Martiuska/ Kotuba/ Lutak

[MaryLutak]

I was thrilled to find this site, and I've learned so much from reading all the posts; Thank You All!

I need help understanding why my grandfather changed his name from "Joirdovo Martiuska," to "Michael Kotuba." There are too many Michael Kotuba/Kotube/Kotula's in the Ellis Island records for me to be
completely sure which one is him. There is also a "Georg Martiuswka" that could possibly be him.
I even have cousins who spell our name with a Kotuby, but my grandmother always insisted that it was spelled K O T U B A.
Most of the Ellis Island records name places like Austria-Hungary or Russia as their ethnic origin or place of residence. That doesn't tell me much. I found my grandfather's draft card which had a city spelled
Kroginoi Mnitinko, and the date 1886 which is the year he was born.
I'm really trying to understand his drastic name change.

My grandmother's name was Mary Lutak, and someone in the family says that her father was from Odessa, but I do know she continued to correspond with a niece in Jakarpatsky Oblast, Munkacoisky Royan.
Her name was Hafija Kopcoa. I was also told that her mother was killed and her father then sent her and her sister with a group of people to Budapest area where she married, had one child, and left for the United States in 1909.

I'd love to know what Village she may have been from. I don't even have a village for her niece.
My grandparents never shared much information, and their daughters they did tell things to, would never tell the rest of the family, or they would make up information that proved to be inaccurate.
I don't understand the secrecy and I'd just like to know the truth.
And hopefully, I will find some distant relation and travel to meet them.
If anyone can shed ANY information on my grandparent's story, I would certainly appreciate it.
I wish everyone the best of Luck in their searches. This has really been hard for me with so little information.
Best Wishes,
Mary

[Hannia]

I"ll start w/the easier stuff. Marya Lutak was born in ??? village in the Mukachivskij raion/district of the Zakarpatska oblast/region in Carpathian Ukraine, formerly part of the Hungarian Kingdom > Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1909 her immigration records would show her emigrating from Hungary. Was Lutak, Marya's married name upon immgration?

Where did Marya settle upon immigration?

It is highly likely that Grandmother was Ruthene/Rusyn and Rusyn mostly married their own. The Kotuba surname does show up as such in Ellis Island Records.

I found a Mihaly Kotubej (КОТУБЕЙ), 23 yr old arriving from Zegmartonka > Hungary in 1909. Yr of birth is 1886. He was heading for his brother's (Georgij???) in Pittsburgh.

My guess is that most of your problems are caused by poor transliteration from original language into English. Kotuba is not a surname found in Ukraine today, however Kotubey/Kotuby is. There are still same surnamed people residing in selo/village Mala Martynka (???Kroginoi Mnitinko = in the vicinity of Martynka???) > Svalyanskij raion/district > Zakarpatska oblast/region. The village was founded in 1600 and still exists today w/population of 897. It is hamlet size, so it shares its post ofc w/neighboring Tubava.

[MaryLutak]

Hannia; Thank you so very much for the information. I'm not sure what name my grandmother used
when she immigrated to the U.S. I believe she used Lutak.
She died when I was 8 years old, but I remember she always wore a babushka and spoke Russian.
My dad would have to translate for my mother. My dad would take us to visit her every Sunday after church, and she would have me sing to her.
I will try to find my relatives in the village you found for me.
I can't thank you enough. You are a very special person from heaven.
Sincerely,
Mary

[MaryLutak]

Hannia; I believe that my grandmother used the name Lutak when she immigrated.
I am not sure. She immigrated with her first born, a girl, who would be my aunt.
My aunt told me years ago that she remembered running as they got off the boat and she fell, and her mother spanked her because she was told not to run. My aunt must have been at least 2 years of age to be been able to walk.
Under Lutak's name I was able to find a two Mary's; one age 19 and one age 1 in the Ellis Island Records.
She was headed to Pittsburgh where my grandfather was headed.
I am from Pittsburgh, so the record you found must be correct.
We would also celebrate Russian Christmas for her.

My aunt also told me that my grandmother's father's stayed behind to help other people before
he immigrated with his new family. He died at sea before reaching U.S.
My aunt also said that my grandmother's mother was killed.

I have reason to believe that my grandmother might have been Jewish to some extent.
She followed some Jewish customs also, but I can't verify this. I do know that my grandmother and grandfather helped many other immigrants by opening up their home, offering them food, and helping them to find work.
I found my grandparents in a 1920 census, and their last name is spelled K O T U L A.
I am sure it is them because it lists the correct number of children and their correct names that
they had by then.
Thank You for all your help.
Mary

[Hannia]

As per the ship's manifest, looks to me that the Maria Lutak (traveling w/one yr old Maria in 1912)
was heading for her hisband's place in Pittsbirgh. His name was Mihaly Kotubej and he lived @ 3104Harrison/Harriman??? in
Pittsburgh. Maria was short (5 ft) w/ blond hair and brown eyes??? She left father Meter Kotubej behind in
Vegmartinka. This is probably Mihaly's father???

Grandmother and Grandfather emigrated from the same place!!!!

Grandftaher's surname was Kotubej and Grandmother's was Kotuba (feminine version of Kotubej).
This surname seems to have Croatian origins???

Your Grandparents were not Russian, they were RUSYN (pronounce like RU-THEEN).

PS> Census clerks have not changed all that much. Census should be followed w/qualification
that not all info including surname are accurate.

[MaryLutak]

I appreciate all of your help, and thank you dearly.
It all makes sense. I know I could not have figured this out without your help.
You are wonderful!
I am going to try and get in touch with my relatives in Svalyanskij District. Tubava Village.
My understanding from reading other posts on this board, is that I must write a letter
to the Mayor of the village in which my relatives live and request that he/she give
my address to any of my relation. Is this correct, or no?
Thank you so much Hannia!
Mary

[MaryLutak]

I now understand the difference between Russia and Rusyn.
This is completely new to me also, thank you again.
I will continue to read the Rusyn History.