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ArchivesRe: ethnicity of surname
in reply to a message by mjacobs
Well the ová (Czech, Slovak) suffix is attached to most Czech and Slovak female surnames, which means that his mother may have adopted the affix to identify her gender. This was not uncommon in many Eastern European countries, and exists today in some Adrican cultures (such as Nigerian). Thus, Stinic becomes Stinicova. the feminine ending is not necessarily passed on to male heirs.
The -ova ending as a Czech affix would also be supported by the actual surname of Stinic, since the -ic ending constitutes "son of" in Czech surnames as well.
Stinich is a similar surname that is most popular in the Ukraine and Russia, which lends to the idea that the surname has gone through a couple of evolutions similar to the Italian Dijoys of the United States, who are original DiGioias.
CONCLUSION: Since Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic ... I would guess that your father was Hungarian, but his ancestors lived in what is now part of the Czech Republic and migrated through the empire to wherever your father's mother (your Grandmother) was born. Or at least where her ancestors were born.
Hope that helps!
The -ova ending as a Czech affix would also be supported by the actual surname of Stinic, since the -ic ending constitutes "son of" in Czech surnames as well.
Stinich is a similar surname that is most popular in the Ukraine and Russia, which lends to the idea that the surname has gone through a couple of evolutions similar to the Italian Dijoys of the United States, who are original DiGioias.
CONCLUSION: Since Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe that existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic ... I would guess that your father was Hungarian, but his ancestors lived in what is now part of the Czech Republic and migrated through the empire to wherever your father's mother (your Grandmother) was born. Or at least where her ancestors were born.
Hope that helps!
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