Motiejus & Ona (Matthew & Hannah)are my maternal great-grandparents. That is about all I know, and that they were likely born in Kaunas. My grandfather KOSTAS was born to them in Kaunas in 1915, he migrated to Australia late 1949, died 1974. His brother ALBINUS came to Australia, also deceased. Apparently they were from a large family but we do not know anything further. The details are a little vague but any info would help as I am stuck!
Also interested in the meaning of BALTRUSAITIS. I know 'aitis' means 'son of', but am guessing 'balt-rus' is something to do with 'white-russian'?
I've done a lot of internet searching on my family tree but am unsure where to go next...any help or suggestions?
Thanks, Cindy

Cindy,

Based on the timeline fro their arrival in Australia, I would make the educated guess that they were displaced persons (DPs) who lived in Germany or Austria following the end of WW II. Any idea as to which occupation zone they were in?

You can contact the International Tracing Service (ITS) in Bad Arolsen, Germany, on-line and request what records they may have on them. The ITS has records on 17.5 million people including DPs and Holocaust victims & survivors.

A copy of the ITS archives exists at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC where I have been doing research. I spent a week at the ITS in 2008 doing research.

Hope this helps you get started.

Tom S.

Tom,

Yes you're right, my grandfather Kostas Baltrusaitis and grandmother Ilze (Bente) were part of the DP's program, so your tip to look up ITS is a big help.

As to which occupation zone they were in, Ilze was German and her family reside to this day in Neumunster. Ilze and Kostas were married in Neumunster in 1946, which I believe would place them in the British occupation zone?

They and their 3 children boarded ship in Naples late 1949 and arrived in Australia January 1950. Both are deceased. As far as we know, Kostas' parents Motiejus and Ona remained in Lithuania.

Tom, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Cindy

HI,
regarging your name it derives from lithuaniased christian name Bartholomew. Baltramiejus-Baltrus-Baltrusaitis with Baltrus being the shortened name.

Great, thank you!

European names often sound complicated in the anglicised world - it's funny when they turn out to be so simple!
Would you have any thoughts on the meaning or origin of my great-grandmother's maiden name of LATKAUSKAITE, or whether her father would have been more likely to be called LATKAUSKAITIS or LATKAUSKAS?
Any information would be helpful - I only learned my great-grandparent's names a few days ago.

The AITE ending is used for surnames ending in AS.

If it ended in AITIS the unmarried ending would be YTE.

Likely the family surname is Latkauskas.

Tom S.

Thanks again for clarifying Tom