Surname variations and changes: Iluk vs. Ilev / Iliv

[rwf]

While searching LDS microfilm records for my maternal grandmother's family from Doroshivtsi, I discovered something curious about the spelling of the surname. Initially, my search was focused on the "Iluk" surname, using other possible variants as well. That proved to be futile, as there was no such family in the metrical records with that surname.

I then checked for my great-uncle's birth record, knowing exactly when he was born. I located it, but the surname was spelled "Ilev" (written in the Latin alphabet). I then searched for my great-grandfather's birth record, finding his surname recorded as "Iliv" (written in the Cyrillic alphabet). A further check of those born in the same house number revealed that the surname was spelled "Ilev" or "Iliv", depending upon the time period. This also applied to relatives from other households in the village.

The surname first appeared as "Illuk" on the Hamburg passenger list in May 1897 (the family emigrated six months after my great-uncle was born). There has always been speculation in our family regarding variations in spelling the surname, but the discussion always centered on whether it was Iluk vs. Eluk, Iliuk vs. Eliuk, one "L" or two.

I realize that transcription errors were sometimes made and certain sounds were were written differently, depending upon whether the native language of the transcriber was German, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian or English. However, "ev"/"iv" and "uk" sound substantially different.

Perhaps there is a logical or plausible explanation of which I'm unaware. Does anyone care to speculate on how this may have come about? Any thoughts on why this change would have persisted once the family arrived in Canada? Were Bukovinian immigrants required to carry passports or other Austrian-issued identification in order to travel during this period (1897)?

Any feedback would be welcome!

Richard

[Jiggy]

Richard,

I am not sure on the travel documents. I know a cousin of mine has original travel documents on someone else in his family who would have travelled late 1800's or very early 1900's (we have never located them on a ship's manifest) but I have also heard/read somewhere that people travelled with their Baptismal records too.

Documents my cousin has are filled in by hand and I know from experience some of that "swirly" hand writting back then can look like completely different letters. A fancy written "I" (capital i) looked like a "T" on the ships manifest and was transcribed that way. I know I have had to be creative when deciphering letters from varous priest's writting some very neat and others letters sprawled out and "n" looking more like "w". Perhaps the travel documents did not have the best of hand writing and it was taken as a different letter and then copied that way (with a k) from various sources when the document was used later on as well? At some point the k stuck. My maiden name, although spelled closed to the latin spelling (y has been used now instead of an i) and over time how the name is pronounced is different than back in the Ukraine.

I have heard many stories of people finding out their last names were shortened, changed altogether or at some point mis pronounced and the name stuck. So many first names were anglicanized and Ukrainians in some cased changed their names quite drastically (Vasyl becoming William as one example) so why not some changes to last names too? Perhaps not done purposely but with english speaking people trying to repeat what they hear etc may have started saying the name differently and it stuck. I guess that is one way it could have happened.

Sandra

[sylvie]

I have assisted a few in locating families in the oblast (province) of Chernivtsi. Some of the family names in the LDS findings are spelled slightly different. For example, during Ukrainian era, the name place is Chernivtsi; During Bukovina era, it was Czernowitz; During Romania era it was Cernăuţi. Ilev/Iliv - one could be masc, the other fem.

Anyway, there is one family in the city of Chernivtsi with the family name Ільев (Il'ev), with the Cyrillic ь being silent). They may be family, and stayed with their Bukovina/Romania name.

In Doroshivtsi there are individuals by the name of Ілюк (Iliuk), which are more than likely your family. Did you happen to check the 1951-52 birth records for this family?

When in Ukraine, I learned of a husband and wife family name spelled H----rkiv (husband) and H----rok (wife). One son is H----rkiv, the other H----rok, due to an error. They laughed about it.

[rwf]

Hello Sandra and Sylvie,

Thanks for your feedback and information. It gives me a few more options to consider. I'll need to be content with that, as I may never know the real reason for the change.

Richard