A Wolf in the Family

Bórbala (Barbara) Both was mother’s mother’s mother. She grew up in the little town of Csik Karcfalva in the Hargita mountains of Transylvania. According to Wikipedia it is still a small town. In 2011 it had a population of 2,688, of which (99.67%) are Székely Hungarians. 

Csik Karcfalva fortified church

When she was a teenager, engaged to a young man from a well to do family, her brother brought home a fellow soldier. That handsome soldier Tivador Nagy stole her heart away and they were married when she was 17. She moved 100 km away to her husband’s hometown of Szekelykerestur.

We knew that Bórbala’s father was named Gergely (Gregory) but had no more details. Then this week I received digital copies of the Csik Karcfalva parish registers and was able to track down some of the family records. Gregory was born on September 9, 1838 to Gergely Sr. and Anna Farkas. Her surname is Hungarian for wolf, an appropriate name for Transylvania, the last stronghold for wolves in Europe.

Farkas is the 10^th most popular Hungarian surname but the first instance of the name in our family tree. It is the only name in the top 100 that is the name of an animal.

It is always exciting to add another generation to the family tree. There are lots more images of the parish records and I hope to grow those branches a little further.

BórbalaBoth born 1883 to Gergely Both and Anna Farkas

Gergely Both and Anna Farkas Married 1868

Gergely Both born Sep. 9, 1838

Happy Birthday to Gergely Both and to his 3^rd great-granddaughter who shares the same birthday!