Hello all! I'm a new member here from the U.S.
I would like to find my real family name and history, and I see there are some threads on this forum that interest me, so here I am!
My story:
My great-grandfather was born in St. Petersburg, Russia circa 1908 or within a few years after that date. His parents (my great-great grandparents -- names unknown) were either murdered or executed during the revolution in 1917. I would like to find out their identities. My great-grandfather emigrated to Latvia and grew up and married there, only leaving following World II when my family came to the U.S. I've known these details for many years.
The following information is new to me ... my great-grandfather's identity was hidden for his own protection. There's reason to believe his family was part of the Russian aristocracy pre-revolution. He was raised by an adoptive family, and took the surname of his wife when they married in the 1930s. That Latvian name survives to this day (it's my last name!), but there are no known accounts of the identity of his parents. When the Soviets invaded Latvia in 1944, he believed they would execute him, so the family fled to Germany and eventually the U.S. in the late 1940's.
My great-grandfather passed away in 1988 when I was six years old, barely remember him at all ... and my grandfather (his son) also passed away in 2004. My grandfather's sister though is still alive, what little information I have I received from her so far.
Anyway, good day to everyone and maybe we will encounter each other in some topics!
I would like to find my real family name and history, and I see there are some threads on this forum that interest me, so here I am!
My story:
My great-grandfather was born in St. Petersburg, Russia circa 1908 or within a few years after that date. His parents (my great-great grandparents -- names unknown) were either murdered or executed during the revolution in 1917. I would like to find out their identities. My great-grandfather emigrated to Latvia and grew up and married there, only leaving following World II when my family came to the U.S. I've known these details for many years.
The following information is new to me ... my great-grandfather's identity was hidden for his own protection. There's reason to believe his family was part of the Russian aristocracy pre-revolution. He was raised by an adoptive family, and took the surname of his wife when they married in the 1930s. That Latvian name survives to this day (it's my last name!), but there are no known accounts of the identity of his parents. When the Soviets invaded Latvia in 1944, he believed they would execute him, so the family fled to Germany and eventually the U.S. in the late 1940's.
My great-grandfather passed away in 1988 when I was six years old, barely remember him at all ... and my grandfather (his son) also passed away in 2004. My grandfather's sister though is still alive, what little information I have I received from her so far.
Anyway, good day to everyone and maybe we will encounter each other in some topics!
