Reading Greek Old Handwriting Made Easy

Introduction

This article will help you learn how to read Greek handwritten records. It will help you become familiar with variations of handwritten letters of the Greek alphabet, and the difference of records kept in various parts of Greece. You will see the Greek alphabet typed and handwritten.

Two Lists of the Most Common Greek Words Used in Genealogy

• One list includes words of the old Greek language (Kathareuousa). This old language was used on all documents until 1980, and is still in use today by the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece and in other countries.
  • Greek Word List: Words Used in Old Records (Kathareuousa) shows the most common genealogical words, with handwritten versions.
  • For a more complete list of Greek genealogical words (Kathareuousa) visit the Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition Chapter 10 THE LANGUAGE p.135.
• The other list includes words of the modern Greek language (Demotic). This list of words of the modern language will help you when you want to read a letter or the writings behind photographs sent from Greece.
  • Greek Genealogical Word List (Demotic)

Greek Given Names

• A list of the most common Greek given names is also included, to help you recognize them when you see them handwritten in a document.
  • Several Greek Given Names in Handwriting Not every name is given in handwriting. By becoming familiar with the names in this list, you will develop the skills to read the additional names in the following list.
• For more given names visit the Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition Appendix B.

How to Use the Handwriting Samples

Included here are samples of handwritten records of the 1800’s and 1700’s. Each record appears in two copies. One copy has over each handwritten word the word typed. The other copy has each letter typed. This will help you become familiar with the handwriting of the recorder. Some of these samples were chosen from vital records and some from electoral correspondence of the 1843-1865. This will help you become familiar with the handwriting of the person who wrote each letter, who was the clerk of a municipality acting also as recorder of vital records of the towns that belonged to this municipality.

Letters

Lesson One:Tips

Try to recognize one letter at a time. In the samples that follow here, over each handwritten letter has been typed its corresponding printed letter. Try to find in the document something that you already know, such as the date or the name of the place where the record was created. This will help you recognize the letters of this particular writing. If you do not know the date, check in other places of the document where this may appear such as at the bottom, next to the signature(s) where the date or the place are repeated; maybe they appear clearer there. If you do not know the place, maybe it appears on the heading of the document where the name of the place is usually printed. You may want to take note and maybe make a list of the letters that you have recognized so you can refer to this list later. Lesson Two: Reading Old Greek Handwriting Made Easy This handout will teach you to read: Combination of letters Variation of letters Abbreviation of names Abbreviation of words Abbreviation of months Prefix of names Numbers

Lesson Three:

Identifying Greek Handwriting Letters
This handout will teach you to read:

• Substitutes of letters
• Aspiration marks
• Words within phrases
• Numbers

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Samples of Documents: Certificates

Birth Certificate

Marriage Certificate

Death Certificate

Samples of Documents: A Variety of Documents

• Some copies of old Greek documents are used here as samples, to assist you in recognizing the Greek old handwriting. Each document appears in two copies. The first copy of the document has over each word typed the same word. The second copy of the same document has over each letter the same letter typed. This will help in recognizing each letter of this particular handwriting. The various samples that are included here, have each of them a different handwriting, and are of various periods of time. Several samples have been used because the more individual handwritings you get familiar with, the easier you will recognize another person’s handwriting.

KERKYRA BIRTH 1822 by word	KERKYRA BIRTH 1822 by letter
Birth Index 1860 by word	Birth Index 1860 by letter
FTHIOTIS ELECTORAL 1862 by word	FTHIOTIS ELECTORAL 1862 by letter
ATHENS BIRTH 1908 by word	ATHENS BIRTH 1908 by letter
FTHIOTIDOS ELECTORAL 1843 by word	FTHIOTIDOS ELECTORAL 1843 by letter
MAKRAKOMIS ELECTORAL 1843 by word	MAKRAKOMIS ELECTORAL 1843 by letter
ATHENS DEATH 1884 by word	ATHENS DEATH 1884 by letter
HALKIS DEATH 1872 by word	HALKIS DEATH 1872 by letter
PTELEOS ELECTORAL 1856 by word	PTELEOS ELECTORAL 1856 by letter
HALKIS DEATH 1873 by word	HALKIS DEATH 1873 by letter

Translating the Records

For help translating the records into English, see all the help available in Family History Research in Greece, 3rd edition: Here are some important instructions and word lists.

Chapter 10 The LANGUAGE--Link

It’s All Greek to Me ............................................................................................... 127

How to Work With the Language .......................................................................... 127

The Alphabet ........................................................................................................ 128

Diacritic Marks ................................................................................................ 128

About Transliteration ............................................................................................. 129

Transliteration Chart – The Simple Transliteration System........................ 130

Pronunciation......................................................................................................... 131

Diphthongs....................................................................................................... 131

Digraphs........................................................................................................... 131

The Handwriting..................................................................................................... 132

Grammar ............................................................................................................... 132

Greek Genealogical Word List............................................................................... 133

Key Words........................................................................................................ 133

Words Indicating Relation ................................................................................ 133

Words Indicating Birth ...................................................................................... 133

Words Indicating Status of Birth ....................................................................... 133

Words Indicating Baptism ................................................................................. 134

Words Indicating Marriage ................................................................................ 134

Words Indicating Death ..................................................................................... 134

Colorful Expressions for death .......................................................................... 134

Words Indicating Burial...................................................................................... 134

Words Indicating Types of Records .................................................................. 134

General Words......................................................................................................... 135

Chapter 11 NUMBERS AND UNITS OF TIME--Link

Numbers ................................................................................................................. 139

Numbers in Numerical Order............................................................................. 139

Cardinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order .......................................................... 140

Ordinal Numbers in Alphabetical Order............................................................. 140

Numbers in Alphabetic Form............................................................................. 141

Units of Time........................................................................................................... 141

Days of the Week.............................................................................................. 141

Months............................................................................................................... 141

Appendix A GLOSSARY--Link

Greek Words........................................................................................................... 143

English Words......................................................................................................... 145

Appendix B

Appendix B GREEK GIVEN NAMES, THEIR VARIATIONS, ENGLISH EQUIVALENTS AND NAME DAYS--Link