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Post by waydawn on Nov 26, 2007 14:06:20 GMT -5
The name was supposingly Jacko Fazio Ali, or Fazio Jacko Ali. His last name was changed to lizotte somewhere, by someone. I am not sure. He left Albania around 1912-14 to USA, and lived in New Hampshire. I was told he was muslim, not sure if it's correct. Can anyone help me find relatives? Thanks, Wayne Lizotte
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 26, 2007 14:17:55 GMT -5
You would probably have more luck with a name registry from there. They have many available online. In fact, I would bet that the name would be easier to find from the US then Albania itself since the country was pretty much çarap(messed up) in that period.
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Kanaris
Amicus
This just in>>>> Nobody gives a crap!
Posts: 9,589
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Post by Kanaris on Nov 26, 2007 17:49:11 GMT -5
Wayne,I remember you from another time.... you should also check in the Quebec area... there are a lot of lizottes here.
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rex362
Senior Moderator
Pellazg
PELASGIANILLYROALBANIAN
Posts: 19,058
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Post by rex362 on Nov 26, 2007 17:57:58 GMT -5
Ali Xhako maybe ....the Fazio I never heard of...sounds Italiano-like ....
imo ...Ali would be the first name ...And the give away of a Muslim name ...but sometimes could be last .....also Xh/Jako also could be first or last .....
what area of the balkans was he from ?
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Post by waydawn on Nov 26, 2007 20:09:33 GMT -5
Toskaliku thanks for your response....from what I've been told was that his last name was in Albania, where, I have no idea. So I am not having luck with registry.
Canaris, thanks again...........My problem is, the last name is not really our last name, thats what i'm trying to resolve.
Rex, thanks for your response....... now that sounds interesting, my problem is...I don't feel like a muslim, and the Jako, what does the Xh represent in terms of heritage. By the way, my dad had black, black hair, and sure looked italian, his dad was a tall rugged man, with huge hands.
I do appreciate the effort you fellas have given me. My son and nephew have encouraged me to take my 2 uncles there, to see what we can do, I personally want to visit, but not during unrest. So the door is open. I am doing this for the sake of our family, that way our children can see where we all originated. Again...Thanks!! Wayne
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 26, 2007 20:19:45 GMT -5
A lot of Albanians get that. And its not uncommon for Albs to pick up Italian sounding names when they come to the US. I know some Muslim Albanians who are referred to as Tony since they themselves sort of altered their own name and then had it re-altered by their non-Alb friends. Similarly I have a friend named the Muslim Samih but his referred to as Sammi or Sam, which are far more Italian and less Muslim sounding. Your granpa could have gotten this the same way.
In a similar vein, my fathers name is the Albanian Fatos-i, but his Greek friends call him either Foti or Fotaki
Another example. I know a guy whose real name is Mehmet, and generally add the -i suffix which almost every Alb gets(for instance, say your name is Ahmet, you would generally be referred to as Ahmeti). He shortened his name to Meti. Some of his Italian friends found his name wierd son they decided to call him Tino instead. He never fought this... but it should show far morphology can go.
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Post by waydawn on Nov 26, 2007 20:39:04 GMT -5
Wow, very interesting!! Question.......was Albania mostly Muslim? What I am trying to grasp is the fact my nephew mentioned to me last Saturday that Great Grandpa was Muslim, or the name was Muslim, so I am having a difficulty figuring this out. Now since Great Grandpa came to USA, he converted to Catholic, was he trying to escape the Muslim religion is my main concern. I am actually trying to figure out why he left, there are thoughts like ...was he a criminal and such. Sad part was he wasn't discussed much. I have a feeling he committed suicide, plus there is no death certificate on him. So the research is not over, I have faith something will arise. Thanks Toskaliku! Wayne
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 26, 2007 21:18:16 GMT -5
Was and still is. If your grandpa had a Muslim name its very likely that he had Muslim heritage.
Conversion is also not an uncommon thing for Albanian diaspora. Albanians Muslims, and from Albania specifically, were not particularly strong. For instance a very famous Albanian nationalist Faik Bej Konica was born into an artistocratic Muslim family(hence the "bej"), however he himself was raised more like a Catholic and his funeral was overseen by an Orthodox priest(another Albanian nationalist, Fan Noli). Some Albanians were closer tied to their Islamic religion then others, your grandpa seems to have been among those. In modern times, some Alb nationalists have proposed the idea of Albs converting en masse to Catholicism, something that was met with lukewarm reception(many found it comical since few see religion as being something of significance) since religion is tied to tradition(hence a Muslim may not be practicing, but he will cherish his religion since it was the religion of his father and grandfather). A recent study of Albs has shown that for many Albs, religion is usually a matter of regionality and tradition. Hence a Muslim is more likely to remain a Muslim if he stays in a Muslim environment(around Muslim family specifically), but may be open to switching if he changes from that environment to one that is of a different predominant faith. Again, your grandfather may have been influenced by this.
What ethnicity did he marry into? It may have played a part in the conversion.
Albanians are also a very opportunistic people and look for any advantage they can get in a given environment.
Unlikely, the time he left corresponds to a time when Albs seem to have first started immigrating to America. Its far more likely that he had the rare opportunity to leave and did so. This was a time when America first started to open links to the Balkans and when Albania was opening up to the west.
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Post by waydawn on Nov 26, 2007 21:47:26 GMT -5
You sure are very knowledgeable in that culture, and I respect your information!
I firmly believe that played part of the conversion of him joining her ethnicity.
Now that is very true, he was a very good provider in the family as my dad mentioned.
Another good point, you are pretty much thinking for many of the immigrants, hence your experience dealing with many. That of course pertains to the many habits of immigrants. I feel better with that.
Again thanks for the valuable info on history of Muslims immigrants. I am awaiting more info hopefully from my uncles, whom will be reading these posts. Wayne
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Post by hellboy87 on Nov 28, 2007 8:28:56 GMT -5
I thought Albania was only 30 to 33% Muslim.
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 28, 2007 12:27:26 GMT -5
Thats what Rexhep Mejdani, former president of Albania, said. He quoted from the Oxford Christian encyclopedia which was based on the basis that 40% or more of Albania was not practicing, and, thus, Agnostic or Atheist. The statement has created some controversy in Albania, though not much.
In reality, if the numbers went by actual practicing people, then it would probably be around 30% religious and 70% or more undecided or Agnostic and Atheist.
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