Family Names of Banitsa Inhabitants

By Ted Nitchov

Here is a list of family names who at one point lived in Banitsa. On the left is the original Macedonian version and on the right is the "Greek" version of it given to each family during the years which followed the Treaty of Bucharest.

For those unaware, the Treaty of Bucharest "divided the spoils" of Macedonia amongst the three neighbouring countries - Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. Amongst the worst of what was to follow happened in Greece - family names were given "Greek" versions, village names were renamed, churches were re-Christened under Greek saints, tombstones and epitaphs along with any visible signs of the Macedonian language were erased and re-written in Greek.

Original Macedonian Names – Hellenized and Changed to Sound Greek
Alushev – Aloussis
Apshev – Apsis
Abov – Ambus
Babulov – Baboulis
Boglev – Boglis
Chorlinov – Tsorlinis
Cotroni - Cotronis
Genev – Genis
Gogov – Gogos
Guskov – Guskus
Gergev – Mintsopoulos
Dimanev – Dimanis
Dimitrov – Dimitriadis
Daicov – Daicopoulos
Daicov – Daikos
Dukov – Dukas
Jugomanov – Zigomanis
Jogov – Tzogas
Jorlev – Tzorlis
Kochev – Kotsopoulos
Kiprov – Kipros
Katen – Kotsopoulos
Kalpakov – Kalpakis
Kirev – Kirilou, Kereakou, or Kiris
Koichev – Koitsis, Papageorgiou
Kolerov – Koleris, Holeris
Kachorov – Katsoras
Kotronov – Kotronis
Krsten – Novis
Lumanov – Lumanis
Laskov – Zigomanis
Lakov – Liakos
Layev – Lais
Dafov – Dafos
Mangov – Mangos
Minchev – Mintsopoulos
Malinov – Mallinos
Melisen – Melissis
Nitchov – Nitsopoulos
Nedelkov – Nedelkos
Olev – Kereakou
Olev – Olidis
Pechinov – Petsinis
Penjov – Penzos
Popalev – Popalis
Perov – Papadimitriou
Paparushev – Paparusis
Prekopanken – Novis
Pavlev – Pavlidis
Popov – Gogos
Popdinov – Papakonstandinou
Pedev – Pedias
Pejkov – Paikos
Proskov – Proskos
Risafin – Chrisafis
Robev – Rhombis
Rapov – Rapos
Shisharev – Sisaris
Tashev – Tassis
Tanev – Tanos
Toshov – Tossios
Tsveten – Paparusis
Vasev – Vassos
Veliken – Velakis
Vuchkov – Ziskos
Yanchev – Giantsopoulos
Yovchev – Giannis
Yanev – Giannis
Yanin – Kotsopoulos
Zhezhov – Zezos
Ziskov – Ziskos

Copyright 2016 Ted Nitchov and Pollitecon

Source: www.pollitecon.com