Romani help

[romanislovakia]

Hi guys

I'm a newcomer to this ancestry exploring so please excuse any ignorance!

During lockdown I've become very intrigued by my Dad's potential Romani lineage - especially after a few factors came to to light and I did a bit of light research.  What we know for sure is the following:

- we have a surname that seems to have Indian roots (although the end of the name has been adjusted 3 times that we know of)
- we can trace my great, great grandfather to Eastern Slovakia in a region that, according to 1890 data, had a high Romani population
- my grandfather fled to the USA in 1921 as a young boy
- my great, great grandfather worked the land as did my great grandfather - both in the same semi-rural area in East Slovakia
- My paternal Grandmother also fled from the same area on Slovakia
- This may not be of any importance but my Dad's skin is very dark - almost Cherokee looking.

There may be a couple of other things that I've uncovered that I've failed to register but that's certainly the bulk of it.  As I'm sure you all know, this type of searching becomes very addictive and the question is this - what do I do now if I want to learn more?

- would a DNA test be fun/worthwhile and uncover some more clues (if so, which test is best)
- are there any other resources that anyone can suggest as far as finding additional information?

Many thanks

Charlie   

[garstonite]

Hiya Charlie and a warm welcome to Rootschat - post a full name - Christian and Surname - of an ancestor - not living - and lets see if we can get any records of them - or even a familytree .

[jim1]

I think the first thing to say is don't make too many assumptions as it can
cloud your judgement.
Dark skin doesn't denote anything. Lots of Europeans have it.
When you say they "fled" from who & why ?
Could they not have just emigrated as many Europeans did post WW1.
As Garstonite says we need a name.

[romanislovakia]

Thank you so much for your help.

So my Grandfather's name was Michael Sunda and my great grandfather's name was Andrej (later Andrew) Sundyka - apparently the name was different one generation prior but the 'Sund' bit has been a running theme (perhaps from Indian surname 'sundar' or 'sundaram'?).

The area in Slovakia was somewhere outside of Svidnik.

Many thanks in advance!

Charlie

[romanislovakia]

I think the first thing to say is don't make too many assumptions as it can
cloud your judgement.
Dark skin doesn't denote anything. Lots of Europeans have it.
When you say they "fled" from who & why ?
Could they not have just emigrated as many Europeans did post WW1.
As Garstonite says we need a name.

Thanks - the word 'fled' might be misused.  From my Grandfather's recollections it was due to a lack of food/work but he was only 8 and travelled alone.

[garstonite]

I think the first thing to say is don't make too many assumptions as it can
cloud your judgement.
Dark skin doesn't denote anything. Lots of Europeans have it.
When you say they "fled" from who & why ?
Could they not have just emigrated as many Europeans did post WW1.
As Garstonite says we need a name.

very true Jim - according to Wiki - 8% of East Europeans are descended from Ghengis Khan -  1 in 12 basically

[Gibel]

Do you have any birth and death dates to go with the names please?

[avm228]

Welcome from me too

You say that Michael Sunda travelled from Slovakia to the USA in 1921 aged 8, alone - can that be right? Have you found passenger lists or census entries or immigration/naturalization records which corroborate it?

Where in the United States did he settle, and with whom?

- are there any other resources that anyone can suggest as far as finding additional information?

What resources have you used or do you have access to at this point?

[avm228]

I see that Andrej Sunda, 26, a plougher from Vys. Svidnik, arrived on the SS Rochambeau in New York on 10 January 1922 (having sailed from Le Havre on 31 December 1921).

Race or people: Slovak.

Final destination: Passaic, New Jersey.

Nearest relative at home: Hanna Sunda, wife, of Vys. Svidnik Zupa Sarisska.