Paliokas and Montvila (Lithuanian names)

[mcblondie]

Hi all,

Me again, it's been a while, but I've picked up my genealogy trail again and once more looking for any info.

If anyone recognizes the above names or can shed any light on any relations they have with similar names I would be grateful.

My grandfather was Lithuanian and his parents names were Juozas and Ona Polokas, but possibly it could be Paliokas or something similar. Ona's maiden name was Milunas or so I thought! It's possible that her name was Montvila but due to my grandfather's accent the registrar may have put down what he thought sounded like Milunas as grandad couldn't read or write. I've tried downloading hundreds of Marriage certs looking for my grandads elusive brother, but unfortunately, any that I have the grooms parents names don't match with my grandads. (hope this makes sense),

Thanking you in advance

Katie

[Currie]

Hello Katie,

If you wish you could post some more detail about the missing brother, full name and variations including the likely original of any anglicised first name, when born, where he appears in the records and when he went off the radar etc.

Do you think he would have been naturalised? The House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, from 1875, has lists of aliens naturalised including full name and aliases, country of origin and place of residence. If you think it would help I could search there and you may be in luck.

It’s likely that anyone naturalised, before 1918, who was born in Lithuania would have been shown as born Russia and that probably won’t help a bit. A list of all the surname variations you’ve seen may be handy.

Alan

[mcblondie]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the info, any help would be appreciated. I can only give you the info that I have on my grandfather and even that is sketchy at best. My family no almost nothing about my grandfather and his roots. I'll try to give you as much as I can, so here goes.

My grandfather:

Jonas Palokas, born between 1889-1892. I have his marriage certificate (married in Scotland Feb 1915 aged 23. This would give his year of birth as 1892. Then I found a Jonas Palokas on the Hamburg lists travelling to England in 1910 aged 18. This is the only Jonas Palokas I could find. (so I'm hoping this is my g.father). It also states last place of residence being Mariampol and that he was a farm labourer........... On my g.father marriage cert it gives his father's occupation as a farm labourer. I know that the majority of immigrants who came over then where either farmers or farm labourers.

On his death certificate it states he was aged 79 and he died in 1968, so this would give a birth year of 1889??? so I don't know what the proper year of birth is. He joined the British Army in the Labour Corp (9th Russian) as it states this on one of his children's death cert in 1918 Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything relating to Army records on Ancestry One of his daughters (my aunt) told me had a brother who lived in the Bellshill area and that both brothers had a falling out and never spoke or saw each other again. They said that they thought his name was Juozas (Joseph) named after their father, my g.grandfather but I think he either moved or changed his name as I can't find anyone with this name who has the same parents names as my grandfathers. There's always a possibility he moved to the United States or didn't marry, but I don't think this is the case.

I don't have any other info other than the varients of my name that I have seen on certificates so I will now list these.

Polokus, Palokas, Pollockus, Polockus.

So as you can see, it's a bit of a mess...........

thanking you in advance

Katie

[Currie]

Hello Katie,

I’ve tried everything I could think of in the Parliamentary Papers and I’m very sorry to say that I drew a complete blank. I tried all the names you mentioned and anything else I could think of. I checked all the Jouza’s and couldn’t even find one starting with the letter ‘P’. Even wildcards didn’t help. Just about all the Juoza’s I saw were Lithuanian with a few Russians in the earlier ones.

Some of the name changes I saw wouldn’t help a genealogist. Pacsesa to Dickson, Macis to Mitchell, and Wosylius to Smith etc. I hope the 1911 census helps when it arrives.

Here’s some variations: From the 1911 England census – Palaoksas and Palidojus. From FreeBDM – Palowkas and Polouskas.

All the best,
Alan

[Lanarkshire Lassie]

Hello Katie.

I have posted a reply to a post of your's on ancestry. I have given the contact details of the local newspaper, and Lithuanian club in Bellshill.

Gailx

[mcblondie]

Thanks Gail,

Help and info much appreciated............