Simatacolos Family Page
I am researching the Simitacolos (also known as "Semitekolos", "Semitecolos" and "Simitopoulos") family from Smyrna, Asia Minor (present-day Izmir, Turkey).My grandfather, Philip Simitacolos (later known as Philip Sassos), emigrated to the United States just prior to World War I, but very little is known about the family he left behind.He returned to Smyrna in 1920 to marry Vasilia Georgiadou and they left for the United States shortly after their wedding. Specifically, I'm trying to find out what happened to his parents, siblings and other relatives that remained in Smyrna. Less than two years after their marriage, the Turks burned the city to the ground and forced the entire Greek population to leave Asia Minor.Upon arriving in Greece, the surname of those refugees from Smyrna was changed to "Simitopoulos". Philip's father, Yanni Simitacolos, owned a building materials factory with a Mr. Kasimis (a copy of its letterhead is on this page).It was located across from the Armenian catherdral in Smyrna. Sometime in the mid-to-late 1800s, the Simitacolos family came to Smyrna from the island of Kythera (also known as "Tserigo" - located directly south of the Greek mainland).It is believed the move was business-related.The family is descended from Biagio Semitecolo, the first Venetian governor of Kythera.Those that remained on Kythera kept the original surname of "Semitecolos" or "Semitekolos" and the name is still found on the island today. Any information you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated. | Simatacolos Family Page Updated September 22, 2006 |
JimSimatacolos | |
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