Genealogical research in Eastern Europe is complicated by the changing borders caused by the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of WWI and by the multiple languages spoken in the area. May cites have German, Hungarian and Slavic names. The ShtetlSeeker utility on the Jewish Gen web site is a good tool for locating the current name of a city & viewing a map of it. (Note: Megye means county.)
Here are some cities with multiple names which occur in my genealogy:
Alsokereskeny is now Krskany, Slovakia. Before WWI, Slovakia was part of Upper-Hungary (FelvidŽk) and Hungarian names were used for towns and counties.After 1919, Slovaks changed the names to Slovak. The old county system (zupy) was discontinued about 1922,i.e. Nitra Zupa. Presently the smaller political units are called districts (okresy). DolnŽ Krs^kany (formerly called Als—kšršskŽny in Hungarian) was located in old Nyitra Megye (county in Hungarian), near the town of Nitra (Nyitra in Hungarian). Als— = Lower in Hungarian. Felso" = Upper in Hungarian. Names for towns came in pairs. Near DolnŽ Krs^any (Lower in Slovak) is HornŽ Krs^any (Upper in Slovak).[3] Also'koroskeny is now named Dolne' Krs~kany. This name change came about in or about 1920. It was/is located in the district/okres of Nitra from at least as far back as 1850. This village just 6-7 km south of the city of Nitra. Also' in Hungarian = Dolne' in Slovak = Lower. The Nitra district/okres was a part of the old zupa/county system (to about 1922) by the same name, Nitra. The zupa of Nitra (Nyitra in Hungarian) was formed from Felso/Horna/Upper Nyitra and Also'/Dolne/Lower Nyitra. By 1869 it was Nyitra/Nitra.[4] KRSKANY (HORNE KRSKANY) (long. 4817, lat. 1806) Slovakia; 46.2 miles ENE of Bratislava.[2]
Also'ra'kos was in Nagy-Küküllö Varmegye, Köhalmi jaras. Today's name is Racos, [with a cedilla under the "s"] at 15 km East from Rupea [at S of Odorheiu Secuiesc] in Brasov (or Covasna) County, Romania. Racosul de Jos, Romania is 170km NNW of Bucresti at 45 53' lat, 25 34' long. (near Brasov county).
Bohemia: Czech part of the Austro-Hungrian Empire containing Prague. Famous for it's artistic & eccentric population.
Bereg Megye: Hungarian county containing Munkacs & Beregszasz. Now part of Ukraine.
Beregszasz was in Bereg Megye, Hungary and is now in the Ukraine. It is called Beregszasz in Hungarian and Beregovo in Ukrainian.
Bihar Megye: County in the Austro-Hungarian Empire that contained Debrecen and Nagyvarad. Much of Bihar county is now in Nagyvarad. The Bihor, Hung. Bihar Mountains are in W. cen. Transylvania, Romania, NW of the Transylvanian Alps; highest point ab. 6065 ft [1].
Bratislava: In Czechosovakia. Bratislava (Slovak) is also known as Pressburg (German) and Pozsony (Hungarian). BRATISLAVA (long 48 09; lat.17 07), Slovakia [2]
Gombosovic does not appear to have existed in "old" Hungary; the closest are: Probably Gombosovce [Gombosfalu] in Sa'ros Varmegye, felsö-ta'rczai jaras (now Hubusovce, Slovakia) [49 06 long, 21 13 lat; 198 miles ENE of Bratislava]. Now Vislanka, Slovakia, formerly Gombosfalu (a.k.a. Pusztamezö and Gombosfalva), Sáros. (Alternatively, Gombasiu [Maros-Gomba's] in Also'-Fehe'r Varmegye, nagyenyedi jaras [near Nagy-Enyed]. Today's name Gâmbas, [with a cedilla under the "s"] in Cluj County/Romania, near Mirăslău, at ~8 km West of Ocna Mures, [at South of Turda].)
Iglau, Moravia, Austria (aka Jihlava, Maehren Kroenlande, Austria) is now called Jihlava, Czech Republic. City W. Moravia prov., cen Czechoslovakia; pop (1930) 31,028; mining community, silver mines nearby having been worked since the Middle Ages; textiles & tobacco products[1]. JIHLAVA (long. 4924, lat. 1535) Czech Republic; 68.6 miles SE of Prague[2].
Kalischt Bohemia, Czechoslovakia was Kalischt, Boehmen Koenigreich, Austria during the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. KALISTE (long. 4915, lat. 1518) Czech Republic; 68.5 miles SSE of Prague.[2]
Kispest; Ger. Klein-Pest. City, cen. Hungary; pop (1939) 62,797; a SE suburb of Budapest [1]. Later incorporated into Budapest.
Klado: Industrial city NW cen. Bohemia prov., W. Czechoslovakia, 16 m W of Prague; pop (1930) 20,751; coal & iron mines.[1] Also name of county. KLADNO (long. 5009, lat. 1406) Czech Republic; 16.9 miles WNW of Prague.[2]
Marghita: Long 4721, lat 2220. 270.7 miles NW of Bucharest in Romania
Munkacs was in Hungary and is now in the Ukraine. It is called Munkacs in Hungarian, Munkatsch in German, Mukacevo in Slovak and Mukachevo in Ukrainian. Munkacs is in Ruthenia. Mukachevo (Munkacs), 182 km SSW of Lvov, Hungary, Czech, Ukraine (48 27'/22 43'). [Munkacs & Beregszasz were in (Austria)-Hungary before WWI and then Czechoslovakia. Pre-1919 records at the LDS Family History Library would be under Bereg County (Bereg Megye) Hungary . 19th Century Jewish community records from this period may be in Hungarian or German.] Munkacs was part of Hungary between 895 and 1920, part of Czechoslowakia: 1920-1938, part of Hungary again: 1938-1945, part of Sovietunion: 1945-1992(?), and since 1992(?) part of Ukraine.
Nagyvarad Now Oradea or Oradea Mare; Hung. Nagyvarad; Ger. Grossswardein. City of Transylvania, NW Romania on Koros river near Hungarian Border; pop (1939 est.) 80,872; industrial and commercial center in grape-catherdrals; also a cultural center. A very old town; its bishopric founded by St. Ladislas in 1080; destroyed by Tatars 1241; passed to Transylvania 1556 for short time, held by Turks 1660-92; after World War I ceded to Romania but again held by Hungary during World War II 1940-45.[1] Was in Bihar Megye (county) in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Ruthenia Region south of the Carpathian mountains. Part of Hungary before WWI and 1939-1945; a province of Czechoslovakia 1918-1938. To USSR in 1945. Today, in western Ukraine (Zakarpatska Oblast).
Szabolcs Megye: Hungarian county containing Ujfeherto & Mezoladany. Capital is Nyiregyhaza.
Sudetanland is a region which no longer exists but which corresponds to areas of the Czech Republic and Poland.
Topolyhanusfalva (village) or Hanusfalva [or Hanussowce in slovak language] was in the "old" -pre WWI- hungarian Sa'ros Varmegye, Gira'lti jaras/district. Today's name: Hanusovce nad Toplou in Slovak Republic (giraltovce district). 49 02 long, 21 30 lat. 209 miles ENE of Bratislava.
Transylvania: Region bounded by Carpathians and Transylvanian Alps. Under Austrian rule since 1765, province of Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867-1918. Became part of Romania following WWI. Today, in western Romania.
Ujfeherto Commune, NE Hungary, 19 m. N or Debrecen; pop 14,694 [1]. Village in Hungary in the Szabolcs district. UJFEHERTO (long. 4748, lat. 2141) Hungary 122.7 miles E of Budapest[2].
Sources
[1] Websters Geographical Dictionary.
[2] ShtetlSeeker.
[3]E-mail from Frank Kurc^ina, frankur@worldnet.att.net 5/98
[4]E-mail from Valhalla@win.bright.net 5/98
3 July 2001; pml