I have followed the conversations about being Bohemian/Czech with great interest. Having done genealogy for a number of years, I am somewhat familiar with that controversy , however, I still have a question which reflects on my Czech heritage. As we all know, Czechoslovakia was originally made up of the "states" of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. It seems that most immigrants of Czech heritage living outside of Texas didn't particularly object to being called Bohemians (because their ancestors emigrated from the "state" of Bohemia. The vast majority of Czechs in Texas, however, are of Moravian heritage. In previous generations, in Texas, to call a Moravian a Bohemian could easily provoke a fight (although not all Moravians had this objection). I understand that, prior to the creation of Czechoslovakia, both, Moravians and Bohemians could rightfully be called Austrians/Austria-Hungarians. I also understand that, on ships passenger lists and on census forms the term Bohemian was often used (by officials who did not know the difference). I am wondering to what extent Moravians in Moravia objected to being called Bohemians.

And I'm going to answer this with a big smile -- I would guess Moravians in Moravia definitely objected to being called Bohemians -- if that term was ever used in Moravia (I doubt that -- from what I understand, Bohemian is not a name used to describe people from Bohemia - except in America where we don't know better. It's important to remember that even though a word or term or expression is used over and over again, it does not make it correct. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 11:22 AM Subject: [CZ] Being Bohemian > I have followed the conversations about being Bohemian/Czech with great > interest. Having done genealogy for a number of years, I am somewhat > familiar > with that controversy , however, I still have a question which reflects on > my > Czech heritage. As we all know, Czechoslovakia was originally made up of > the > "states" of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. > It seems that most immigrants of Czech heritage living outside of Texas > didn't particularly object to being called Bohemians (because their > ancestors > emigrated from the "state" of Bohemia. > The vast majority of Czechs in Texas, however, are of Moravian > heritage. > In previous generations, in Texas, to call a Moravian a Bohemian could > easily > provoke a fight (although not all Moravians had this objection). > I understand that, prior to the creation of Czechoslovakia, both, > Moravians and Bohemians could rightfully be called > Austrians/Austria-Hungarians. > I also understand that, on ships passenger lists and on census forms > the > term Bohemian was often used (by officials who did not know the > difference). > I am wondering to what extent Moravians in Moravia objected to being > called Bohemians. > > > ==== CZECH Mailing List ==== > Please do not repost the whole digest when replying to mail. > >

I can't imagine that anyone in Moravia would be called Bohemian, it's an entirely different area. It would be like calling a Georgian a Floridian. It wouldn't happen. Elaine Research: What I'm doing, when I don't know what I'm doing. Hello CWarschak On Friday, April 14, 2006, you wrote > I have followed the conversations about > being Bohemian/Czech with great > interest. Having done genealogy for a number > of years, I am somewhat familiar > with that controversy , however, I still have a > question which reflects on my > Czech heritage. As we all know, Czechoslovakia > was originally made up of the > "states" of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. > It seems that most immigrants of Czech > heritage living outside of Texas > didn't particularly object to being called > Bohemians (because their ancestors > emigrated from the "state" of Bohemia. > The vast majority of Czechs in Texas, > however, are of Moravian heritage. > In previous generations, in Texas, to call a > Moravian a Bohemian could easily > provoke a fight (although not all Moravians had this objection). > I understand that, prior to the creation of Czechoslovakia, both, > Moravians and Bohemians could rightfully be > called Austrians/Austria-Hungarians. > I also understand that, on ships passenger > lists and on census forms the > term Bohemian was often used (by officials who > did not know the difference). > I am wondering to what extent Moravians in > Moravia objected to being > called Bohemians.

Both of my paternal lines in Texas were descendents of Moravians. Growing up and for over 45 years I thought we were Bohemian. My grandmother insisted we were Bohemian and used the word Bohunks. I found out 5 years ago we were Moravian. I hadn't even heard of Moravia till I started my research. My mom and dad hadn't heard of Moravia. Early on, most that married into the Dlabaja and Filip lines were Moravian. The only one I'm not sure about is my gr grandmother Mary Vymola Dlabaja. I haven't located anything about her family. I do have a feeling she was Bohemian as they were married in Praha, Fayette Co, Texas. I have read that a lot of the original Czech in Praha, Fayette Co were Bohemian.. We don't have any idea why gr grandpa was in Fayette Co when all of our anscestors were in Burleson and Lee counties. Kathleen Dlabay Makiewicz ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 11:22 AM Subject: Being Bohemian << SNIP>> > The vast majority of Czechs in Texas, however, are of Moravian heritage. > In previous generations, in Texas, to call a Moravian a Bohemian could easily > provoke a fight (although not all Moravians had this objection). <<SNIP>> > I am wondering to what extent Moravians in Moravia objected to being > called Bohemians. >

Kathy, I have a very similar situation. All of my paternal (post immigration) side of the (BACAK) family insists that they are "Bohemian", when in fact as I finish up my first volume of our family research "book" I can say that at least as far back as 1700, none of our family was born outside of Moravia---as backed up by documentation. I have no idea where they got the idea that they were Bohemian from. As a matter of fact, you can't get much further away from Bohemia (in what is now collectively the Czech Republic) and still be in the country. My family came from a small village located literally up against the Beskydy/Carpathian Mountains in Moravia, on the furthest opposite side of the country from Bohemia. This is part of why I have put the report together for our family, to clarify this and many other subjects related to our Moravian heritage. When I started, I knew the least about it (due to complicated circumstances) and now I know more than the rest of the family about our specific ancestral history. :-) Richard -----Original Message----- From: Kathy [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 1:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Being Bohemian Both of my paternal lines in Texas were descendents of Moravians. Growing up and for over 45 years I thought we were Bohemian. My grandmother insisted we were Bohemian and used the word Bohunks. I found out 5 years ago we were Moravian. I hadn't even heard of Moravia till I started my research. My mom and dad hadn't heard of Moravia. Early on, most that married into the Dlabaja and Filip lines were Moravian. The only one I'm not sure about is my gr grandmother Mary Vymola Dlabaja. I haven't located anything about her family. I do have a feeling she was Bohemian as they were married in Praha, Fayette Co, Texas. I have read that a lot of the original Czech in Praha, Fayette Co were Bohemian.. We don't have any idea why gr grandpa was in Fayette Co when all of our anscestors were in Burleson and Lee counties. Kathleen Dlabay Makiewicz ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 11:22 AM Subject: Being Bohemian << SNIP>> > The vast majority of Czechs in Texas, however, are of Moravian heritage. > In previous generations, in Texas, to call a Moravian a Bohemian could easily > provoke a fight (although not all Moravians had this objection). <<SNIP>> > I am wondering to what extent Moravians in Moravia objected to being > called Bohemians. >