued to him on January 24, 1929. He would have been 16 years old. Perhaps this is the age when one would have been issued an official piece of ID?

On his Balozu iela register, it notes that Karlis was in the town of Rezekne (his mother’s hometown) from March 3, 1941 to July 15, 1941. Because this is written on his Balozu iela register, perhaps it can be assumed that the family lived here until at least July 1941. They did not leave Latvia until December of 1944, so it’s always possible more house registers do exist for Karlis and Berta.

Karlis’ profession on both register s is craftsman/carpenter. From his IRO application we know that he worked at a carpenter’s shop on Elizabetes iela in Tukums from at least 1938 onward.

It seems it is safe to assume he left the Latvian Navy around the time he married Berta, or at least when he became a father.

(click to enlarge) A map of the centre of Tukums town. Red dots mark the 3 addresses of Karlis and Berta on Rigas, Balozu and Kaleju ielas; one dot for Karlis' carpenter's shop on Elizabetes iela; and one red dot for the address of Karlis' mother Emilija, who resided in 1941 with Karlis's youngest two siblings on Talsu iela. The Tukums train station is marked out already, the railway shown as a black line, just south and east of the Rigas iela address on Dzelceja iela.

Document: The 1941 Census of Latvia

In 1935 and 1941, Latvia took a census. The one conducted in 1941 yields much useful vital information about persons listed. It is important to note that it was conducted after the Soviet mass deportations of June that year.

This is the 1941 census listing of Emilija Veisbergs, and her youngest children Alise and Fricis. They were living at 11 Talsu iela, Tukums. I honestly can’t remember where I got this document (frustrating, I know!) Again… WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU GOT DOCUMENTS FROM! Woops… Anyways, I will transcribe below…

(click to enlarge) inhabitants of Talsu iela 11, Tukums (1941)

Family # 7

Name: Vinakmens, Fricis/Gender: male/Born: May 19, 1921 in Tukums/Ethnicity: Latvian/Religion: Evangelical Lutheran/Occupation: “galdnieka māceklis”(His IRO application years later states that he was a mechanic at this time, but the translation of this text is “tablemaker’s apprentice”, “pie Jelnieka” might be referring to the name of the master tablemaker he worked for)/When moved to residence: March 1, 1940

Name: Vinakmens, Alise/Gender: female/Born: November 29, 1916 in Russia/Ethnicity: Latvian/Religion: Evangelical Lutheran/Occupation: “Apkalpotāja “Vecā aptiekā” (A clerk at the “Old Pharmacy”{likely a business or store name})/When moved to residence: March 1, 1940

Name: Vinakmens, Emilija/Gender: female/Born: 1885 in Rezekne/Ethnicity: Latvian/Religion: Evangelical Lutheran/Occupation:”majsaimniciba” (housekeeper)/When moved to residence: March 1, 1940

I have gotten a peek at 1941 census records for the Akerfelds/Ziverts clan as well, but they were sent to me already transcribed by someone who had visited the archives in Latvia for me:

Census 1941
Aizputes aprinki			Nikrace town / pagasts
Address		Nikrace pag.
House name		Skundunieku majas
Owner		Ziverts Arturs
Apartments		5
Nr of residents		24
1.	Ziverts, Arturs/Born: 1901.XI.15 Nikrace pag/Occupation: Farmer/In residence from: 1901.XI.15
2	Ziverts, Katte/Born: 1904.XII.13 Nikraces pag/Occupation: Farmer/In residence from: 1924.IV.23
3.	Ziverts, Alberts/Born: 1926.V.7 Nikraces pag/Occupation: school student/In residence from: 1926.V.7
4	Ziverts, Voldemārs/Born: 1927.X.28 Nikraces pag/Occupation: school student /In residence from: 1927.X.28
5	Ziverts, Irma/Born: 1931.III.21 Nikraces pag/Occupation: school student /In residence from: 1931.III.21
6	Ziverts, Velta /Born: 1933.VII.17 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1933.VII.17
7	Ziverts, Skaidrite/Born: 1934.XI.17 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1934.XI.17
8	Ziverts, Karlis/Born: 1940.III.2 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1940.III.2
9	Ziverts, Jule/Born: 1877.XII.29 Purmsati pag/In residence from: 1895.VI.18
10	Ziverts, Ida /Born:1919.III.13 Nikraces pag/Occupation: worker /In residence from: 1919.II.13
11	Ziverts, Olga /Born: 1915.VIII.10 Nikraces pag/Occupation: worker/In residence from: 1919.II.13
12	Blažgis, Ieva/Born: 1869.I.30 Sieksates pag/In residence from: 1924.IV.23
13	Akerfelds, Janis/Born: 1898.IX.23 Nikraces pag/Occupation: Farm worker/In residence from: 1922.IV.23
14	Akerfelds, Anna/Born: 1906.XII.14 Nikraces pag Occupation: Farmer/In reisdence from: 1906.XII.14
15	Akerfelds, Arturs /Born: 1925.VIII.20 Nikraces pag /Occupation: school student/In residence from: 1925.VIII.20
16	Akerfelds, Arvids/Born: 1927.IX.30 Nikraces pag/Occupation: school student/In reisdence from: 1927.IX.30
17	Akerfelds, Elvina/Born: 1929.IV.12 Nikraces pag/Occupation: school student/In residence from: 1929.IV.12
18	Akerfelds, Arijs/Born: 1930.IX.30 Nikraces pag/ Occupation: school student /In residence from: 1930.IX/30
19	Akerfelds, Ludmila/Born: 1932.III.20 Nikraces pag/In reisdence from: 1932.III.20
20	Akerfelds, Alfons/Born: 1933.VI.28 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1933.VI.28
21	Akerfelds, Alberts/Born: 1935.III.7 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1935.III.7
22	Akerfelds, Arnolds/Born: 1936.XII.31 Nikrace pag/In residence from: 1936.XII.31
23	Akerfelds, Skaidritie/Born: 1939.I.7 Nikraces pag/In residence from: 1939.I.7
24	Akerfelds, Aivars/Born: 1940.IV.11 Nikraces pag/ In reisdence from: 1940.IV.11

I wonder if that Family Search Centre I mentioned before can give me access to these censuses in more detail…. hmm…

*Special thanks to Antra Celmins for deciphering the Latvian in the Vinakmens census!*