Say, do you remember that funny guy by the name of Ernie Kovacs?
Recently, I commenced an online research of my great grandparents with the Kovach name. I am relying on information from my maternal grandmother, who is now deceased, and from my mother. As a child, I remember my grandmother telling me that her ethnic heritage was Czechoslovakian. But, I also remember my mother telling me that my grandmother actually could speak 4 different languages--of which Hungarian was definitely one--I would guess that the other languages would be Czech and Slovakian, but I'm not sure. It would suggest that my grandmother's heritage was not just Hungarian. Every Sunday she would listen to a radio program that I think was Hungarian.
My great grandfather, Mihaly Kovacs, was born August 4, 1864 in a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that would later be known as Czechoslovakia. His name was "Americanized" to Michael Kovach, I assume when he came to the United States.
He married Anna Varchola who was born, as a guestimate, in 1870 in a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that would later be known as Czechoslovakia. It is not known of Mihaly and Anna were from the same town, but it would be rather likely that they did not live too far from each other. Mihaly Kovacs / Michael Kovach died on November 22, 1908 in Pennsylvania.
For my generation, Ernie Kovacs, is definitely the most recognizable person with the last name of Kovacs. Who knows, he may be part of my ancestral family tree!
Anyone who has done much research into their family ancestry, if from Eastern Europe, will know that it can be quite challenging! Names and spellings can be quite varied as often pronunciations often dictated the American spelling; and then, many names were "Americanized" or made more mainstream.
What's interesting about the names in my family's ancestry, is that like Kovach aka Kovacs, some of the names are considered "common" or used extensively.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire at a glance
http://www.beyondbooks.com/eur12/2d.asp
- During the revolutions of 1848, Magyar leaders of Hungary and Czech leaders from Bohemia had asserted their independence from Austrian rule. The Magyar leader LAJOS KOSSUTH helped establish a parliamentary democracy with the passage of the March Laws of 1848.
- Austrian military forces crushed the Czech revolt, but Kossuth's HOME DEFENSE ARMY held firm. Soon afterwards Kossuth was elected president of the new Hungarian republic. But Austrian forces, with the help of 100,000 Russian troops, reasserted control over the defiant Magyars. Kossuth fled to exile in Turkey.
- In 1867, after ruling Hungary for 150 years, Austrians offered the Maygars the promise of equal power. With the passage of the Settlement of 1867, known in Germany as the AUSGLEICH, the Austrian Empire became the AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE, a dual monarchy.
- In a dramatic ceremony in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, the Austrian Habsburg ruler FRANZ JOSEF received the crown of St. Stephen, Hungary's first king. Franz Josef was desperately trying to keep the crumbling empire intact.
- The HABSBURG EMPIRE was now divided into two main territories: the AUSTRIAN EMPIRE and the KINGDOM OF HUNGARY. Both were ruled by the Habsburg monarch, who was centered in Vienna. Austria remained governed by the FEBRUARY PATENT OF 1861, which established a parliament known as the Reichsrat. The March Laws of 1848 governed Hungary.
- Although Austria and Hungary each had a parliament to manage their domestic affairs and those of their respective provinces, a joint cabinet controlled mostly by Austrian and Hungarian aristocrats handled foreign affairs, military affairs, and finances. And though in principle the new empire was a constitutional monarchy, the emperor retained considerable powers, especially that of dissolving the parliaments by fiat.
- The SETTLEMENT OF 1867 (also known as the Compromise of 1867) provided Habsburg rulers with a more stable empire in the short run by securing strength through numbers. The empire retained its place as a great power in Europe. But the heterogeneous nature of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, increasingly anachronistic in an age of nationalism, guaranteed its failure.
- The Magyar aristocracy aggressively pursued a policy of Magyarization, or forcing minority groups such as Croats and Serbs to assimilate into Hungarian society by adopting its language and customs.
- Hungary also sought to further its independence from Austria, provoking EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEF I to suspend the Hungarian constitution in 1903.
- This repression fueled the growth of pan-Slavic terrorist groups such as the Black Hand, which was responsible for the assassination of Austrian ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND in 1914, an event that helped trigger World War I.
Ernie Kovacs
A distant relative?
Ernie Kovacs (January 23, 1919 - January 13, 1962) was a creative and innovative entertainer from the early days of television. His on-air antics would go on to inspire TV shows like Laugh-In, the Uncle Floyd Show, Saturday Night Live and TV hosts like David Letterman.Kovacs is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. His epitaph reads "Nothing in moderation-We all loved him".
For an interesting biography, please read the rest of the story. Wikipedia.
Ernie Kovacs Biography & More
Ernie Kovacs on eBay
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Ernie Kovacs lens
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Ernie Kovacs?
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Many comics today can thank Ernie Kovacs for paving the way for them! He had a type of comedy routine that was the cutting-edge of the 1950s. Well known for his ad-libbing comedy, he is also attributed to inventing many camera tricks that...
More Kovacs
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Kovacs Named People
- Ernie Kovacs
- What an interesting man! He was a creative and innovative entertainer from the early days of television.
- Stefan Kovacs
- A former soccer manager who was the manager of France.
- Frank Kovacs
- An American tennis player in the 1940s; he was known as the "Clown Prince of Tennis."
- László Kovács
- Born July 3, 1939 in Budapest, is a Hungarian politician and diplomat, currently serving as European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union.
- Michal Kovác
- Born August 5, 1930, he was a Slovak politician in the early 1990s (member of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia) and the first president of Slovakia.
- Ágnes Kovács
- Born July 13, 1981, she is a Hungarian swimmer.
- Magda Kósáné Kovács
- Born November 4, 1940 in Budapest, is a Hungarian politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Hungarian Socialist Party, part of the Party of European Socialists.
- Kovacs Genealogy
- Kovacs Family Genealogy Forum.
- Kovacs according to Wikipedia
- What a cool list of lots of Kovacs!
Kovacs Family Searches
- Zbrojníky - RNDr. PhMr. Ladislav Kovács, Mnesická 11, 915 01 Nové Mesto nad Váhom.
- Kovác, Kovács, Kvasnicka ... Banská Stiavnica, Banská Belá, Trencín, Liptovský Mikulás. Ing. Lubos Kovác, Priehradná 465/20, 031 01 Liptovský Mikulás.
- Stefan P. Kovác, Lipová 66/37, 921 01 Piestany.
- Július Kovác, Bzovícka 4, 851 07 Bratislava.
- PhDr. Mária Kovácová, Matúskova 1640/14, 026 01 Dolný Kubín.
- Nitra - okolie - Petr Krouzek.
- We are interested in the family name Kovach but don't have any location except Eastern Slovakia, near Ukraine.
- BODONI-KOVÁC - Margita Kovácová, Velkolehotská 1, 971 01 Prievidza.
- Nové Zámky region - Ing. Luboslava Safrová, Medvedzie 153/36-29, 027 44 Tvrdosin.
- Klenovec - I am researching my family history for my great-grandfathers Stephen (Istvan) Kovac, Pavol Antal, & Ondrej Kolesar and their families. They were born and resided in Klenovec in the mid to late 1800's. I am also searching for information on the Dovica family which resided in Malá Poloma in the mid to late 1800's.
- Kovacs listed in the Industry and trade directory of Hungary in 1891 database.
Kovacs Cemetery Listings
Incredible Site to Visit !!!
Kosice - Verejný cintorín:
Kovács Anna 0 yrs. - June 22, 1916
Kovács Anna 0 yrs. - September 16, 1890
Kovács Anna 20 yrs. - May 24, 1903
Kovács Anna 33 yrs. - September 4, 1916
Kovács Béla 1 yrs. - October 2, 1897
Kovács Gusztáv 1 yrs. - October 12, 1894
Kovács Gyula 0 yrs. - May 1, 1893
Kovács Julia 22 yrs. - November 6, 1904
Kovács Júlia 0 yrs. - January 7, 1897
Kovács Júlia 0 yrs. - September 14, 1895
Kovács Júlia 1 yrs. - January 3, 1920
Kovács Margit 0 yrs. - September 20, 1895
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - August 10, 1892
Kovács Mihály 1 yrs. - November 12, 1890
Kovács Mihály 2 yrs. - June 29, 1900
Kovács Mihály 12 yrs. - September 6, 1897
Kovács Mihály 22 yrs. - May 10, 1941
Kovács Mihály 30 yrs. - February 22, 1890
Kovács Mihály 42 yrs. - December 29, 1943
Kosice - Vojenský cintorín
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - October 9, 1914
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - November 7, 1914
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - October 30, 1916
Kovács Gyula Headstone
Courtesy Cemeteries of Slovakia
Kovács Gyula cemetery headstone courtesy of Cemeteries of Slovakia.dátum pohrebu-kremácie: 01.03.1908
miesto pochovania: Kosice - Verejný cintorín
Find the grave of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add virtual flowers and a note to a loved one's grave!
Slovakia Gravestone Project
What a wonderful project !!!
Those, who take part in the project, are volunteers. Thanks to more than 30 volunteers the SGHS was able to collect transcripts from following, more than 70 cemeteries.
Anna Kovach Daughters
- Anna Kovach - Born October 1900 in Pennsylvania. Left home in 1918. Married Andrew Jason and had 2 sons, Frankie and William, and 2 daughters. Last known address: 1844 West 54th Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
- Julia Kovach - Born October 1, 1905 in Eleanora, Pennsylvania. Father: Michael Kovach. Married Alexander J. Nagy on October 2, 1928 in St. Mary's Church. Had two children, Lillian and Robert John [born May 12, 1931]. She died on April 28, 1978 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetary in Cleveland, Ohio. Section 11, Lot 4640, Grave 1.
- Margaret T. Yaniga - Born October 3, 1913 [her birthday had been thought to be October 13th] in Eleanora, Pennsylvania. Father: Joseph Yaniga. Married William P. Taylor who died in 1974. She had 3 children: David, Cindy, and Karen. She died on July 27, 2007 and is buried on Woodlawn Cemetary in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Me and My Grandmother :: Julia Kovach
Kovach Named People
- Michael Kovach
- Does Your Front End Know What Your Back End is Doing? by Michael Kovach, VP Software Development and Technology. FullTilt Solutions.
Published on iSource Online. - Kovach Cemetary List
- Hungarian/Albany Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Livingston, LA. Submitted by Don Johnson to the LAGenWeb Archives.
- Michael Kovach - WTC List
- On the World Trade Center public list, Michael Kovach was listed as fine, #4186 Wed Sep 12 13:57:46 2001.
- Kovach Obituaries
- ObitFinder, the national resource for obituaries.
Kovach Family Searches
- I am searching for information on a Michael Hrabcak, born October 1854 in Lucina. His parents were Michael/George? Hrabcak and Anna? (possibly Vasco). Michael Hrabcak married Anna Kovach (date unknown) who was born in July 1864 in Sdoba. They came to the U.S. about 1887 and settled in Carbondale, Lackawana, Pennsylvania and then later traveled to Colorado.
- We are interested in the family name Kovach but don't have any location except Eastern Slovakia, near Ukraine.
- Researching the families Tokar, Rubicky, Miller, Kansky, Kovach, Kovacek, Stofcik, Kavuscak, Bacho, Radvansky. Villages: Dlhá Lúka, Zborov, Bardejov.
Kovach / Kovacs Cemetary Listings
Saint Mary Cemetary, PA
Kovach, Anna, b. 1889, d. nd
Kovach, James, b. 1887, d. 1964
Kovach, Joseph E., b. 1914, d. 1969
Kovacs, John F., b. 1911, d. 1941
Kovacs, Joseph J., b. 1913, d. 1973
Kovacs, Rena L., b. 1918, d. nd
Kovacs, Steven L., b. 1915, d. 1945
Czechoslovakia Basics
eBay has Kovacs!
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I love reading your comments! Did you enjoy this lens? Have you been researching your family tree? Any tips you'd like to share? Are you a Kovach or have a Kovach in your family tree. Hey, we might be related! Let me know.
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PuddinTane
Don't forget Dr. Kovac on ER played by Goran Vijnic. I know he's fictional but hey, he's a Kovac. Posted January 20, 2008 |
My Grandparents name were Joseph & Ellen Kovac came to the U.S. around 1900 from Hungary to New York and change last name to Kovach. My parents name John E. Kovach & Vera V. (Landell). From Kalamazoo, Michigan.Mother born in Ft. Wayne Ind. Looking for family hertitage before they came the U.S.A.
Posted January 04, 2008
Very interesting lens. Did you know that the most popular name in Poland - very close to Slovakia and Hungary - (neighbors and friends and former members of Austro-Hungarian empire) is Kowalski?
Best regards,
Ilona
Posted December 28, 2007
Footnote: A challenge indeed!
After the research I've done into the Kovach / Kovacs name, it is apparent that it is a challenge indeed to trace the family lineage for people bearing the name of Kovach aka Kovacs. One has to ask, why is this such a "common" surname shared by so many throughout the same generations in history?I've found an interesting forum, My Czech Republic, that I've become active in. In a reply post there, Sova said, "Kovacs is a pretty common name (like "Smith" in English)."
Another poster, Zeisig, said pretty much the same thing, "Mihály Kovács is a common Hungarian name (kovács means blacksmith)."
And so the search continues ...
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