Greek Ancestry Newsletter

November 2025, Issue 11

We love our Greek Ancestry community and want to keep you up to date!

Besides, who does not need company in their family history journey?

Ancestry Real Stories

Two photos. 47 years apart. One house, one story.

Earlier this summer, we traveled with Dennis Kurlas to his ancestral village in Geraki, Laconia.

Among visits to archives and a stop at the Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta, we made a powerful discovery:



 🏠 The house where Dennis’s grandmother once lived, the very house he had been told no longer existed. And yet, there it stood. We even found the same spot from a 1977 photo of Dennis as a young man and recreated the moment nearly 50 years later.

🔍 Every trip is a chance to uncover history and rewrite the family narrative.

It's a Fact!

Most Greek immigrants adapted their names upon arriving in places like the U.S., Canada, or Australia. Why? To fit in. To be understood. 

Giannakopoulos → Yannos 

Papadopoulos→ Poulos or Pappas

Stavropoulos → Stavros

These name changes are small clues to big stories of migration, reinvention, and identity.

Ever wonder what your family’s name used to be?

Last Name First Said

If your Greek surname is Mageiras, your ancestors probably knew their way around a kitchen.

Coming from the word μάγειρας (cook), this name wasn’t just a label, it was an identity.

In the villages of old Greece, professions often became surnames passed down through generations.

💭 So if you’re a Mageiras, your family may have once stirred the pots that fed an entire community. And who knows? Maybe that legendary family gemista recipe really is centuries old. 



🗺️ The surname Mageiras appears across Greece from Argolida to Samos, and Thessaloniki to Evia and the Cyclades.

🎥 P.S. John Cena vs. Greek Spanakopita. Click & swipe to watch what happened!

Greek Ancestry News

🎉 Big News!

We’re thrilled to share that Gregory Kontos, founder of Greek Ancestry, has been selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 in recognition of his groundbreaking work in Greek genealogy and historical preservation! 🇬🇷📜

From digitizing forgotten archives across Greece to helping thousands around the world reconnect with their roots, Gregory’s mission is now receiving international recognition.

This honor isn’t just personal, it shines a light on the power of heritage, memory, and the stories that make us who we are.

Follow our journey on LinkedIn & stay tuned for more!