Am I Austrian ??

[MCherney]

Some of my ancestors were born in one of the Crown lands of Cisleithania which in that time period was apart of the  Austrian Hungarian Empire.  Is ones heritage that of where  your ancestors were born or is ones heritage that of what they truly are ? It says Austrian on my ancestors birth certificates but my family relatives say they  we are Ukrainian.  Since my ancestors were born in the Austrian Empire does that mean they were Austrian Ukrainians  or just Ukrainians living in a land ruled by Austria

[carinthiangirl]

think more the last " just Ukrainians living in a land ruled by Austria"
can be but must not be.... 
which language have they spoken, what religion did they have and what were their lastnames?
this may show more the real background - it can be ukrainian, ruthenian, german, jewish and so on.....
the rulers of a country donīt show the orgin of a family.
in fact only an ancestors-research can show "where are you from".

Kronland Galizien/ crownland Galicia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_%28Eastern_Europe%29

[Ruskie]

If they were born in what was (at that time) the Austrian Empire, I would say they were Austrian, especially if that is what is written on their birth certificates.

If you were born in Austria, then you would also be Austrian.

[carinthiangirl]

one born in Austria must not show being "austrian".
in fact for Galicia that time "an austrian-hungarian crownland" will not show an AUSTRIAN.
Specially Austria-Hungary, which had so many ethnities, languages, countries that time.
and what would one understand as an "austrian" - also in present days?
there can be german orgin, slavic, italian, what ever you want and so on.....
you have to look the families orgin!

[greenvalley]

I would say that, if they were born in lands that now are still part of Austria they would call themselves Austrian.

Seeing that they were born in the Ukraine, they were Ukrainians because that part of the Ukraine was part of Austria.

Borders often shifted on the continent, the people living where they did knew who they were, regardless of which kings, queens or emperors claimed to rule them.

Go with the family, Ukrainian it is.

Greenvalley

[carinthiangirl]

just as it is! 
but the lastnames would give the proof - 1st poster!?  MCherney

[GrahamSimons]

Moving boundaries are a worldwide phenomenon.

Flora Adelia Wells, who married my first cousin three times removed, George Simons, was born in Texana, Texas on 31st December 1831. Without moving house, she claimed the distinction of living under three national flags: first Mexican, until the Texan War of Independence; then Texan, until the annexation of Texas by the United States, when the Stars and Stripes took over.

[Ruskie]

just as it is! 
but the lastnames would give the proof - 1st poster!?  MCherney

Not necessarily - surnames can be an indication, but should not be relied on, to determine ethnicity.

A suranme may be a married name, an 'anglicized' name as often happened when migrants attempted to 'fit in', and the surname of the father is only half of the story - what about the mother's surname?

[carinthiangirl]

nothing what would be new. 
how i said: "you have to look the families orgin!"
as an "austrian" you can have some possibilities...

Austria-Hungary: http://www.brainworker.ch/Oesterreich/Austria-hungary.png
present Austria: http://www.ycarta.com/layout/country/Austria-combi.jpg