By Lisa A. Alzo
In your Czech and Slovak ancestors' world, borders shifted and ruling powers changed, so how they identified themselves ethnically might differ from their official nationality. Use the tips to sort out such identity crises.
"Who Are You?" When The Who posed this lyrical question in their 1978 hit song,
they could have been singing directly to Czech and Slovak roots
seekers. The region's diverse population and repeated power shifts have
blurred the lines between ethnicity and nationality — leading many
genealogists to experience an identity crisis.
As you investigate your ancestry, beware of the "nationality trap":
Even though Great-grandpa's naturalization papers say he emigrated from
Hungary, his village might be in present-day Slovakia. Czechs may
discover German in their family lines, while Slovaks may uncover
Carpatho-Rusyn, Hungarian, Polish or Ukrainian ancestry. So use these
four D's to delve deeper into your heritage: