So often, name change, especially once the come to the melting-pot called America became a matter of personal preference. Oft time immigrants selected a spelling based upon how it sounded. There will be no hard and fast rule. In 1910, there were two BALSA: BALSA IN SZABOLCS county, 1630 magyar, 567 roman catholics, 641 greek catholic, 354 Calvanist BALSA IN HUNYAD county, 15 hungarians, 1334 romanians, 1333 greek orthodox, 15 Jews. Looks like the first is your village. It sounds like you have not explored the Family History Center. They have church records for BALSA: Anyakönyvek, 1866-1895 Református Egyház, Balsa (Szabolcs) Anyakönyvek, 1813-1895 Görög Katólikus Egyház, Balsa (Szabolcs) Reformed Church register of births, marriages and deaths for Balsa. Greek Catholic Church register of births, marriages and deaths for Balsa. I am certain you will find family in these registers, and perhaps some clues as to their origins and movements. Bill Tarkulich > -----Original Message----- > From: JTa3252718@aol.com [mailto:JTa3252718@aol.com] > Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 3:04 PM > To: SLOVAKIA-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Hnizdil/Zdill > > > I am researching Andrew Zdill (1890-1920). The name Zdill > has turned up very > little information. In the Youngstown, Ohio area I have > found Andrew and > Andrew's wife Lidia Hegedus, Mihaly and Mihaly's wife Maria. > Then the family > seems to disappear. I am wondering if Zdill could have been Hnizdil > originally. Andrew lists Balsa, Hungary as his birthplace. I > am told that > Zdill is not a Hungarian name and probably was an evolved > name. Could anyone > on this list help with this possible name change? > Thanks > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online > genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=> 1237 >