My noble Tóth family of Tiszadob, Hungary

My Tóth family's nobility is old, and the family is very distinct. They were given their nobility in 1580 by King Rudolf I of Hungary, also Holy Roman Emperor and was from the house of Habsburg. It was granted to four (4) brothers: Imre (Emerich), Benedek (Benedict), Jakab (Jacob) and Ambrúzs (Ambrose). You can see my previous blog entry HERE containing their patent of nobility.

Currently, the only know line of Tóth's to be descendants of these four brothers, resided in Tiszadob, in Szabolcs megye, Hungary. They were living in Tiszadob as early as 1725, and sometime prior to that they were from the Külsõ-Szolnok megye area (now known as the Heves megye area). It's to the south-west of Tiszadob, and not all entirely that far.

The family began small, with a single known progenitor in 1725 being a Mihály Tóth. Through my research, he has two known sons:
*István Tóth (abt1709-1786)
*Mihály Tóth (abt1716-1794).

István's wife, known from death/burial records from Tiszadob, is an Erzsébet Csetneki (abt1721-1789). Csetneki is not a known family to have lived in Tiszadob around the time they would have married, so I've made the assumption that Erzsébet must have been from a neighboring village. Mihály's wife is unknown.

According to a 1750 document about the family, which can be found in the Lelesz convent archives in the old Zemplén county, it gives this very small and brief explanation of the family: "Tóth István, Mihály fia, és Mihály, István fia". This essentially means that István had a son named Mihály, and Mihály had a son named István. This helps.. a lot!

My direct paternal line of descent for my g-g-grandmother Eszter Tóth, ends with two Mihály Tóth's. They also used the additional name of Boros, to help distinguish them from other noble and non-noble Mihály Tóth's in the town. They would appear as "Boros Tóth Mihály". The eldest died in 1818 at the age of 66, estimated birth would be abt 1752. He fits perfectly to be the son of the above mentioned István, who had a son Mihály.. although he was allegedly born two years after the document was created. This is a problem. After conducting my Tiszadob researching (and I'm STILL conducting research in Tiszadob), I've come to the conclusion that my Mihály is either a namesake for his elder sibling that died young.. or his estimated age is an error on his death record. Around the time he died, Tiszadob was notorious with giving incorrect ages on marriage records.. so why couldn't that be the case for deaths as well? I believe that's the case.

The direct maternal line of descent of my g-g-grandmother Eszter Tóth is also a noble Tóth line from Tiszadob. Yes, her father and mother were cousins.. 4th cousins. As you're guessing, Eszter.. through her mother.. descends from Mihály, who had a son named István. István was born about 1736 and died 1798. He was married to an Erzsébet Porkoláb, another noble family from Tiszadob. She was born about 1741 and died in 1788. Through them, I descend from another Mihály born around the same time as Mihály Boros "Jr". I can safely assume that this line of descent is correct, since Mihály Boros "Sr" wouldn't have had two sons with the first name Mihály. This wasn't the von Reuss family of Germany, who named all their male children Heinrich in honor of Heinrich VI, Holy Roman Emperor... yes, every single one of them. Talk about a boring and probably difficult family tree. haha

I haven't found any other mentions of a Tóth family in Hungary descending from these four original brothers, other than my Tiszadob Tóth's. If you believe you may descend from these four brothers, please contact me with your research!

Patent of Nobility - Imre, Benedek, Jakab & Ambrúzs Tóth - 26 Feb 1580

NOS RUDOLPHUS Secundus Dei Gratia Electus Romanorum Imperator Semper Augustus ac Germaniae, Hungariae, Bohemiae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Sclavoniae, Ramae, Serniae, Gallitiae, Lodomeriae, Cumaniae, Bulgariae, & REX Archidux Austriae, Dux Burgundiae, Brabantiae, Styriae, Carinthiae, Carmolae, Marchio Moraviae, Dux Lucemburgae, ac Superioris de Inferioris Silesiae, Wirtembergae & Thekae, Princeps Sueniae, Comes Habspurgi, Tyrolis, Ferretis, Kyburgi & Goritiae, Landgravius Alsatix, Marchio Sacri Romani Imperii, Supra Anasum, Burgouia, ac Superioris & Inferioris Lusatiae, Dominus Marchiae Sclavonicae, portus Naonis & Salinarum. Memoriae commendamus tenore praesentium significantes quibus expedit universis, Quod nos cum ad nonnullorum fidelium nostrorum Praelatorum et Baronum humilimam supplicationem, nostrae propterea factam Maiestati, tum vero attentis & consideratis fidelitate et fidelibus servitiis fidelium nostrorum EMERICI, BENEDICTI, JACOBI et AMBROSY THOT, fratrum carnalium, quae ipsi Sacrae primum regni nostri Hungarie Coronae, et deinde Maiestati nostrae pro locorum et temporum varietate fideliter exhibuisse et impendisse, et in futurum quoque exhibere et impendere velle dicuntur. Cum igitur ob id, tum vero ex gratia et munificentia nostra Regia, qua quosque de Nobis et Republica Christiana benemeritos et virtutis colendae studiosos, antecessorum nostrorum Divorum quondam Hungariae Regum exemplo prosequi eisque certa virtutum suarum monumenta, quae ad maiora quoque praestanda eos incitare possent, decernere consuevimus. Eosdem EMERICUM, BENEDICTUM, JACOBU et AMBROSIUM THOT, de siatu et conditione ignobili, in qua hactenus perstitisse dicuntur, de Regae nostra potestatis plemtudine & gratia speciali exemptos, in Coetum et numerum verorum atque indubitatorum regni nostri Hungariae Nobilium duximus cooptando annumeran et adscriben. Annuentes et ex certa nostra scientia amimoque deliberato concedentes, ut ipsi a modo in posterum futuris semper et perpetius temporibus, omnibus illis gratis privilegis bororibus, indultis, libertatibus, juribus, prerogativus immunitatibus, quibus caeteri veri regni nostri Hungariae et partium ei subiectarum Nobiles; hactenus quomodolibet de iure vel consuetudine usi sunt et gauisi, ut unturque et gaudent, uti frui et gaud ere possint et valeant, heredesque et posteritates ipsorum utriusque sexus umuersae valeant atque possint. Inc cuius quidem nostra erga ipsos exhibitae gratiae & clementiae, ac liberalitatis testimonium, veraque nobilitatis signum hec arma sine nobilitatis insignia. SCUTUM vegt militare erectum rubei coloris, cuius in ima parte est brachium seu manus Thurcica, veste caesy coloris induta, ac tenens feria _rmeam nudam, in acumine caput hungaricum cruentum habentem. Scuto incumbit galea militaris clausa _leae supereminet ___ decus Corona, ex qua druidius Angelus, veste colestini coloris annctus, ac alas extergas colestini, rubei et aurei coloris, crucemque supra caput habens assurgit. A summitate vero galea lacini seu lemnisci hinc aurei et coelstini, illinc vero albi et rubei color ad utranque Scuti oram optime defluent, illudque dec_r et apposite exornant, Quemadmodum hec omina in capite seu principio praesentium Literarum nostrarum, pictoris manu et artificio propris suis coloribus recte depicta esse cernuntur. Eisdem EMERICO, BENEDICTO, JACOBO et AMBROSIO THOT, ipsorumque haeredibus & posteritatibus utriusque sexus universis gratiose danda duximus & conferenda : Decernentes, et ex certa nostra scientia animoque deliberato concedentes, ut ipsi amodo imposterum futuris semper perpetuis temporibus, eadem Arma nobilitatis insignia, injfar aliorum Regni nostri Hungariae et partium ei subiectarum Nobilium, sub bis iuribus, prerogatiuis indultis, libertatibus et immunitatibus, quibus ijdem uel natura uel consuetudine usi sunt & gauisi utunturque et gaudent ubique in paelijs, certaminibus, bastiludijs, torneamentis, duellis, monomachijs, ac alijs omnibus et quibusuis exercicijs militaribus et Nobilitaribus, nec non sigillis, uelis, cortinis, auleis, annulis, vexillis, clypeis, tentorys, domibus. Generaliter vero in quarumlibet rerum et expeditionum generibus, sub merae et syncerae Nobilitatis titulo, quo eos ac haeredes ipsorum utriusque sexus universos, ab omnibus cuiuscumque status, conditionis et praeminentiae homines existant dici nominari, haberique et reputari volumus, ferre gestare illisque uti, frui et gaudere possint et valeant, haeredesque et posteritates ipsorum utriusque sexus universae, valeant atque possint imo damus et concedimus praesentium per vigorem. In cuius rei memoriam firmitatemque perpetuam, presentes literas nostras Secreto sigillo nostro, quo ut Rex Hungariae utimur impendenti communitas; Eisdem EMERICO, BENEDICTO, JACOBO et AMBROSIO, ipsorumque haeredibus et posteritatibus utriusque sexus universis dandas duximus et concedendas. Datum manus fidelis nostri nobis dilecti, Reverendi Georgy Draskowyth, Electi Archiepiscopi Colocen ac Aepiscopi Jaurien, Locique eiusdem Comitis perpetui, Consiliary Aulae nostrae summi Cancellary in arce nostra Regia Pragensj vigesimo sexta die mensis February. Anno domini Millesimo Quingentesimo Octogesimo Regnorum nostrorum Romani quinto, Hungariae et aliorum octavo, Bohemiae vero anno similiter quinto. VENERABILIBUS in Christo patribus dominis Praefato Georgu Draskowyth Colocensis et Bachien, Aecclesiarum canonice unitarum Aelecto Archiepiscopo, Stephano Radecio Agrien, Joanne Monozloy Zagrabien, Gregorio Bornemiza Waradien, Nicolao Telegdino Quinque Aecclesien, Stephano Feierkewy Wesprimien, eodem Georgio Draskowyth Jaurien, Balthasare Melegh Chanadien, Zacharia Mossoczy Wacien, ae fratre Michaele de Cztino Electo Segmen, necnon Administratore Modrusien Ecclesiarum Episcopis Ecclesias dei foeliciter gubernantibus, Strigonien Metropolitana, Transylvamen, Nittrien, Sirmien, Boznen et Tinimen Cathedralibus sedibus vacantibus. Item Spectabilibus et Magnificis Comite Nicolao de Barhor, Indice Curiae nostre, Christophoro Wugnad Regnorum nostrorum Dalmatiae, Croatiae, et Sclavoniae Bano, Comite Georgio de Zrino Tauernicorum, Ladislao Banffy de Alsolyndwa Agazonum, Balthasare de Batthyan Dapiferorum, Emerico Czobor Cubiculariorum, Michaele Reway Janitor, Joanne Krwsyth de Lwpoglaw Curiae nostrae & Michaele Warday Pincernary nostrorum Regalium Magistris Comite Nicolao a Salmis et Newburgh Comite Posonien. Caeterisque quamplurimis regni nostri Comitatus tenen et honores.
RUDOLPHUS

Patent of Nobility - Gusztáv Grimm de Szepes-Etelvár - 01 July 1886

Mi Első Ferencz József, Isten kedvező kegyelméből Austriai Császár, Magyar, Cseh, Dalmát, Horvát, Tót, Halics, Ladomér, Ráma, Szerb, Kún és Bolgárországok apostoli, úgy Illyria, Jeruzsálem stb. Királya, Austria főherczege, Tocsana és Krakkó nagyherczege, Lotharingia, Salzburg, Steyer, Karantha, Krajna és Bukovina herczege, Erdély nagy fejedelme, morvai őrgróf, Felső és Alsó Szilézia, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Quastalla, Osviecim? és Zára stb. herczege, Habsburg, Tyrol, Kyburg, Görz és Gradiska grófja, Hohenembs, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg stb. grófja, Triest, Cattaro és a szláv őrgrófság Ura stb. Emlékezetül adjuk czennel tudatván mindenekkel, kiket illet: Hogy Mi Személyünk körüli magyar Ministerünk előterjesztése folytán, kegyelmes, tekintelbe, és figyelembe vevén GRIMM GUSZTÁV őrnagy-hadbiró Hivünknek, Felségünk és Felséges Uralkodó Házunk izánti állandó hüségét és azon irdemeit, melyeket ő közös hadseregünkben 27 évi szolgálata közben jeles és kitüno tevékenysége által magának szerzett; figyelembe vevén különösen azt, hogy ő fennebb érintett folytonos hadbirósági alkalmazásában kiválo szakértelmet, erélyt és tapintatol tanusitván, kötelmeinek mindenkor teljesen eleget tett; s sikeres müködéseért Ferencz József rendünk lovagkerestjével is lett jutalmazva, tekintettl végre azon rendithetlen hüség és ragaszkodására, melylyel Felségünk és Felséges Uralkodó Házunk iránt minden körülmények között viseltelett, nevezett GRIMM GUSZTÁVOT és általa hites nejétől születt SZEPESSY ETELKA bárónőtől származó LAJOS GYULA EHRENREICH



és HUBERT MIKLÓS ÁDÁM nevü fiaitss MÁRIA KAROLINA ANTONIA nevü leányát s Isten áldásából netán ezután születendő mindkét nembeli valamennyi törvényes ivadékát és matadékát, mind az imént emlitett kiváló érdemekért, mind pedig királyi kegyelmünk és kegyelmességünknél fogva, melylyel dicső emlékezetü Elődeink, a boldogutt magyar Királyok példájára mind azt, ki Felségünk és Felséges Uralkodó Házunk és Magyarországunk szent koronája izánt szép, jó és nemes tettek által maganak érdemeket szerezni és the erény ösvényét követni törekozik, jutalmazni és hathatós buzditásul a jutalom kitünő és maradandó jelével és emlékével feldisziteni szoktuk, királyi hatalmunkból és különös kegyelmünk és kegyelmességünkból Magyarországunk és társországai valóságos, igaz, régi és kétségtelen nemesei közé és sorába a "SZEPES ETELVÁRI" előnév használhatásának engedélyezése mellett felveendőnek tartottuk, begselsőbb királyi akaratunk szerint kegyelmesen megengedvén, hogy ezentúl jövendő örök időkig fennevezett GRIMM GUSZTÁV s mindkét nembeli valamennyi törvényes ivadéka és maradéka a "SZEPES ETELVÁRI" előnév használata mellett mind azon jágokkal élhessen és birhasson, melyekkel emlitett Magyaroszágunk és társországainak valóságos, igaz, régi és kétségtelen nemesei eddig elétörvény, vagy hajdani szokás szerint bármikép éltek és birtak, vagy élnek és birnak. Mely iránta tanusitott legfelsőbb királyi kegyelmünk és kegyelmességünk bővebb tanuságául s a valoságos, igaz és kétségtelen nemesség örök idők, ig fennmaradandó jeléül Neki és mindkét nembeli valamennyi törvényes ivadékának és maradékának következő czimert, vagy nemesi diszjett, adtunk és engedtünk: Egy álló vitézvért, hasozában félig, keresztben egészen átvágva, felső ezüst és arany s alsó kék mezőkre asztva; az első felső ezüst mezőben arany koronán befelé forditott meghajlott jobb kar könyökén nyugszik, mely arany markolatu kardot maga fölött forgat s arra levágott vérző törökfő van áttüzve; a másik felső arany mezőben vörös grifkeselyü felállva jobbra lépdel, és maga elött ezüst buzogány tart; a hazmadik alsó kék mezőben talapzat széléből zöld házmas hegy emelkedik fel, s annak közép telején arany korona van, melyből ezüst szinü egyszarvú arany szamval, lábkörmökkel és sörénynel nő fel, s előlábain arany koronát hord. A vitézvért felső főszélén koronázott nyilt lovagsisak nyugszik, melyről jobbra kék ezüst, baba vörös arany sisaktakarók diszesenfüggenek alá, a sisak



arany koronájábó ugyanazon ezüst szinü egyszarvú nőki; előlábain arany koronát tartván. A vért alatt kék szalag vonul körül, melyen arany nagy betükkel e jelmondat van irva: "AUDAX ET FIDELIS." Kegyelmesen elhatározván és megengedvén továbbá, miszerint ezen czimert, vagy nemesi diszjelt, jövendő örök időkig többször nevesett és ezentúl már nemes SZEPES ETELVÁRI GRIMM GUSZTÁV mindkét nembeli valamennyi törvényes ivadékai és maradékai val együtt Magyarországunk s társarszágai valóságos, igaz gyökeres és kétségtelen többi nemesei ként mind azon joggal, melylyel ugyanazok törvény, vagy hajdani szokás szerint éltek és birtak, vagy élnek és birnak, viselhesse és használhassa ezen valóságos, igaz és ketségtelen nemesi czimmel hogy őt és mindkét nembeli valamenyi törvényes ivadékát és maradékát minden rendü, állapotu, hivatalu, méltóságu és tekintetü egyének felruházottnak s diszesitettnek tartsák és ismerjék nemcsak akarjuk, de kegyelmesen parancsoljukis. Minek emlékül és örök jeléül többször emlitett SZEPES ETELVÁRI GRIMM GUSZTÁVNAK s mindkét nembeli valamenyi törvényes ivadékának és maradékának apostili magyar királyi függő pecsétünkkel megerősitett jelen czimeres nemesi kiváltság levelünkel tartottuk kegyelmesen kiadandónak és engedendőnek. Kelt a Mi őszintén kedvelt Hivünk, nagyságos báró Orczy Béla, valóságos belső tilkos tanácsos, a vaskorana rendünk első osztályi lovagja, a magyar királyi Szent-István rend köszékeresztese; a norvégiai Olapés a bajor polgári érdemrend nagykeresztese; a porosz vörös sas és a porosz koronarad első osztályu lovagja; III Károly nevü spanyol királyi és perzsa nap és oroszlánred nagykeresztese; bölcsészeti és jogtudor és Személyünk körüli magyar Ministerünk kezei által, Schönbunnban Ausztriában Szent-János hava első napján, az Ur ezerny olczszázny olczvanhatodik, Uralkodásunk harmincznyokczadik évében.
Ferencz József s.k.
Báró Orczy Béla s.k.

János Cserpák, Part 2

Three months ago, I found a headstone for a fellow Hungarian. His name was János Cserpák, and I explained my find in this entry here. I've been able to find more information on this young man, and his family. I hope that one of his very distant nieces or nephews finds these blog entries one day and finds them useful. :)

As I already know from János's headstone and immigration manifest, he was born on 22 Jul 1903 in Vencsellő. I do know that he was the son of Jakab and Mária Cserpák. Well, thankfully for FamilySearch and their wonderful uploading of digitized records, I was able to find his birth record! FamilySearch has a database for Hungarian civil registration records for various counties. I love these records! I just wish they had them available for my towns of Tiszadob and Büdszentmihály/Tiszavasvári. But anyway, back to my story!

I was able to find János's birth record and here is the wonderful information I was able to find out:


János was born on 22 Jul 1903 at 284 Kápolna street in Vencsellő, to parents Jakab Cserpák and Mária Türk. His parents are both listed as being born and residing in Vencsellő, and both of the Roman Catholic faith. His father's occupation is listed as "igás kocsis" which translates out to be draft-carter or draft-teamster. Not sure what kind of occupation is. Any ideas? It lists his father is 24 years old and his mother is 22 years old.

Well noting that both parents, Jakab and Mária, were born in Vencsellő, I figured their marriage record would be here too. And I was right!


They were married on 12 Jan 1902 in Vencsellő, and this document lists their parents names, birth dates and places.

Jakab Cserpák was born on 22 Dec 1878 in Vencsellő. His parents are the late János Cserpák, a day laborer and Mária Bereznai, both were residents of Vencsellő. Mária Türk was born on 28 Jan 1882 in Vencsellő. Her parents are the late Ignácz Türk, a day laborer as well, and Anna Héri, both were also residents of Vencsellő.

Noticing the Héri surname, I can make the assumption that the "Jacob Iheri" living with the Jakab and Mária Cserpák family in Chicago, in the 1920 census.. is a relative to Mária somehow.

Interestingly enough, I have a friend who's trying to research his surname of Bereznai, the same surname as Jakab Cserpák's mother. I may have found a new lead for him!

The Gombash's Very Distant Spanish Ancestry

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know very well that my family, the Gombash's, are of Hungarian descent. Through-out my research I find new documents and records that shed light on the diversity of my Hungarian heritage. Through our Hungarian ancestry we're also Slavic, Swedish and Transylvanian. Now with some new research on our noble origins, I'm discovering that we're very distantly Spanish.

Through Eszter Tóth, we descend from the old and now extinct Nagy-Martoni family. The Nagy-Martoni began in Hungary with three brothers Bertram, Simon, Michael and their sister Tota. In 1198, the four siblings left their home of Aragón in Spain to accompany Constance, who was bethrothed to King Imre of Hungary. Much was recorded about the Nagy-Martoni family as several members of the family became quite powerful and well-to-do.




Modern location of Aragón in Spain

I was able to find an English source that wrote about the family: [At the court there were people who understood Provençal, because Constance had brought some families from Iberia with her. The most famous were the three brothers, Bertram, Simon and Michael, who freed Mallorca and Minorca from the Saracens, and had to leave Southern Spain because of the Almohadian invasions. They fought against the heathen in Hungary too. In 1241 "Simon Hispanus" and Bertram played a decisive role in the successful defence of the Hungarian capital city of Esztergom against the Tartars. In 1204 the Hungarian King gave a village to the sister of the three knights, a "beautiful" Tota and the Spanish family received its Hungarian name from that village. Later they were known as the counts Nagy-Martoni/or the Fraknói or the Bajóti family.] (1).




Seal of Simon Nagy-Martoni's son Pál

There was another additional English source that described in more detail the sister Tota: [Constance brought with her a girl called Tota, the sister of Count Simon and Count Bertram. She was exceedingly beautiful, so fair, indeed, that scarcely any woman in the world in those days was considered her like. This girl was given in marriage to Duke Benedict, son of Conrad, and her dowry was the town of Martinsdorf, a gift from King Emeric and Queen Constance.] (2).

Interestingly enough, I descend from King Imre's sister Margit through my mother's family.

Sources:
(1) Actes du Deuxiem̀e congres international d'étude des cultures de la mediterranée occidentale, Volume 2
Author: International Association of Studies on Mediterranean Civilizations
Publisher: Société nationale d'édition et de diffusion, 1978
Page 403

(2) Deeds of the Hungarians
Author: Simon Kézai
Editors: László Veszprémy, Frank Schaer, Jenő Szűcs
Central European University Press, 1999
Pae 173

Queen Elizabeth II related to Vlad Dracula?

Yesterday I wrote an article explaining the connection between the current reigning English monarchy and Vlad Dracula, otherwise known as Vlad "the Impaler". It showed their connection, not a relation. A new line of descent was brought to my attention last night that I need to analyze, and I thought I would do it here. Here is the alleged line of descent of Queen Elizabeth II to Vlad Dracula's father, Vlad II Dracul:

*Elizabeth II
*George VI
*Mary of Teck
*Francis, Duke of Teck
*Klaudia Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde
*Countess Ágnes Inczédy de Nagy-Várad
*Baron Gergely Inczédy de Nagy-Várad
*Baroness Ágnes Kendeffy de Malmoviz
*Katalin Kun de Osdola
*Kristina (Christiana) Racz de Galgo
*Peter (Petru) Racz de Galgo
*Adam Racz de Galgo
*Zamphira Logofat de Szazsebes (Female)
*Stanka (Stanca) Basarab of Wallachia (Female)
*Mircea "The Shepherd" (Voivode) of Wallachia (Male)
*Radu cel Mare Radu IV `the Great' (Voivode) of Wallachia
*Vlad Călugărul (half-brother to Vlad Dracula)
*Vlad II Dracul (father to Vlad Dracula)

My previous article focuses on Klaudia Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde's paternal lineage, this alleged descent focuses on Klaudia's maternal lineage. We do know that Klaudia's parents are Count László Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde and his wife Baroness Ágnes Inczédy de Nagy-Várad. Ágnes is the known granddaughter of Baron Gergely Inczédy de Nagy-Várad and his wife Countess Ágnes Kendeffy de Malmoviz.




According to pedigree charts published by Iván Nagy in Magyarország családai, Ágnes Kendeffy de Malmoviz is most definitely the daughter of Gáspár Kendeffy de Malmoviz and his wife Katalin Kún. No other information is given on Katalin Kún in the Kendeffy family's pedigrees and information.




No additional information is given on Katalin Kún in Béla Kempelen's word Magyar Nemes Családok, and neither in any of these other following publications: Magyar nemzetségi zsebkönyv by the Magyar Heraldikai és Genealogiai Társaság (Hungarian Heraldry and Genealogy Society), A Magyar Nemzetségek A XIV. Század Közepéig by János Karácsonyi and finally Középkori Magyar Genealógia by Pál Engel.

Assuming that the alleged family tree is correct, Ágnes Kendeffy's mother is possibly Katalin Kun de Osdola. Considering I cannot find any additional information on Katalin Kún under the Kendeffy's, I must look under the Kún's and hope for the best. I do locate a countly Kún de Osdola family, but I do not locate any Katalin being married to a Gáspár Kendeffy.




There are, although, some interesting marriages and connections to known family names of Gáspár Kendeffy de Malmoviz and his wife Katalin Kún's descendants. Note the two (2) Rhédey's, the Kendeffy and also the Inczedy. The alleged ancestry above states that Katalin Kun's mother was a Kristina Racz de Galgo. There is indeed a Krisztina Rácz married to Miklós Kún do Osdola, right smack-dab in the middle of all the name connections. But that doesn't mean anything, we need proof that they are our Katalin Kún's parents.

Let's assume that Katalin Kún's parents are indeed Miklós Kún do Osdola and Krisztina Rácz shown on the pedigree chart. Continuing analyzing the alleged line of descent stated above, we need to look into the "Rácz de Galgo" family.





I locate a Rácz de Galgó family and indeed there is a Krisztina, who's second husband was a Miklós Kún. The pedigree chart fits perfectly with what was given on the alleged pedigree above. It does show the line of descent to a Zafira Logofét. The entry on the Rácz de Galgó family also gives some information on Zafira; it states: "neje oláh származású volt: Logofét Zafira". This says that Zafira Logofét (surnames are always listed before the given names in Hungary and Transylvania), was originally from Wallachia (Oláh). This seems to continually fit, as Vlad Dracula's family was from Wallachia and Vlad himself was once Voivode of Wallachia.

This is when my research starts to dry up with my Hungarian resources that I have. The resources are primarily for Hungary, not Transylvania. I now go to a trusted source for nobility and royalty information: http://genealogy.euweb.cz/. This website was created by Miroslav Marek and he has a whole page devoted to his sources. The alleged ancestry above from Zamphira Logofat de Szazsebes to Vlad II Dracul is correct, according to his website.. which I do not doubt. The only problem is with "Stanka (Stanca) Basarab of Wallachia". It lists her husband as "Ioan Norocea, Logofat de Pitesti, Great Chancellor of Wallachia", but no children (Zafira) are listed for them or can be found on his website. Also note that the name is "Logofat de Pitesti", not the "Logofat de Szazsebes" listed in the alleged pedigree.

All in all, the line of descent from Queen Elizabeth II to Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad "the Impaler", is very possible. The only contradictory facts, that need to be proven, lie with Katalin Kún and Zafira Logofat. Does anyone have any sources to prove or disprove these two remaining pieces of this alleged line of descent? If so, please contact me!

Sources:
*Magyarország családai, by Iván Nagy
*Magyar Nemes Családok, by Béla Kempelen
*Magyar nemzetségi zsebkönyv, by Magyar Heraldikai és Genealogiai Társaság
*A Magyar Nemzetségek A XIV. Század Közepéig, by János Karácsonyi
*Középkori Magyar Genealógia, by Pál Engel
*http://genealogy.euweb.cz/, by Miroslav Marek

Robert Pattinson is related to Dracula?

Today while doing my daily genealogy blog readings, I stumbled upon Randy Seaver's article Is Robert Pattinson a cousin to Vlad the Impaler?. I was instantly intriuged because I myself have a connection to Vlad Dracula Tepes "the Impaler".

Reading his article, I find that the entry originated with a article posted today (June 24th) on the UK version of Ancestry's Blog. You can find the article here: Twilight star Robert Pattinson is related to Dracula!. Reading the article and looking at the [very] tiny hard to see pedigree, I become confused and dumbfounded.

The article was written by Annabel Bernhardt, the PR Manager for Ancestry.co.uk. In the article she claims that King George VI of England is a direct descendant of Vlad II Dracul, the father of Vlad III Dracula.. otherwise known as Vlad "the Impaler". At this point I could care less about Robert Pattinson's connection to Vlad, or even the current reigning English monarchy. I needed to clear the air of King George VI's ancestry.

King George VI of England is a descendant of countless royal and noble houses of Europe, but one: the Basarab family of Transylvania. The Basarab's were a very large Transylvanian family with powerful aristocratic, noble and also royal connections. It is through these that Vlad "the Impaler" is connected to King George VI and his descendants, not related.

King George VI's mother is the well-known Mary of Teck, wife of King George V of England. Mary's paternal grandmother was the Countess Klaudina Zsuzsánna Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde. Klaudina ia a documented descendant of the Szilágyi de Horoszeg family. The connection with the current England monarchy is through this Szilágyi family. The wife of Vlad "the Impaler" was a noblewoman from that same Szilágyi de Horoszeg family. Here is the descend of Klaudina to the Szilágyi de Horoszeg family:



Klaudina Zsuzsánna Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde is the great-granddaughter of László Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde and his wife Mária Toroczkay de Toroczkó-Szent-György. Mária herself is the daughter of István Toroczkay de Toroczkó-Szent-György and his wife Borbála Kapy de Kapivár.



In this next pedigree chart, you see that Borbála Kapy de Kapivár is the descendant of Miklós Kapy de Kapivár and his wife Katalin Lipcsey de Nagy-Lucse. Katalin is the daughter of Damian Lipcsey de Nagy-Lucse and his wife Margit Macedóniai de Macedónia.



This next pedigree shows that Margit Macedóniai de Macedónia is the granddaughter of János Macedóniai de Macedónia and his wife Anna de Gara.



You can see this this next pedigree that Anna de Gara is the great-granddaughter of Dezső de Gara and his wife Anna Szilágyi de Horogszeg.



This final pedigree chart does not show Anna, but she is a known granddaughter of Miklós de Szilágy, alive in 1408. She is the daughter of Mihály, who was the uncle to Erzsébet. Erzsébet was the wife of János Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary, and mother of Mátyás Corvinus, King of Hungary. Vlad Dracula "the Impaler"'s wife is the known daughter of Osvát, brother of the previously mentioned Erzsébet.

A lot of false pedigree and assumptions are made when it comes to celebrities, royalty and family trees. Embellishments are made and facts are not documented and sourced. I'm honestly a little upset that this fabricated pedigree for King George VI of England shows that he is a direct-line descendant of the Transylvanian Basarab family. This is false and there is no given proof by Annabel Bernhardt of her sources for this information.

Source: Nagy, Iván, and István Fribeisz. Magyarország Családai.