Dechtiar Name

[Deci]

I am looking for any information on the name Dechtiar or Dehtiar, Dextiar(I believe to be the original spelling).

Have had little luck so far would love to find a link to help research lost relatives in the Ukraine.

Known names Ivan Phillip Annicea, Mother Matrona father Fedor, and an Uncle Vasil Dextiar. Contact was lost with family during ww2.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Deci.

[Rondex]

My father, who changed his name to "Dexter" after coming to the U.S. back in the 1920s or 1930s, was originally named Dechtiar (or Dectiar, since English doesn't have a good match for the harsh "ch" or k sound in Russian). He was born in the Ukraine around 1905. His father, who also came to the U.S. was Max Dechtiar and he never changed his name. I bellieve he died in the late 1940s. They were Jewish. My father died in 1982. He had two sisters in the U.S., one of whom died within the past ten years. The other, married so no longer a Dechtiar, lives in the San Francisco bay area. I have never met her or her husband. They are probably in their eighties.

I grew up with my mother's side of the family and had little contact with my father until several years before his death. I do know their family was originally from Odessa, Ukraine. Also that both he and his one sister Anita Dantes, whom I had met, basically denied that they were Jewish. Or else totally ignored it. Probably had a lot to do with World War II and antisemitism.

I too would like to learn more about the Dechtiars in the Ukraine. All I can say is that I, and my children and grandchildren, have roots in the Dechtiar name. My name is Ron Dexter, I am nearly 61, and have lived in St Paul, Minnesota for the past 24 years. I was born and grew up in Southern California. That's where my father lived since around 1935. He was a bit-part actor, artist, and person of many trades, in a California-type way. You could say he was an eccentric of sorts and quite talented.

Good luck in your search, and I look forward to hearing more about the Ukraine Dechtiars.

Ron Dexter

[Deci]

Ron , Hello, my name is Jan and I live in Australia. I too am researching the name. My father in law was from Ukraine and lost his family during WW11. I was aware that many had changed the name to Dexter on immigration to the US.

Many other variations as well:

Dekhtyar
Dejtiar
Dehtiar
Degtiar

For your interest I will try to paste the original spelling in here. I have just found this and it has been confimed by my very ill father in law. деуръп is the way it is spelt in Cyrillic. And I thought it was a confusing name in English.

My father in law is Ivan, his mother Matrona, and father Fedor ( died of starvation during the famine) He had a brother Filemon and two sister Annecia and Nilla??. His grandfather was Vasyl Dextiar and he had an uncle of the same name . He came from a village in the Vannitsa region, called Riahorod. I a have just had it confirmed that the village still exists after being razed bey both the Russians and Germans. My relative was taken by the German into forced labour and his brother dissappeared after being taken by The Russians. So finding a link will be difficult.

I have just been contact by someone willing to help search in the Ukraine so I have fingers crossed. Many with the name Dechtiar are jewish. My father in law is not and many non- jewish Ukrainians have this surname. Although you would totally understand them denying there Jewish heritage wouldn't you after the horrors of that period in time.
I have often wondered myself as it is only recently that Ivan has opened up about his child hood.

I wish you luck.
Since I posted the original message I have had a bit more luck, but it is hard when you don't speak the language.
The Dechtiar name boast many Academics and very talented people, Please feel free to email me and I will sent as much infor as I can on the name. jandec2@yahoo.com.au

Just a coincidence Ivans Bithday is the 4th of July.
Big day for Americans I believe.

Jan

[Deci]

Ron, Ignore original spelling. That didn't work.!!!!


Jan

[Hannia]

Have you been in touch w/Jan, who has posted family information on this thread? Look at message #3!!!!

[dechtiar]

hi everyone. my name is danny dechtiar
i live in isrsel
my family left ukraine 30 years ago
they lived near kiev in belaya tserkov
anything familiar to anyone?
my grandfather name was misha
my grandmother's was klara.
my father has three brothers
my fathers name is fima. his brothers are kola & milia
milia is living in canada right now.

[Deci]

Hello Danny, It's Jan again, I don't recognise any of the names of you family in the list I have been researching.

What was the original spelling of your name.

My family history is in the top posts on this board, with my email address.. email me if you want to swap notes.

Good luck

Jan