Den wrote: > > Hi group, > > I am looking for the origin of a family by the name of Berkova. My great > grandmother was Mary Berkova, does any one have an idea on a region where > this family could have come from? Any information would be great. > thanks > Denis Markovich > markos@in-tch.com One of most common Slavic surname affixes is the one denoting gender of the bearer -ova, -owa (Polish), and -oba (Russian). As a rule of Slavic grammar, female surnames end in -a, -ska, or -ova. The feminine form of the surnames is considered merely a separate form of same surname, not a distinct surname in itself. Have to assume you are seeking the surname Berk or Berko, rather than Berkova. Having said that, Berkova can be a Czech-Bohemian surname. If your great GM emigrated to U.S. in what year ? 267 surnames Berk emigrated to U.S. via Ellis Island (NYC) 1892-1924. And 133 surnames Berko as well. v Frank Kurcina