Bosnia-Herzegovina and genealogical research of Croats
One of more important areas for Croatian genealogy research is a region today known as the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Peoples of Croatian nationality have been integral part of that region for centuries. Censuses performed between 1879 and 1910 showed that nuber of Croats in then part of Austro-Hungarian teritory more than doubled during that period, increasing from 209 thousand to more than 430 thousand. Percentagewise, that was an increase from 18 to almost 23 percent in a total Bosnian population.
Three quarters of a million
The nuber of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina continued to raise throughout the century, so the last census in 20th century, the one performed in 1991, revealed that more than three quarters of a milion persons who considered themselves of Croatian nationality lived in then Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. That number does not include those persons of Croatian origin who expressed their nationality as “Yugoslavs”.
During the war in Bosnia (1992-1995), ethnic cleansing caused many of the Bosnian regions to become more ethnically compact. However, there are still about two dozen urban centers in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina where Croats constitute a relative or absolute majority. Those centers are: Mostar, Čapljina, Neum, Stolac, Ravno, Grude, Čitluk, Kiseljak, Livno, Ljubuški, Kreševo, Kupres, Dobretići, Odžak, Domaljevac-Šamac, Orašje, Prozor-Rama, Široki Brijeg, Tomislavgrad, Posušje, Vitez, Usora, Žepče, Busovača and Novi Travnik.
The majority of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina live in Western parts of the country (Western Herzegovina, Western Bosnia), as well as Central Bosnia and Posavina on the north.
Records an important part of history and identity
Birth, marriage and death records kept by the local parishes of the Catholic church have always been an important part of the claims of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina about their identity and history. Thus Croats from that area are typically more “genealogy conscious” than Croats from the mainland Croatia.
There are quite a few interesting resources available in a form of books as well as accessible online that can be of a great help to researchers interested in Croatian genealogy originated in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In weeks to come, we will present some of those resources to visitors of our web site.
Image: Alistair Young, Wikimedia Commons
Poštovani,
Rodom sam iz Šibenika, Batinica pretpostavka porjekla je teritorij BiH u vrijeme turske invazije.
I am looking for relatives that may still live in the Zagreb area. SURNAMES: Vukic Or Carevic. Please reply to email.
I am searching for the origin of my mothers surname, Bambir, which I believe is a variation of the name Barbiri. My mother is from a village in Hercegovina, Blizanci (near Citluk), she has been told by her mother that one of her ancestors fled to Blizanci from Barbiri in Croatia, during the Ottoman rule. Would appreciate any help.
Bliznac are very tipical surname in Jajce/ Dobretici. There is several familis and also village Bliznaci. May this info will help you.
Hello,
I am living in Australia/Melbourne and trying to contact family in Livno. I have never met them and cant speak Croatian. I wanted to find records of my grandmother/granfather and uncle in Livno.
Are you suggesting to enquire from the church in Livno? I’m not sure what religion they followed.
Your website was very helpful.
Thank you
Katherine Zoraya
yes, the best way to get some information is to contact church in Livno and I am sure they will help you,bcs they have old books with all famills details. I am sure that they were Roman Catholic.
Br
Mario
I meant to say surname is Zoroja.I have a cousin Stipo Zoroja – actually think his my cousin. No relatives to ask.
My father was Ivan – his name spelt Zoraja on my birth certificate – but it could have been an error with the hospital.
Thanks again
: – >
Katherine contact me at mzoroya@twmi.rr.com
I am looking for birth, marriage, or any other info about my great grandma Marie Darinka Silovich. She was born June 1st 1906 in Austria. He parents were Zupania and Katica Silovich. Her parents changed their names to David and Katie when they immigrated to the United States. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi! My name is Mario Jelčić (on english it shud be Jelcic, Jelcik or Jelcich). I am from Herzegovina but i live in Croatia. I can answer a few questions.
If you ask about croats and religion than it is christian catholic in 99,99%.
Zoraja sound like a herzegovinian croats surname. The name could be from croatian word “zora” eng. “done”
Mr Vukić ( derivated from vuk=volf) or Carević (means young or little tzar, emperor) unfortunatly I cant help you any more at this moment.
Surname Barbir is familiar to me (pretty rear) and Bambir I never heard of. The wilage Blizanci (means twins) and city Čitluk (turkish word from otoman empire, means feudal estate of otoman noble aga or beg, a title of nobility in a rank of baron or count)are correct places in herzegovinia and yes that area was a boarding area in otoman empire time.
in the end sorry for my english
I am planning a trip from US to find relatives in Stolac. My grandfather immigrated when he was 13. His name was Stojan Prkacin. We are Catholic because of him. Would I be able to get records from the local parishes? Thank you.
Liz Clarke Ball
Hi,
I’m looking for information on Peter (Pero) “Red Pete” Hecimovic (1874) who married Katie (Kata, Katherine) Oreskovic (1881) Pete was from Perusic and Kate was from Konjsko Brdo Croatia. They first came to Chicago and then to the iron mines in northern Minnesota, Itasca County.
Any information on these families would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nancy
I live in Melbourne Aust and do not speak Croat. Your English is fine and understandable. do you now anything of Erceg family in Vrgorac, (Banja )when they arrived there? Searching for Gt grand father Jakov Erceg (m. 01nov 1863 vrgorac) Maybe came form Hercegovina. have been told they were military people
If you are interested in topic: how to earn online
money in philippines exchange – you should read about Bucksflooder first
Stepo Zoroja/Katherine Zoraya. Reply of Michael Zoroya
Hello,
Thank you for the people who have left a comment for me. Michael Zoraya- I can’t seem to send you an email. Can you please type your email address for me? the email address of mzoroya@twmi.rr.com, doesn’t work. I am emailing from Australia. I still haven’t made contact with my cousin and would like to try again. Please contact me Michael. I wish to know if were related.
Thank you
Katherine Zoraya
For all those who are interested in genealogy of catholic ancestors from Livno area (I only have access to data of catholic church), feel free to contact livnogen at gmail dot com.
I am searching for surname Buhavac. From Stolac.
Stephen Buhavac, Anna (Vucina) Buhavac, Jane Boscovic, Peter Buhavac, Nikola Perich (mother’s maiden name Buhavac)
My Grandfather- Robert “Bob” Buhavac came to USA ABOUT 1911.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Hi I’m looking for a long lost half sister born in the 1950´s in Mostar. I believe she took the last name of my father. Fejzic but could have changed it after marriage.
That’s all in info I have I don’t know how to begin my search.
Brigitte
I am trying to find my father inlaws sister. My father inlaws name is Milos Maksimovic born 1938. On the 27th of September 1959 he was shipped to Australia on the Aurelia. He calls his sister Seka so I assume her name is Svetlana they were raised by their grandmother Milka?
Hi from America: My surname/last name is * KONNOVITCH, & I cannot locate the origin of the name. Can you assist me???????
i need help getting my mothers birth certificate. she was born in Boricevac in 1937. who can assist?
I am looking for relatives that may still live in the Zavidovici(Boznia) and Croatia.
SURNAMES: Poth and Cerven
Please contact me by email
mary_cerven@hotmail.com
Thanks!
I’m looking for any information on the family of Roy Rozgay, who was born in Ribnik, Yugoslavia in 1887, emigrated to the U.S. in 1904. I am aware that this village is currently located inside of Karlovac, Croatia, but when he was born it was not. I don’t speak/read either of these languages, Roy Rozgay is my sister in law’s father.
Looking for records of Ivan Sladic I believe from The village of Prilisce, Croatia. He emigrated to the United States in 1926.
Looking for any records/info on the Raguz family from Stolac. My great-grandfather, Vido Raguz, was born there around 1893.
I am aware of Ivan Sladic from Prilisce, emigrated to Australia…