Russian Ancestry Research

[Heulwen]

I am working on my family tree and am having trouble getting information on my Russian Ancestors. My mother's name is Elena OLDENBOURG, born in Leningrad on 4th June 1917. Her father's name was Sergei, of German origin, and her mother was Ada STARYNKEVITCH. I am interested in finding out more about them (parents, grand parents, great grand parents) as well as birth, marriage, death dates and locations. Could anyone help? If not, does anyone know where I can get help? Online, if possible?
Will eagerly await a reply.
Heulwen.

[csockol]

Heulwen, I have been researching my husband's paternal lines for sometime now, on-line. I have a website that lists some good places to start. If you're interested, I'll be happy to send you the url to the links page. My site is really 2 sites within one. One side for my family lines, the other for my husband's. SO, I call it Cavaliers & Cossacks. It turns out that his family lines are from the Ukraine, but we had no idea when I began searching, so I was researching Russia, Ukraine & Hungary ~ just in case. The links are there for researching those areas. I also have links for research on "my" half of the site.

Have you checked the Ellis Island records? The service is free, all you have to do is sign up to research.
The ship's manifests are there and viewable. They give the Homeplace of the passenger, in addition to age (which helps get an idea of year of birth + or - 1 year).

I'm no expert, just been at genealogical research for several years and about 5 of those on-line.

Let me know if I can help.

Cathy

[Heulwen]

Hi Cathy,
Thanks for the reply. I would be delighted to receive ANY information that could help in researching my mother's ancestors. Actually, there is no US connection at all, so I do not think Ellis Island records would help. My grand parents emigrated to France with the family.
I am also researching my father's genealogy. He is from Wales. We have no connection to the US.
Awaiting your reply with any kind of help. Thanks.
Heulwen.

[csockol]

My website is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~chatsol

If you go to the main page, you need to select the Cossack lines for research link specific to the Capratho-Rusyn information. That link to that page is:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....tsol/links.htm

For general research you can check out the links I have at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....l/favorite.htm

[Heulwen]

Hi Cat,
I checked out your sites and you are way ahead of me. Congratulations.
I am still hoping that someone will pick up on my family names and answer me.
Heulwen.

[csockol]

Have you tried posting your questions on the Ukraine boards? I have had some WONDERFUL help from folks there. It was actually one of the members (Hania) there that found my husband's great-grandfather's immagration records & possibly his grandfather's as well! Not to mention the fact that she sent me the name & mailing address of what may very likely turn out to be the monastery our Vasyl joined at the age of 9 (circa) 1899-1900!

The folks there are very knowledgeable and very willing to help.

http://www.ukraine.com

Give them a try. I'm sure they will be willing to help you with directing your search in ways that just might work!

[Heulwen]

Hi Cathy,
Thanks! I took your advice and Hannia came back with questions. So I hope I get somewhere.

Question: Is ANYA a Russian name? Is it a diminutive of another name?

Heulwen.