Because Kythera was settled in such a way that a few dozen original families spawned the majority of present-day Kytherians, almost every branch of every family had a "nickname" to distinguish it from that of others with the same surname.
The nicknames were sometimes simply the genitive form of a christian name (e.g. "Dimitrelou") or derived from the profession of an ancestor (e.g. "Miliotis" = "Miller") or even describe a physical attribute (e.g. "Koutsaftis" or "Tarzan"). This is the section of the website where you can view the island's nicknames and read about which surnames they are associated with and hopefully where they came from as well. You can submit to the section by clicking on add to nicknames at the top right.
submitted by Peter Makarthis on 06.05.2004
We wish to know the meaning and derivation of this nickname associated with the Fatseas family from which we are descended. Peter and Deanna(nee Psaros/Phacheas) Makarthis See Theodore G.Fatseas in Kythera Cultural Association - Photo Archive.
submitted by George Poulos on 01.05.2004
Parachoukalia arise to help differentiate people within a town or island from one another. In a town like Karavas, for example, there may have been 6-7 George Tzortopoulos's living in the village at one time. A system had to be devised to determine who exactly was being refered to. Hence George Tzortzopoulos "tou Hihli", or "o Kapetanios" etc. (See other entries for Tzortzopoulos.) My first grandmother - Georgia - was a Mentis. The Mentis's came from Laffonisi - and ...
submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004
Theothosios Souris, had the parachoukli - "o Layos" - "the hare". He married Kanella Vernardos. A photo of Theo can be viewed in the Photography Diaspora - Cafes, Shops and Cinemas section. Alternatively search "Souris" with the internal Search engine. George Souris advises me that his nickname derived from ".....his propensity as a kid to chase hares/rabbits". Theo and Kanella had four children; in age order - Peter (Tweed Heads), Anastasia (Epping), ...
The parachoukli for Dimitri Tzortzopoulos - village of origin, Karavas - who may have been the same Dimitri Tzortzopoulos of Roxy Cafe, Katoomba fame - was "Tsimboukas". I am unaware how the nickname originated. Again, perhaps descendants who know of/still use the parachoukli "Tsimboukas" can enlighten us as to its origin.
submitted by George James Poulos on 05.04.2004
My father James (Dimitrios) and his younger brother Peter owned the "Niagara" cafe in Katoomba, NSW, during the heyday of the Blue Mountains. Our nickname is Katharos (the clean one!). Even though this appears self explanatory, someone out there could know something more. George J. Poulos, Wollstonecraft, Sydney.
submitted by George Poulos on 03.12.2004
A second Tzortzopoulos family with the nickname Sihanouli is that of Mr George Tzortzopoulos, who settled in the Blue Mountains district of Sydney. George married Elenie Zantiotis, and she is still alive (March 2004) - aged 99. (Na mus ekatostisi!) They had two children. The eldest, Theo, lives in Wentworth Falls in NSW. The youngest, Profesor Harry, features in the High Achievers section of this web site. George C Poulos.
My Nono - Peter Poulos - was born in Karavas, Kythera - and lived his early life in the house above the Church of Ayios Haralambos - at the end of the "murmaro". Upon emigrating to Australia, he lived in Canberra, where he married Marouli. His nickname was "I Xilos" - which roughly translated means - blended together or well mixed - like a soup. Again, one of his descendants may be able to enlighten us as to how he came to have this nickname bestowed upon him. George ...
The father of John Poulos of Bondi, worked for many years in a cafe in Orange, NSW. His family nickname was "Katsovitha" -"screw". One version as to how the parachoukli derived was that an ancestor was constantly changing his life-plans and direction - and hence ended up achieving very little in life. (Parachoukla are often very blunt and brutal - "Puraksina".) The analogy was to the way a screw works - it can move in and out - to the left ...
The family nick-name of John Poulos, more recently of Karavas, and of Jim Poulos of Sydney is Sihanouli. The derivation of this nickname which was related to me during my last visit to Kythera was that a male ancestor used to sneak out of the family home to court a a certain female - who had taken his fancy. He used to sneak in an out of the house - siya siya - ie very quietly - so as not to alert his parents. Hence the name sihanouli. It would be interesting if one of ...
Peter Poulos, father of Lacky Poulos, of La Nita Liquor fame - had the nickname Papayogigi because he father was a priest.
The nickname of the Tzortopoulos family - descendants of Minas and Panayoti Tzortzopoulos was/is "Kapetanios". Minas who lived in Molong, NSW, was held in great respect. When he was not being called "Burr-ba", he was known as "Kapetan-Mina." Minas and Panayoti are depicted in a Photograph from the Australian Hellenic Historical Society Collection, (AHHS Collection), in Hugh Gilchist's, Australians and Greeks, Vol 1, on page 210. Descendants, such as Mr ...
submitted by George Poulos on 13.01.2005
My Grandfather - Yeoryios Dimitrios Tzortzopoulos` - George James Poulos - was born in Karavas Kythera in the 1860's. His nickname was "Hlihlis". It is a commonly held family myth amongst his descendants - which includes those with family names such as Tzortopoulos, Poulos, Levantis, Peters, Dermatis & Coroneos...to name only a few - that either he or an ancestor had a speech impediment - and because he could not enunciate words properly - was taunted with the nickname - hlihlis.
My Grandfather - Yeoryios Dimitrios Tzortzopoulos` - George James Poulos - was born in Karavas Kythera in the 1860's. His nickname was "Hlihlis". It is a commonly held family myth amongst his descendants - which includes those with family names such as Tzortopoulos, Poulos, Levantis, Peters, Dermatis & Coroneos...to name only a few - that either he or an ancestor had a speech impediment - and because he could not enunciate words properly - was taunted with the nickname - hlihlis. It ...
My great-grandfather, on my maternal side -Theothosios Coroneos - was also called Belos - the beautiful. Most of the Belos Coroneii, such as those in Australia of Optometry, Internet Assocation, and Travel Agency fame derive from Potamos. Theothosios was born and bred in Karavas. I am strongly of the belief however, that when the Family Tree Section of kythera-family.net becomes operational - it will reveal that, say, 3 generations prior - a familial connection exists between the Belos's ...
submitted by George Poulos on 13.03.2004
"Melosofaou" - or "honey-eater" - is also the nickname of the family of Mr James Coroneos, esteemed educator and publisher, past President of the Kytherian Asociation of Australia, and current President of the Karavitiko Symposium, of NSW Australia. James's father was born in Karavas, Kythera. After emigrating to Australia - for many years he operated the Busy Bee Cafe in Gunning in NSW.
submitted by Karlie Vagias on 28.02.2004
Zarmas - Raissis (Fratsia)
Louzis - Cassimatis (Karvounades)
submitted by George Camaris on 27.02.2004
My late grandfather, Georgios Aronis, who had an oyster saloon in Young in NSW in the early 1900's, changed his surname to Camaris meaning in Greek "well admired" - ie na kamaronis.
submitted by Peter Gleeson on 22.02.2004
"Katina" Coroneos family from Karavas. Katina Coroneos married Efstrathios Glytsos in Australia. ...shop in Kygolge NSW for many years ...had a son, Con & daughter Sylvia & I'm Con's son. A cousin of mine last year was in Kythera searching for our Grandmother's (Katina Coroneos) house & eventually found it only by being told to quote the Nickname. I`m sure a common yet worthwhile story. As yet I'm unable to get a old-time story on the "Melosofaou"
submitted by Peter Tzannes on 26.01.2004
Yianni Cassimatis Family
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