Marcou

[Administrator]

The following was posted in the 'Welcome' thread - a new thread is provided for ease of reference:

emmanuelmarcou said:

I have only just become aware of this Forum & site
through an E-Mail I received today.
Although I have been to Cassie just 5 years ago,I was very impressed,both by the enchantment of the Harbour &
remoteness from the Greek mainland.
My father and his family managed to secret themselves out of the island,which at that time was an Italian
mandate.They had to leave by night in a small sailboat and managed with a great deal of adventure to reach the Greek mainland.
One of his uncles,Dimitrios,made notoriety by
leading a party of Cassie merchants to the Turkish mainland
and saving them from being murdered by Turkish brigands living in the nearby mountains.They returned unharmed.
His other uncles worked together felling trees on the Turkish mainland and transporting them bach to Cassie for shipbuilding & manufacture of coak.
My paternal Great grandfather was called Markos
Alvanos,this being a nickname because he originated from Epirus
near Ioannina,and was a Vestmaker for Ali Pasha.
These a some of the stories handed down to me by my father before he passed away in 1979.

Emmanuel Marcou. ([e-mail])

[Administrator]

Dear Emmanuel,

From the outline you have provided I would suggest that your father and his family probably left the island in the exodus of 1917-1918 when the island was actually under French naval occupation. A large number of Castellorizian families departed during this period amidst great secrecy, not so much because of any restrictions imposed by the French, but rather because of the fear of Turkish bombardment from the Anatolian coast.

A number of these familes ended up in Crete, but some travelled as far as the Greek mainland. Do you know where precisely your family travelled to in Greece?

The French authorities on Castellorizo were promising these emigres work in France and that is probably why your grandfather ended up in St Etienne. A number of other Castellorizian families settled in France for this reason, particularly in Nantes.

So far, I have only located one reference to your family in French archives, and it does seem to accord with your comments. In the list of 46 Castellorizians who took part in the successful offensive against Turkish-held Antifilo on 27 January 1916 the name Costas Marcou appears. I wonder if this is your grandfather's brother?

I'll let you know if anything else comes up.

Nicholas

[Emmanuel Marcou]

Hi Nicholas,
You appear to be on the right track.Costas Marcou was one of my grandfathers
brothers. I am not sure,but I believe he died late 1940's in a Turkish Prison.
Thanks Alot.
Emmanuel.

[emmanuel marcou]

Hi Nicholas,
after receiveing your previous mailing,on reflection,
I realised I had forgotten to mention the fact that my grandfather's brother Costas Marcou,was enlisted by French
authories in Castellorizo as an agent to reconnoitre the area
on the Turkish mainland on their behalf.
I would think that starting from his background,we could then obtain further information about his geanealogical
background,maybe through Baptismal or Wedding records;and
perhaps more information about brothers.I Know that my grandfather went to the United States on two or three occasions
to work during the early years of his marriage & before leaving
to travel to France with his family,where they resided in the town
of St Etienne,and he worked in the coalmine there,until his
untimely death by gunshot from unknown assassin.
His sister in law and her family remained in France
and their dscendants still live there to this day.
Kind thanks for your attention.
Emmanuel Marcou.

[cressie]

Hi Emmanuel

I don't know your father's name but I have a Stamatios Marcos travelling on the "Cephee" ex Port Said which arrived Melbourne on 14 Feb 1924. Nationality was listed as Greek and he travelled 2nd class with occupation listed as Barber. On that particular ship were others with Cazzie surnames travelling from Port Said. Perhaps Stamatios is a relation?

The only other similar name that is listed in this time frame is a Grigori Marcos who is listed as a Cypriot travelling to Port Augusta SA. The English in those years badly Anglised Greek names and they are hard to locate on the indexes because of this.

On my own website I have a Despina Marco born c 1900 in Odessa Russia who married Seos Lekias in Athens and who both died in WA. Despina's father was a Vassilis Marco and she had a brother, John Basil Marco who died in WA. As she married a Cazzie I would suspect this Marco family was linked to Castellorizo although lived in Russia. I have a photo of her on my site.

Will also privately respond to your email for full website access.

Best wishes

Allan

[cressie]

Hi again Emmanuel

Forgot to mention that I also have a Ekaterini Markou who married Sotorios Malaxos - my grandmothers 1st cousin. Their descendants live in Sydney. Perhaps a link to your family?
Allan

[Emmanuel Marcou]

Hi Allan,
I have read your replies with interest,however I think Nicholas Pappas may be on the right track in his correspondence,regarding Costas Marcou who was active in the
fighting with the Turks in 1916.He was one of my Grandfather's brothers,most certainly,since my father often spoke of him.
My father,Markos Marcou,had a first cousin in Rhodes
called Dimitrios Alvanos,and Dimitrios' Sisters of which there were two,both retained their maiden names as "Marcou".Their descendants are stil in Rhodes to this day.Dad also had an uncle who migrated to Sao Paolo,In Brazil and his descendants are there to this day.
Dad's mother was " called " Evangelia Sava" which was registered on her Italian passport,when she arrived in Fremantle.She refused to use her husbands surname because
she intensely disliked her inlaws.Her husband Savas Marcou,
was shot and killed by an unknown assassin in St Etienne in France
in 1917-18.
I had checked with French authorities there two years ago,
but they have no record of the incident.When my father went to France on holidays in 1964,he tried to find his father's grave without success.
My Grandmother's sister Marie,remained in France from
that period and her descendants are there to this day,and my
brother and I communicate with them occasionally.As she had only daughters,her husbands surname was extinguished.
I any of this information is of any help,it may lead
to a quicker resolution.
Thanking You for your interest.
Emmanuel Marcou.

[Gregory]

Names are fascinating! My Kazzie Grandfather who came to Australia in 1922 lived in Smyrna for quite some time and before that in Egypt, where he had relatives of the Gouyas clan, and I recall him telling me that he fought the Turks in Antifilo. He then re-setled in Kastellorizo where he set up shop as the baker and pastrycook there, and married and came to Australia with two infant children, and two others were born here. Now about the names: His shipping record says Constantine Turbetaci (a Turkish name??). On my mother’s registered marriage certificate it says her maiden name was Markos, but on the Greek record it is Toumbetaki Marcou. His naturalisation paper says he is known as Constantine Markos Raptui. He was called Constantine Marcou or Constantine Markos. My mother used to joke that he had other names besides that! . He did have brothers he used to write to in other countires – I can only remember Egypt but there were others too. My grandfather died in Australia in 1956 so he is obviously not the Constantine Marcou who died in a Turkish prison in the 1940s. SO there existed two men called Constantine Marcou/Markos. Probably cousins! Cheers. Connie Gregory

[Emmanuel Marcou]

Hi fellow Cassie,
Sorry I missed your mailing since I have not visited the site lately.Having read your comments,I thought to respond as a matter of courtesy.It seems that our surname is reasonably common in Cassie circles in the female line.We must remember
that because Castellozon is such a small island,almost isolated
from the rest of Greece,there would have been a high degree of
intermarriage,and don't forget that everyone else was a "Xenos".
So we are all closely related.Our father who arrived in Australia
from Egypt in 1923 married our mother in 1933 who was born
in Mytiline & there was quite a cultural gap between Inlaws.

Again I apologise for my delay in responding and I send you and
your family best wishes.
Emmanuel Marcou.

[cressie]

Hi Emmanuel

In the SA marriage indexes there is a Constantine Marcos marriage which I don't know if it connects to your family or not. I post it in case there is some connection to your family.

Groom: MARCOS
Given names: Constantine
Bride: GEISLER
Given names: Bertha
Date: 1923-12-15
Groom Age: 25
Status: S
Groom's Father: George MARCOS
Bride Age: 19
Status: S
Bride's Father: Charles Hermann GEISLER
Place: St Peters Church Glenelg
District: Ade
Symbol:
Book/Page: 297/790
Cross Reference:

Just for your info in case it does tie into your family.

Best wishes
Allan

[mish58]

cressie said:

Hi Emmanuel

I don't know your father's name but I have a Stamatios Marcos travelling on the "Cephee" ex Port Said which arrived Melbourne on 14 Feb 1924. Nationality was listed as Greek and he travelled 2nd class with occupation listed as Barber. On that particular ship were others with Cazzie surnames travelling from Port Said. Perhaps Stamatios is a relation?

The only other similar name that is listed in this time frame is a Grigori Marcos who is listed as a Cypriot travelling to Port Augusta SA. The English in those years badly Anglised Greek names and they are hard to locate on the indexes because of this.

On my own website I have a Despina Marco born c 1900 in Odessa Russia who married Seos Lekias in Athens and who both died in WA. Despina's father was a Vassilis Marco and she had a brother, John Basil Marco who died in WA. As she married a Cazzie I would suspect this Marco family was linked to Castellorizo although lived in Russia. I have a photo of her on my site.

Will also privately respond to your email for full website access.

Best wishes

Allan

[mish58]

interesting ? Is it Marckos ? or Marcos. I am the grandaughter of Despina Marco From Odessa Russaia who marries Seos Lekias My Granfather. I live in Perth W.A. So is Despina Greek or Russian where was she born ? Her parents nationality ?

[cressie]

Hi Michelle

Despina and her brother, John Basil Marco, spelt the surname as Marco but it could be that the spelling Marcou may still be connected to your grandmother's family. It often depended on who was recording the info and how it was Anglicised.

Many Cazzies lived in Russia (Black Sea Area) prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and were traders. My grandfather (born Castellorizo) also lived in Russia but his mother and brothers fled from there during the revolution. This most likely is the situation for your family also, especially as your grandmother married in Athens in 1920 to Sios Lekias. Despina is a Greek name as is her father's name of Vassilis. Whether they actually originate from Castellorizo I do not know but I am sure your Aunty would know, or perhaps your Uncle Jack would.

On my Aunty Mary's wedding photo your grandparents and other Lekias members are in the back row. Look at..
www.ozgenealogy.info/genealogy/showmedia.php?mediaID=103&medialinkID=141

There are 67 Lekias names on the website but info for living persons is restricted unless you have a password. Email me at [e-mail] if you wish to have this full access. You may be able to supplement or correct some of the info displayed. I have many Passaris names on the site and wonder how you are connected to this family?

Regards
Allan
Perth

[mish58]

wow thats awesome, I couldnt recognise any of the family members. understandable as i probably never saw them. do you know if my grandmother and grandfather came together to australia. do you know where I might find a photo of teh Swan Cafe ? Mum and Dad (mick lekias) are currently on thier way to greece.but I doubt they will have he time to gather information.
You know so much ?

Do you know the Passaris family member taht married a Lekias.
i am in a relationship with Evlyn Passaris's son . Evelyn being the daughter of Stavros and Queenie Passaris

[mish58]

Can you tell me the name of the ship that Stavros Anastasios Passaris arrived on in Fremantle Perth in 1914. from Castellorizia ? thank you very much.

[cressie]

Hi Michelle

Replied to your query on Stavros on the Passaris thread.

Regards..........Allan

[mish58]

thanks !!!! great news. no doubt this is the same Passaris. do you have info or can you help with links to teh name of teh boat from Greec ? Port Said ? maybe Paryus ? to Singapore. this has been unknown since we have been researching and I cant find any links thus far. this infor you have given is the most positive thus far but siblings still unsure of liner/vessel name from greece?

[steve alvanos]

admin said:

The following was posted in the 'Welcome' thread - a new thread is provided for ease of reference:

emmanuelmarcou said:

I have only just become aware of this Forum & site
through an E-Mail I received today.
Although I have been to Cassie just 5 years ago,I was very impressed,both by the enchantment of the Harbour &
remoteness from the Greek mainland.
My father and his family managed to secret themselves out of the island,which at that time was an Italian
mandate.They had to leave by night in a small sailboat and managed with a great deal of adventure to reach the Greek mainland.
One of his uncles,Dimitrios,made notoriety by
leading a party of Cassie merchants to the Turkish mainland
and saving them from being murdered by Turkish brigands living in the nearby mountains.They returned unharmed.
His other uncles worked together felling trees on the Turkish mainland and transporting them bach to Cassie for shipbuilding & manufacture of coak.
My paternal Great grandfather was called Markos
Alvanos,this being a nickname because he originated from Epirus
near Ioannina,and was a Vestmaker for Ali Pasha.
These a some of the stories handed down to me by my father before he passed away in 1979.

Emmanuel Marcou. ([e-mail])

[steve alvanos]

HI| Emmanuel +NIKOLAS I,AM RESEARCHING MY FAMILY HISTORY, THE NAME IS ALVANOS. MY FATHER AND MY GRAN PARENTS' WERE FROM CASTELLORIZO MY FATHER'S NAME WAS KONSTANTINOS , MY GRAN FATHER'S NAME WAS THEOCHARIS MY GRAN MOTHER'S NAME WAS ANNA. MY MOTHER'S MOTHER NAME WAS ANASTASIA POULLIS MARRIED TO MICHAEL SITZIMIS FROM LIVISI MAKRI THANKS!!!!

[emmanuelmarcou1]

Hi Steve,
I have not visited site for many months & as a result have just discovered your posting.
I have recently noticed mention of Alvanos surname from Castellorizo & I know that my Great
Grandfather was known as Markos Alvanos before 1900.As I understand the situation,this surname
was used as a Nick-name.since his father originated from Epirus.His son,Savas was registered as
Savas Marcon when he travelled to New York in 1910,but some of his brothers continued to use
Alvanos as a surname,but I am not certain which of these,except for Dimitrios Alvanos who
moved to Rhodes & died there two years ago.
Kind Regards.
Emmanuel Marcou.

[nick haratsis]

Hello Emmanuel, This is Nick Haratsis who lived in 434 Bridge Rd. Richmond. I would like to hear from you.

[nick haratsis]

Aug 25, 2008 18:11:39 GMT 10 nick haratsis said:

Hello Emmanuel, This is Nick Haratsis who lived in 434 Bridge Rd. Richmond. I would like to hear from you.

[cressie]

Hi Nick

If you click on Emmanuel's name (emmanuelmarcou1 in blue) on his last message you will see his email address at yahoo. Suggest you email him on this address as he seems to not be visiting this forum at the moment.

Best wishes to you Nick and everyone on this forum.

Am off to Turkey and Greece for five weeks holidays in six days time - my first trip back to where my late mother was born. We are visiting Istanbul, Gallipoli, West coast of Turkey, Rhodes, Castellorizo, Crete, Santorini and mainland Greece.

Allan

[emmanuelmarcou1]

Hi Nicholas,
a short note to announce that I have been in contact with Second cousin,living in Canada.
He is Steve Alvanos & is a grandson of my grandfather's brother,Theoharis.Steve has informed me
that his Grandfather married Anna Constantinou,who was also sister to my Grandmother.
Also,mainly that the our real family surname should be PANARITIS,and the Alvanos name was only
the nick-name that the family was known as in Castellorizo.So,none of the descendants are using
the real surname!!!!!!
Kind Regards.
Emmanuel Marcou.

[G.M.B.]

Emmanuel,
It appears they are not the only ones not using their real surnames , my family also have changed theirs or hadit done for them by some immigration officer not transfering accurate data.
is Theoharis a first or last name , I have been looking for an ancestor who changed his name to Theoharis.

Regards,
George.

[georgettey]

Hi
I'm really new at this and stumbled on this site by accident. I have been trying to search my family for a very long time now and I know that both parents have a paternal Greek side but not sure of everything. My mother's fathers family is Marcou but I found out that this name was officially changed from Constandino. My great grandfather was Marcou Constandino and according to my uncle was from Crete. That is probably all I know. My grandfather was born in Cairo Egypt. Is there a way you can guide me to how I can search further. I live in Sydney but my mother's family are almost all in New York. Many Thanks in advance.