FamilyHistory
Project
[ Letters and messages exchanged between early
researchers are included
to provide an historical perspective of the
efforts
that went into creating this web site. ]
| Family History Project | Guestbook - Page ONE
[ Letters and messages exchanged between early
researchers are included |
|---|
| City, State, Country |
| Email address |
| URL to your web site |
| How'd you find us? |
| Surname spelling(s) |
| Fri, 6 Aug 1999 22:23:16 -0700 (PDT) |
| Stephan Cyriacus |
| Leipzig, Germany |
| Leipzig Cyriacus Family |
| Email from Ben Ciriacks. |
| Cyriacus, Cyriacks, Cyriax, Ciriacks, Kiriakos, et al |
Click here
to see the rest of this large thread.
You should check back into the Cyriax page every few months. It'll contain the most accurate date regarding what I consider to be the oldest form of spelling the family name. The entire Cyriac Family History Project web site has hundreds of pages, images and charts, so check it out to see the history of our name. There's absolutely no doubt that Ciriacks, Cyriacks, Cyriax, Ciriack, Zirjacks, Ciriaco and numerous others are the same name. The question is are we related to each other? I think we all are and have been proving it for the past 30 years.
My method is to merely collect everything mentioning the name, including genealogical data with full names and dates, and then worry about tying it together at some later date. The Cyriax members of the family have the most unconnected branches. I was just working on them this morning and realized I'll have to freshen the way I've listed them on my computer in order to notice relationships much easier. Yours is an entirely new branch, which won't be put on the tree until I have your grandfather's name. Having the names of his children, including your father and mother will help but isn't necessary to connect him to his ancestry.
You are one of the few Cyriax with that form of the name left in the world, apparently. It's about to die out completely in the USA. My records show no 1883 birth but that isn't significant. Send me the exact year, month, day and full names of both your grandfather and his wife, if you have them, and I'll keep track and make a note to let you know when we've tied them into another branch somewhere.
We don't publish information regarding individuals in the family born after 1900 on the web site (there are thousands) but do keep records so that individuals can know their own genealogy.
Over the past four decades, I've concentrated my research on the family history occurring before 1900, mostly the dead members and the appearance of the name, while my oldest brother Jack has been collecting histories and communicating with living members all over the world. He just came back from Canada and is on his way to France to research the French (my mother's) Acadian side of our own family. He's met many of the Cyriax in Germany, Britain and the USA but hasn't met any from South Africa so far as I can recall.
[ In the process of updating my files this morning, a task having been put off for the past two decades, I came across an article in one of our annual family newsletters that stated that one of the British Cyriax said my brother Jack looked just like her other relative, so our relationship is being proved all the time. Those Cyriax, including the world renown Dr. James Cyriax of orthopedic fame, are all descended from ancestors from the Erfurt area of Germany. While the name itself is Greek, our most recent orgins are in Germany. ]
Enough for now. Visit the other pages of the site. Check out what's there regarding the Cyriax and send me more information and questions. I look forward to the feedback - especially regarding questions needing answers that can be placed on the web site itself.
| Wed, 23 Jun 1999 15:36:27 |
| Dieter Cyriax |
| Namibia, Africa |
| Namibia |
| Email from Ben Ciriacks. |
| Cyriax |
I am currently trying to trace my family name CYRIAX. Seeing that it is such an unusual name, it is also much more difficult to find some thing. But let me tell you about myself. My name is Dieter M. F. Cyriax born in 1953 in Swakopmund, Namibia (formally South West Africa). I am of german origin and managed to go back only to my grand father who was born in 1883 in Weimar, Germany. He then came to Namibia where he got married and started a family. Since then our family lives in Namibia. Please tell me more about yourself. It will be nice hearing from you.
20 Sep 2001: If anyone should visit Namibia, they are more than welcome to contact me.
Click Namibia to go to that page for more.
| Wed, 03 Jun 1998 13:44:58 -0500 CDT |
| Ben Ciriacks (To: Paul Ciriacks) |
| Tue, 2 Jun 1998 13:49:03 -0700 (PDT) |
| Paul Ciriacks |
| Long Beach, CA |
| Sat, 23 May 1998 11:48:21 |
| Ben Ciriacks (To: John Ciriacks) |
We obviously need someone in the German branch of the family who can translate to do so on the dozens of web pages that are "GREEK" to me right now.
| Wed, 20 May 1998 12:57:50 |
| John Ciriacks (To: Ben Ciriacks) |
| Mon, 18 May 1998 12:09:56 |
| Ben Ciriacks (To: John Ciriacks) |
I found over a 1000 hits on Cyriac or some derivation thereof (can't remember, now) and only looked at around 300 of them, so there is some stuff out there, especially in the Middle ages forward to be found. I'm concentrating on the Pre-400 A.D. era via the Argos search engine. Enjoy. I would have never believed two weeks ago that this would turn out to be as interesting as it is.
(Oh, yes, if anyone has time, it'd be nice to find some PUBLIC DOMAIN gif files, especially colored maps of the various regions and countries, that could be added to the web site. I don't have the time to do the actual searching, or conversion from .doc to .gif file process, but will download the already ready file and place it at the web site if someone gives me the URL where it's located.)
| Mon, 4 May 1998 12:23:59 |
| Westfall Stephen |
| U. of Marburg, Germany |
Although most villages in the area are and have been Protestant since the Reformation, names of saints sometimes were used. Cyriacus happens to be one of these.
How your family obtained that name is hard to say, since most surnames became established in times when no records were kept or of which none have survived. The genitive ending "-s" seems to indicate that one of your ancestors was a son of Cyriacus and for some reason this became the name for the whole family and all descendants.
By the way, there is a village not far from where I live called Cyriaxweimar.
| 5 May 1998 |
| Ben Ciriacks |
| Milwaukee, WI |
| Ben.Ciriacks.com |
| Sun, 03 May 1998 14:58:06 |
| Ben Ciriacks (To: John Ciriacks) |
Think it would be great for each family, or more specifically, each family member who is interested in maintaining it, to establish their own Web site and pages. ...
Most of the time involved in any web site is spent during the creation process. In our case, that was merely in typing the ... separate files making up the English, German, St. Cyriacus and Ciriaco De' Pizzicoli pages. Once that information is created, it's a fairly simple process to convert it to HTML format for uploading to the site.
... Am more than willing to help others get going or even upload what they have on my site until it gets too full BUT THEY will have to do the initial typing and send it to me as an E-MAIL, preferably in HTML format. I'll edit it for TITLE LINES, underlining, background color and whatever, UNLESS IT'S SENT already HTML formatted and the accompanying text indicates to upload it AS IS. ...
One can get an idea of how I did it by downloading any page, C?X.HTM (or C?X.HTML for those using 4 digit extensions) and look at the code. It's very simple and basic without frames, graphics, fancy coloring or whatever. All that's nice but requires a lot more effort ... and makes editing the text portion of the original document a lot harder.
Well, let me know what gives. Send me material to upload or request specific help about what's needed to upload and maintain your (each CC: addressee included) own web site and I'll do what I can as soon as possible. (..., it's not very difficult for hackers or others with knowledge about computers and web sites to get access to any hidden site - so don't anyone think these are REAL secure sites. They aren't and, therefore, shouldn't contain anything anyone doesn't want the whole [internet] world to know about.)
Signing off at 14:56 CST, Milwaukee, Ben.
| Sat, 02 May 1998 08:56:47 |
| John Ciriacks (To: Ben Ciriacks) |
| Neenah, WI, USA |
Re: St. Cyriacus, I asked Patrick Pondl to look up in German books when he is home about this saint, ...
Sun, 03 May 1998 11:11:39: What you do think of starting a page like the Cyriacks/etc. of Etelsen/Baden, Germany/USA ...? Also for the Theriault family of ...?
| Tue, 24 Feb 1998 11:04:19 |
| Ben Ciriacks (To: John Ciriacks) |
Internet (USA) telephone book searches:
There are 40 Ciriacks and 1 Ciriack ... found in these 11 states:
AZ=1 CA=1 CO=2 CT=1 FL=1 IL=2 KS=1 MN=2 NM=2 NY=1 WI=27
As for Cyriacks, there are 28 in these 13 states:
AK=1 CA=3 CO=1 FL=2 HI=1 KS=1 MN=5 NE=5 NJ=2 NY=4 OK=1 SD=1 WV=1
The 13 Cyriax are reflected in these 7 states:
AZ=2 FL=1 MI=2 NJ=4 BY=2 VA=1 WA=1
30 Ciriaco in:
AZ=1 CA=4 CO=1 FL=1 MD=1 NJ=4 NY=1=2 OH=3 OK=1 TX=1 VA=1
3 Cyriacus: 0 Cyriaks 0 Cyriakus ?? Cyriak(NeedToSearch)
CA=1 NJ=2
| March 24, 1976 |
| Don & Ruth Cyriacks |
| Cypress, CA |
A "happening" enthused us into researching more on Fred and Herman Cyriacks of Hollywood. We thought you might like the genealogical background now. (You may want, to check further.) I'm planning to write a "report" later, when we have more details.
The "happening" took place in a book store in the San Fernando Valley where Don stopped to buy a book for an evening class that he's been attending. The little old lady in the store didn't have the book, so she asked him to leave his name, which he did. When she saw Cyriacks, she wanted to know if he was related to Fred. She had grown up six blocks from Fred's "mansion" and had known him personally; ---and the story she told is what really made us curious.
This is a sample of her story: Fred made his wealth selling women. Every year he went to Germany and brought back a beautiful new "bride" --who always disappeared; --- and young girls never went around his house alone, or they too would disappear. He had the only liquor to be found in the San Fernando Valley during Prohibition Days, and he entertained lavishly. She related him to the mafia, if there had been such a thing at that time.
The following is fact: Our investigation at this point has proven nothing about illegal affairs. He had to have been a very enterprising young man, but from all indications, he did have many beautiful mistresses.
Fred's "mansion" (built in 1919) is still standing, but one really has to look for it in order to find it. It is surrounded by large apartment buildings and commercial property. The present owners, Haig and Margarite S., are the son and daughter-in-law of the original buyer of the estate in 1946. Haig's father paid $60,500 plus costs, and this included seven small rental cottages which are still on the property. We were invited to the S. one evening, and had a very enjoyable visit and tour. They have nice pictures, and some papers of Fred's enterprises which were left at the house.
It appears that Fred came to the USA in 1910. He came to California in 1911 and sold cars and real estate, among other things, to make his fortune. Will write more details on that at a later date.
By the time Fred died in 1940, he had evidently had a set-back in financial affairs, and was a heavy drinker; but his estate was still appraised at $64,700.12. It appears that he had no will, so brother Herman and Faye Maxey were co-administrators of the estate. The estate was split four ways between brothers and sister as follows:
| Herman Cyriacks
4301 Lankershim Blvd. Hollywood, California | Meta Cyriacks Schroeder
72 Olber Strasse Bremen, Germany | |
| Heinz Cyriacks
Bismarck Huette Eisenach, Germany w of Erfurt | George Cyriacks
4 Molken Strasse Bremen, Germany |
Faye Maxey received only co-administrators Benefits.
Fred's probate has 1O44 pages in it, all on microfilm, so needless to say, I spent one day in the Los Angeles archives with that alone.
It appears that Herman did a good job as co-administrator. He moved from Van Nuys to one of the many rentals on Fred's eight parcels of property, and seemed to manage everything. He refinanced property (at a lower rate of interest) that wasn't paid for, and sold it for double the appraised value a few years later. During these years the "mansion" was leased for a restaurant. The probate was closed in l947 with the value of total administered, $l36,334.38.
Herman Cyriacks was born August 5, 1878, and died August 20, l954, of heart disease, at the age of 76. His death certificate listed the same parents as Fred's. He was never married. It didn't say how long he was in the United States, but on Fred's probate records he listed being a citizen of the U.S. more than 14 years in l94O.
Herman's occupation was listed as farmer, so he probably came over around 1899, and "staked a claim", ---I would guess in Ohio, because his estate was willed to his cousin Elizabeth R., Fernwood Drive, Dayton 5, Ohio. (originally she was from New Lebanon) --- or to her children as follows:
Henry Lee R. Maple Street, New Lebanon, Ohio
Ada M. K. Greenview Dr., Dayton, Ohio
Virginia M. M. Patterson Rd, Dayton, Ohio
Ann K. M. Fernwood Dr., Dayton, Ohio
Helen L. P. Parker Ave., West Palm Beach, Florida
By the time Herman died, brother Heinz and sister Meta must have already
passed away too because their notices of Herman's death came back marked,
RETOUR.
In 1950, Herman bought a little block house in Sen Jacinto, ap- praised at $275O.OO, at the time of his death in l954. (It sold for $2490.00) When all was "said and done", cousin Elizabeth received $180.98 cash, one Gentlemen's yellow metal engraved ring valued at $1.00, and one Gentlemen's yellow metal engraved stick pin valued at 25 . Fred and Herman are buried side by side at Forrest Lawn in Glendale, but no "loving wife" is to be found. In fact, to complicate matters, an Audrey Cyriacks was very active in the court records with real estate, etc., in the years following Fred's death.
We're inclined to believe that this family may be connected with the New York Cyriacks, because among the pictures at S. was a beautiful big picture of HY Cyriacks standing in front of his bar, (Hotel and Cafe also in same building) in New York City. HY Cyriacks was in big letters on the building. Shoe shines were 5˘ and the address was 2102. Mrs. S. is originally from New York City, and she said it was probably on Yorkville somewhere in the 80ties.
Enclosed is a copy of Fred's death certificate, a copy of a letter head that was among Fred's letters of the first years in the USA, and a copy of some pictures, --if you can see them! The S. gave us several that they had duplicates of.
All is fine in California, and hope the same for Wisconsin. Our vacation plans are still indefinite.
We'll plan to write more when we've stopped researching. It's been fun! If you have questions, we might have answers.
| March 8, 1971 |
| John Ciriacks |
| Neenah, WI |
Thank you very much for your letter of February 28th. I really appreciate all the help that I am receiving from members of the family. The information you sent is very helpful in piecing together the life of Fred Cyriacks.
Your discovery of Herman Cyriacks (1878-1954) is particularly interesting. As you may have read in the copy of the "Family History" that Don and Ruth have, it is in the pursuit of our great uncle, Hermann Cyriacks (1861- ??), that Fred Cyriacks got into the family story. The Wisconsin relatives read the the story of the movie dog shooting in 1927 (see enclosure) and concluded that Fred was a descendant of Hermann. There is no evidence to support this conclusion, however; another story has Hermann in Missouri. The Minnesota Cyriacks know nothing about Hermann. All we know for sure is that a wooden chest with his name on it is still in West Bend, Wisconsin, along with his baptismal certificate in barely legible German script. It was prepared 20 March 1878, which must have been about the time he was planning to take a boat to the U.S.
Our family lived in Riverside from 1946 to 1950 while my father was stationed in Japan. I'll ask my mother, who now lives in Milwaukee, to see if her friends in Riverside will find out more about Herman (1878-1954).
The five Cyriacks or Cyriaks families located thus far in the United States all originated around Bremen, Germany. Aunt Adela Ciriacks Kleman got a Christmas card from cousin Betty Cyriacks Biermann (age 70) in Bremen. Her, son Herman runs a dairy in the Breman area. We are presently trying to trace the movement of the Cyriacks in Germany and in Europe through a genealogist in Hamburg.
Enclosed are several Xerox copies that I have been waiting to send to Ruth and Don for the California copy of the "History" so maybe you can pass them on to them. My youngest brother, Ben, dug up the 1931 appeal record of the dog shooting judgment. He is in his senior year at the U. of New Mexico. The letter from Fr. Cyriac Puthenpura implies that the migrations of the Cyriacks could possibly go back to Syria (or Greece) around the time the Roman empire broke up.
If you have the time, Harold, or maybe your sisters, I would appreciate the story of your folks life; also any details of your grandfather Brüne Cyriacks' life. Thank you again for your help. I'll keep you informed as the "History" progresses.
| Feb. 28, 1971 |
| Harold J. Cyriacks |
| Arcadia, Calif. 91006 |
By way of introduction, I am the son of Bruno F. Cyriacks of Gothenburg, Nebraska. I have been living in the Southern Calif. area for the past 30 years. My cousin, Donald Cyriacks, gave me your letter of last December and asked me to research and answer your request.
I have searched the Los Angeles County records and have obtained the following information which I hope will be of some value to you;
On Febr. 21, 1946, the property was transferred to Magoug and Katherine S. They appear to be the present owners.
The records, however, indicate that Herman Cyriacks died in Riverside County, California on August 20, l954, at the ripe old age of 76. Do you know anything about him?
It would be necessary to search the files at Riverside to obtain further information on him. Riverside is approximately 65 miles from Arcadia.
A relative, I guess?????
| August 17, 1970 |
| John A. Ciriacks |
| Neenah, WI |
| December 19, 1966 |
| Edna M. Ciriacks |
| Milwaukee, WI, USA |
and Terriau family names. It
indicates the nascent thoughts regarding genealogical research that
eventually resulted in the 
family
picnics in West Bend, Wisconsin.
At Edna'a telephoning, urging
and organizing, the first of those picnics was in 1969 at the old covered
bridge park in Jackson. (The picture shows Ben, Jack & Nancy's
oldest daughter Lynne and Grandpa Al.)
The second, slightly larger reunion among a
dozen or so participants, was on Saturday, September 6th, 1969, also in
Jackson, at Uncle Pete's artesian lake picnic area at the intersection of
highways 60 & 45 - we called him Uncle Pete but he was really our 2nd
cousin once removed. Both of those first two reunions were
fairly small in attendance but large in impact upon the creation of a
record of our family history. {Nannette's future husband Chuck came
to the latter reunion - he having just met her the previous evening at
Octoberfest at the Bavarian Wursthaus in Milwaukee -- she telling him
about the reunion but then not showing up herself.) The 2nd reunion
had the old wooden trunk with the spelling:
(guestbook 1 2 3 names)home|sitemap
Website link/location/URL: http://www.Cyriac-FHP.com/guestbk1.htm