Tataryn

[HannahL]

My Grandfather came to England towards the end of WW2, aged around 18. He was born and raised in a small village near Chirnivtsy in the Ukraine. Apart from this I know very little of his childhood, apart from that he had several brothers, sisters and cousins.

Towards the beginning of the war he was taken by what i assume was the gestapo to work in Siberia, and he escaped on foot. I know that most of the males in his family were also taken, but am unsure about what happened to the women and children.

My Grandfather is now in his mid Eighties (we are unsure of his exact age), and the past is too painful for him to relive, what little he remembers of it.

Please excuse my ignorance, I have very little information to go on! I would like to know more about the name Tataryn, and about the area around Chirnivtsy. What was the impact of the war on this region? What happened to those left behind?

If anyone could shed light on the patchy story I have , or give me the smallest piece of information I will be very grateful!

[Hannia]

There are eleven districts (raions) in Chernivetska (Chernivtsy) Oblast/Region > referred to Northern Bukovina by the natives. Run these names past Grandfather and lets hope one of these rings a bell.

Vyzhnytsia
Hertza
Hlyboka
Zastavna
Kelmenytsi
Kitzman
Novoselytsia
Putyla
Sokyryany
Storozhynetz
Hotyn

Your surname is a habitational surname. These surnames not only refer to place, but also to ethnicity or tribal origin. The Tatars invaded Bukovina way back in 1324.

On my maternal side, I too have Tatar roots, except my Tartar ancestors settled near Lviv c. 17th century.

PS>Chances are there are still Tataryns living in their
ancestral village and if they are not, they will have made contact w/someone in the village, who will know where
they are today.

[HannahL]

Thanks so much that's good to hear