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Nicknames / Karavas

People > Nicknames

Because Kythera was settled in such a way that a few dozen original families spawned the majority of present-day Kytherians, almost every branch of every family had a "nickname" to distinguish it from that of others with the same surname.

The nicknames were sometimes simply the genitive form of a christian name (e.g. "Dimitrelou") or derived from the profession of an ancestor (e.g. "Miliotis" = "Miller") or even describe a physical attribute (e.g. "Koutsaftis" or "Tarzan").

This is the section of the website where you can view the island's nicknames and read about which surnames they are associated with and hopefully where they came from as well.

You can submit to the section by clicking on add to nicknames at the top right.


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People > Nicknames

submitted by Vassilios Mavrogiorgis on 04.12.2012

nicknames

mpotolis-my grandfather evagelos mavrogiorgis had this nickname,i dont know the reason but all the family in caravas they call us mpotolis-mpotolina-and mpotolakia,if u can find something please inform me to let me know,thanks in advance.

People > Nicknames

submitted by Virginia ( Eugenia ) Tzimas Nee Sourrys on 19.10.2011

Kanellis

Kanellis is my grandfather's Nickname
He was from the island Elafonisos, married and Olga
Georgeopoulos (a widow ) from Karavas
He was well known for his bouzouki playing and lived in Karavas till his death

People > Nicknames

submitted by Jim Poulaki Coroneos on 09.04.2006

Karavitika Paratsouklia. A Comprehensive list.

A comprehensive list of 105 names from the town of Karavas, Kythera - with paratsouklia (nicknames).


KARAVITIKA PARATSOKULIA excel.xls


This list has been collated over many years.


Photograph of Poulaki, with wife Aliki, 2005

Photograph ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by Matty Lech (nee, Coroneos) on 29.04.2005

"Douris" - Tzortzopoulos - Karavas

My grandmothermother was a Tzortzopoulos from Karavas.

My mother was Melba Cominos (Melpomeni Kosmas Kominos).

Melba's parents were Anna (Kirranni) Tzortzopoulos Douris from Douranika, and Charles Kosma Komino.

Melba married Chris Coroneos (Christoforos Dimitriou Coroneos) Melasofaos in Goulburn, NSW, on the 3rd July, 1924. A photograph of the wedding party can be viewed at Photography Diaspora, subsection, Weddings and Proxenia. ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 31.03.2005

Karavitika Parachouklia.

As remembered by Con George Poulos Hlihlis, in an imaginary journey through Karavas.

Recited by then 84 year old Con from memory, at the year 2000 Karavitiko.

Καραβήτικες Εντυπώσεις

Ξένοι μιά μέρα σαν βρεθείς
στου Καραβά τα μέρη
θερμά θα σας καλοδεκτούν
νέοι, παιδιά και γέροι.

Κι όλοι θα σε καλέσουν ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 19.02.2005

"Theothosiou" - Souris, Haralmbos, Muvroyeorganika, Karavas.

Parachoukli of Haralambos Souris, "tou Theothosiou", who was was son of George and mother Katarina (to yenos Koroneiou).

They lived in Muvroyeorganika, Karavas, in the lower reaches of some of the "iripia spitia".

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 22.12.2004

"Kourvoulis" - Tzortzopoulos - USA.

Another of the Tzortzopoulos families who emigrated to the USA had the "parachoukli" "Kourvoulis".

My father Con George (Tzortzo)Poulos informs me that their were two brothers, Panayoti and Dimitri (James). Panayoti remained on Kythera, and James emigrated to the USA. He took on the name James Theodore George(opoulos).

Harris George, youngest of 4 children born to James Theodore George - takes up the story:

"My grandfather, Theodore Peter George, had ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 15.04.2006

"Georgakas" - Tzortzopoulos - USA.

At least two Tzortzopoulos families from went to the USA; settling in Baltimore.

The parachoukli of one family was "Georgakas".

I believe it was this Tzortzopoulos who provided for funds for the water pipes to be laid in Karavas, who went by the parachoukli "Georgakas".

Touy Houzouris (nee) George informs me that:

"Papou George went to Greece in 1954 with my cousin Tom George and made preliminary arrangements for the water project. The next ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 30.11.2004

"Tsiboukas" - Tzortzopoulos from Karavas.

Another Tzortopoulos from Karavas lived on the left hand side of the road as you enter Karavas from Ayia Pelagia - near the old Koroneos olive oil factory.

He was expert at a fishing technique called "trutta".

His "parachouklï" was "Tsiboukas".

"Yerasse sto Karava".

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 30.11.2004

"Logothetis" - Tzortzopoulos, Karavas.

My fathers older brother Minas married Frosso Tzortzopoulos. Both Minas and Frosso were from Karavas.

Frosso's family parachoukli was "Logothetis".

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 03.12.2004

"Malyaros". Vangelli Venardos - Karavas.

The parachoukli of Vangelli Venardos, whose 3 daughters were Zuferia, Calliope (the teacher), and Aryiro, was "malyaros".

Probably deriving from an ancestor having a very healthy head of "hair".

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 01.05.2004

Mentis - O Mentis

Parachoukalia arise to help differentiate people within a town or island from one another.

In a town like Karavas, for example, there may have been 6-7 George Tzortopoulos's living in the village at one time. A system had to be devised to determine who exactly was being refered to. Hence George Tzortzopoulos "tou Hihli", or "o Kapetanios" etc. (See other entries for Tzortzopoulos.)

My first grandmother - Georgia - was a Mentis. The Mentis's came from Laffonisi - and ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"O Layos" - "the hare". Theothosios Souris - Gunnedah.

Theothosios Souris, had the parachoukli - "o Layos" - "the hare". He married Kanella Vernardos.

A photo of Theo can be viewed in the Photography Diaspora - Cafes, Shops and Cinemas section. Alternatively search "Souris" with the internal Search engine.

George Souris advises me that his nickname derived from ".....his propensity as a kid to chase hares/rabbits".

Theo and Kanella had four children; in age order - Peter (Tweed Heads), Anastasia (Epping), ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"Tsimboukas" - Tzortopoulos - Katoomba.

The parachoukli for Dimitri Tzortzopoulos - village of origin, Karavas - who may have been the same Dimitri Tzortzopoulos of Roxy Cafe, Katoomba fame - was "Tsimboukas".

I am unaware how the nickname originated.

Again, perhaps descendants who know of/still use the parachoukli "Tsimboukas" can enlighten us as to its origin.

People > Nicknames

submitted by George James Poulos on 05.04.2004

Tzortzopoulos - Katharos - Karava

My father James (Dimitrios) and his younger brother Peter owned the "Niagara" cafe in Katoomba, NSW, during the heyday of the Blue Mountains. Our nickname is Katharos (the clean one!). Even though this appears self explanatory, someone out there could know something more.

George J. Poulos,
Wollstonecraft, Sydney.

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 03.12.2004

"Sihanouli" - Tzortzopoulos. Karavas, Greece, and Katoomba, NSW.

A second Tzortzopoulos family with the nickname Sihanouli is that of Mr George Tzortzopoulos, who settled in the Blue Mountains district of Sydney.
George married Elenie Zantiotis, and she is still alive (March 2004) - aged 99. (Na mus ekatostisi!)
They had two children. The eldest, Theo, lives in Wentworth Falls in NSW.
The youngest, Profesor Harry, features in the High Achievers section of this web site.

George C Poulos.

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"Katsovitha" - Tzortzopoulos - Karavas

The father of John Poulos of Bondi, worked for many years in a cafe in Orange, NSW.

His family nickname was "Katsovitha" -"screw".

One version as to how the parachoukli derived was that an ancestor was constantly changing his life-plans and direction - and hence ended up achieving very little in life.

(Parachoukla are often very blunt and brutal - "Puraksina".)

The analogy was to the way a screw works - it can move in and out - to the left ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"Sihanouli" - Tzortzopoulos - Karavas

The family nick-name of John Poulos, more recently of Karavas, and of Jim Poulos of Sydney is Sihanouli.
The derivation of this nickname which was related to me during my last visit to Kythera was that a male ancestor used to sneak out of the family home to court a a certain female - who had taken his fancy.
He used to sneak in an out of the house - siya siya - ie very quietly - so as not to alert his parents.
Hence the name sihanouli.
It would be interesting if one of ...

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"Papayogigi" - Tzortzopoulos - Karavas

Peter Poulos, father of Lacky Poulos, of La Nita Liquor fame - had the nickname Papayogigi because he father was a priest.

People > Nicknames

submitted by George Poulos on 05.11.2004

"Kapetanios" - Tzortzopoulos -Karavas

The nickname of the Tzortopoulos family - descendants of Minas and Panayoti Tzortzopoulos was/is "Kapetanios".

Minas who lived in Molong, NSW, was held in great respect. When he was not being called "Burr-ba", he was known as "Kapetan-Mina."

Minas and Panayoti are depicted in a Photograph from the Australian Hellenic Historical Society Collection, (AHHS Collection), in Hugh Gilchist's, Australians and Greeks, Vol 1, on page 210.

Descendants, such as Mr ...