Balaban - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: 'Uncle' Henry Balaban

decohn31 — 2013-04-15 02:08:30Z

My name is Donald Cohn, age 67, and my grandparents were Abe and Mary Cohn from Syracuse and Miami. I think my Great Gandmother's first name was Bessie; her maiden name was Balaban, and yes, Henry and Barney Balaban (of Paramount Pictures fame) were her nephews, first cousins to my Grandfather Abe Cohn.

My father remembered Barney, Henry and other Balaban family members coming to Syracuse to visit elderly "relatives." One of the very old Jewish cemetery's in Syracuse has tombstones with the Balaban name.

My Grandparents retired and moved to Miami in 1944. Our family traveled from Syracuse to visit every year, and always spent time with my Grandfather's cousin, Henry and wife Marie Balaban. They lived in a wonderful Biscayne Bay waterfront home on the Venetian Causeway. Henry was practicing law when I first remember him, and later became a judge. He was then elected to the Miami City Council and served a term as president. In 1962 (approx), Henry officiated at my sister's wedding in Miami.

Abe, my Grandfather, was born in Chittenango, NY, a rural farming community 30 miles east of Syracuse. My Great Grandfather was born in Russia; Grandma Mary was born in Budapest and came to America at age 13.

My sister, Judy Cohn Bloch, may have more info on the Balaban family. I think she's talked to actor Bob Balaban, another relative, who apparently has much info on the family. If you would like to discuss further, please email me at decohn31@gmail.com.

Re: Plenty of Relatives

benjabalaban — 2012-06-20 00:23:41Z

hi!!, I just found this message by now. My great-great-grand father was Herschel Balaban(the same as Hirsch) and he had a son called Benjamin Balaban, I dont have any of the names of Herschel´s brothers. if you know something else pls write to: benjabalaban@hotmail.com thanks!

Re: Balaban Family

lisamarzonie — 2012-05-27 23:21:37Z

There is a Balaban village on/near Kartepe Mountain in Turkey. This is on the Black Sea coast very near Izmir. The location is not really far from Greece and Bulgaria which makes migration to and from these areas very possible/plausible, especially over generations. Bulgaria and Greece would serve as gateways to Macedonia, Serbia and Romania, so I would not be surprised to find the same name in all of those countries...not to mention that over the centuries & through the wars, borders change, etc. The question should be where are the EARLIEST records of the name and whether genealogists/anthropologists/ethnologists can find records which indicate direction of family movements...

Re: Balaban Family

lisamarzonie — 2012-05-27 22:54:33Z

Sometimes this happens with subsequent "moves." As soon as you get more than one or two generations, you will likely get movement...sometimes just to the next village or a few km; at other times, particularly when there is hardship (economic or any kind of oppression), you'll get people crossing borders for work opportunities or for safety.

Re: Balaban Family

lisamarzonie — 2012-05-27 22:50:53Z

I'd be interested, as well. I was always told it meant a tall/sturdy person, which I assume could also be translated "big," as was suggested by someone else on this thread.

Re: Balaban Family

lisamarzonie — 2012-05-27 22:48:27Z

If you have/get any more information on Balaban families from Turkey, I'd be VERY interested. My grandfather was Turkish speaking Armenian from Western Turkey...his surname was Balabanian. His mother's maiden name was given both in Armenian as Yesaian and in Turkish as Asaoghlu. He came to the U.S. from Western Turkey.

Re: Plenty of Relatives

lisamarzonie — 2012-05-27 22:44:24Z

Oh boy, this could get complicated & difficult to sort out...in fact, I think we're already there! I see people researching "Balaban" from Macedonia, Ukraine, Turkey, U.S.A., & undoubtedly more locations. My research is regarding "Balabanian" Armenians from Turkey. I've been told they came from the Taurus Mountains and settled in Western Turkey (can't verify or put dates on that yet). My grandfather was Garabed (Charles) Balabanian from Aintab, Turkey (modern Gaziantep). I know there was a "Balaban" village in Western Turkey. I need to look it up to refresh my memory. There are currently Balabanians in the U.S., Syria, Brazil and Argentina whose families came from Western Turkey. If we are willing to share information, we may be able to piece a few details together.

Balaban/Balabon/Barabon/Baraban

gnome788 — 2012-04-27 01:41:01Z

I am searching for relatives of Pinchas Baraban. He was my grandmother's uncle and the child of Yankel & Chanah Rachel Baraban. Yankel owned flour mills in Russia.

Pinchas (dob 1863) emigrated to the US (17 Dec 1924) with his wife Chaivid. They came through Havana, Cuba where their son Abi David (dob 13 Oct 1908) was living. They had 3 other sons: Shloima, Itzic (Isidore dob 15 Feb 1894) & Chaim. Itzek immigrated 11 Nov 1912. Apparently Shloima preceded him. Abi, changed his name to David Abram and immigrated from Havana 25 Jul 1929

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Naomi (Chai Ruchel)

Re: Plenty of Relatives

1_singera — 2012-04-07 18:06:35Z

Someone asked about Balabans on the East Coast. My mother's family were Balabans and lived in Brooklyn after they emigrated to the US in 1921 from Nagysollos, Hungary (now in Slovakia with the same name). My grandfather Armin (Herman) looked Turkish from his photos. My grandmother Anna Balabanova had 6 children - Marton (Morton), Ellen, Livia (Lillian, my mother), Ruth, Blanche and Samuel. They were in the bakery/restaurant business on Myrtle Avenue.

Visiting Istanbul and Antalya, Turkey, we saw many businesses with the name Balaban on the signs.

Re: Balaban Family

sallym36 — 2012-03-13 17:47:54Z

Going thru some old pictures I find a photo from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Cana abt 1948 when my father and I went to Timmins, Canada. In this photo is Mary Balaban & her husband. Also her father Nick Balaban and maybe his wife. My father is holding a small child of Mary (Balaban) and her husband. I don't remember her husband's name. Are these people related to your Balaban family?
Write me @ smarkusic53@gmail.com
Friend Jura

My DNA

angierbill2428 — 2011-12-06 17:11:16Z

I am 83 years old and I just found out that my father was Jewish and he lived in Conn. and died in Mass.His name was Abraham Balaban and he was born in Russia. I would like to know if he has any living relatives.
Thank You, William Roberts. w2428r@yahoo.com

My DNA

angierbill2428 — 2011-12-06 17:11:15Z

Re: Meyer Balaban Family Association of America Cemetery Plot

ionicabalaban — 2011-12-04 19:29:55Z

hi,my name is Ioan Balaban from Romania(Mangalia)

Re: Markusic-Markus-Marcus

sallym36 — 2011-11-28 00:27:34Z

My new email address is:

smarkusic53@gmail.com

Nov 27, 2011

Re: Balaban/Markusic

sallym36 — 2011-11-28 00:24:43Z

MY EMAIL is ==smarkusic53@gmail.com
I have the following on Barbara (Bertha) R Markusic-Balaban Sr.
Bertha came to the US after her Parents at age 13-via boat from Zagreb, Yugoslavia. No one met her at the New York Port but they put a sign on her and she managed to get on correct train to Uniontown, Pa. She overheard people talking Croatian and a man told her her Parents were in Elm Grove, Pa and put her on the same train as him. Tokish was a great kidder and when they arrived at Elm Grove, Pa the train came in on top of the coke ovens. He told her he was going to put her in the coke ovens and burn her. Tokish became a life long friend of Bertha and godParents to her children. Bertha was known for her steak, mush, fried potatoes, own cottage cheese.
she came to United States when she was 13 or so.

I understand she came to the US when she was 13 or so and then married Thomas Balaban and had 9 children = Catherine, Anna, Stephen, George, Mildred, Thomas, Pete, Joseph & Rose Marie.

my husband is a Markusic from Penna.

Re: Plenty of Relatives

1_mfaina — 2011-10-19 15:38:54Z

For all the BALABANS - most likely the name means hawk/falcon from Cuman language http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuman_people.
Another possibility is the name of fish that has a very large head and small body Flathead Mullet, Grey Mullet. Your choice.

Re: Family Linkage

lenosanov — 2011-08-16 00:40:45Z

Pola Nasanovsky, or her sisters name (your great grand mother) I do not have their names on the Nasanovsky Family Tree. What was your great-grandmothers name? Who did she marry ? Did she have children what are their names? Pola Nasanovsky did not appear on any ship manifest document, she may also have gon to Argentina with other Nasanovsky's. However your great-grandmother was a Nasanovsky we can start with her married name and her husbands name is very important.Note Nasanovsky was my grandfathers name however he changed it in England before he came to the US (Via Canada). The location in the Ukraine the migrated from was Czernigov (either it was a village or provence). Question are you related to the Balaban linkage if so how.
Thanks for the query. Lionel E. Nosanov

Re: Family Linkage

info1tiu8g8vt6ejhb9s7neidpvuc57q2 — 2011-08-15 22:45:14Z

Hello, I'm looking for relatives of a woman named Pola Nasanovsky. She was the sister of my great-grandmother and left Odessa to the United States, where he married someone of whom I have no data.
I ask you to contact if you assume that they can help.
Thanks .-

Re: Just looking for other Ballabons/Balabans...

gnome788 — 2011-01-04 02:03:56Z

I am looking for a Pinya Balaban who was married to Chaivid. They had 6 children 4 males and 2 females; however the females died in infancy. The sons were Shloima, Abi (Abraham), Itzic & Chaim. I have found immigration papers to the US from Peschank, Russia. Pinya was the sibling of my great-grandmother.

Balaban Family

BursteinD — 2010-11-10 18:10:40Z

I am searching for the descendants of Abraham Balaban/Ballubon/Ballben who married my grandmother's sister Dora Wilson in 1906. Abraham was born in Romania in 1883 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1894. His parents were Samuel and Dora Hudas. The children of Abraham and Dora Wilson were all born in Brooklyn: Jonas (b, 1908); Harold (b. 1909); Anna (b. 1912); and Gertrude (b. 1914). My father was first cousin to these "kids." Dora died in 1938 and by the time I was born, there was no contact with this family. I would be delighted to hear from anyone with information. Please contact me at sburste@verizon.net.

Re: Balaban Family

lalabalaban — 2010-10-05 15:51:00Z

Hi everybody! Does anybody ahve any information about Balaban"s family from Romania. I live now in the Netherlands. And my father Balaban Simon lives in Israel. I know we have a lot of family in US. But I have not so much contacts. I know that our roots are going to Romania. My grandfather's name was Josef Balaban. i know that he had a brother in US Zigmund Balaban, and even more brothers who moved in early 40-s to US from Romania. But he had no contacts with them after the world war 2.

Helen Smith Balaban buried in Fargo, ND

sleuthesthedead — 2010-09-07 00:13:19Z

Helen Smith Balaban (1945-2000) buried in Springvale Cemetery, Fargo, Cass Cty, North Dakota with memorial found at www.findagrave.com. I'm not related, just a volunteer photographer.

Balaban

JMKK2544 — 2010-07-02 23:56:11Z

Looking for canadian relatives - grandparents resided in winnipeg manitoba

Re: Balaban Family

sallym36 — 2010-04-12 19:38:25Z

I research the Markusic family line and have some Balaban's in it too.

Give me more info on the Markusic names

Thanks Jura Markusic

smarkusic6@cox.net

Re: Balaban/Balabanski/Balabanska

ericaguler — 2010-04-02 23:52:12Z

Hi Emily

my family research has taken me to Yalta in Crimea, which is ukraine. I been told the family had great knowledge of wine and were producing wine to the Tsars. and Ukraine has a famouse wine, winery named massandra. I know that some of the balabans who werent produsing wine (after the tsars fell down) were forsed to leave and work on fields in todays russia and these people became orthodox c, but then you got lenin and stallins invasion and ww1 and ww2 which contributed to more people escaping, as this is a really classy, nive wine, dead expensive. Everyone wanted it. I ve started to beleive that religion plays a big part.
this winery had about 3000 workers, but i cant seem to find any information of what type of people worked and build the place. that would be a helpful info.
if you can get around what year they left then you can probably get more to a clear conclusion, with all the invasion and understand the purpose.

Re: Balaban Family

tomislavsostaric — 2009-11-21 21:29:42Z

Hi, My Grandfather and Grandmother were from the kostanjevac area and their surnames were Markusic and Balaban respectfully, My greatgrandfater Balaban moved to Canada before ww2.

Re: Balaban Family

phyllis1226 — 2009-10-14 19:25:20Z

My grandfather Mendel Balaban came to New York in the early 1900's. He originally lived in Newark, NJ and then moved to the Bronx.
As a little girl, I remember 4 of his brothers; there were many more siblings.
Phyllis Cohn

Re: Balaban Family

Jenniferkerr161 — 2009-08-23 03:30:42Z

Hello,

Is your father, John Balaban, a WWII B17 pilot? He is an amazing person. I am a part time caretaker, making breakfast and/or lunch for he and his wife Claudine. Are you their son? I know they have mentioned they have two sons, Doug and David. I know your father's last place of residence way back when, was in Davidson Co, ND, I believe. I am doing some research on his side, because my father also is from ND.

Re: Balaban Family

AnetteDonado — 2009-08-13 16:38:51Z

My maiden name is Anette Balaban. I am the daughter of Pete Balaban who was the twin brother to Annie Balaban. My father was from North Dakota and the family was very large. I haven't met many of my relatives. I would like to correspond with anyone connected to my family. I also live in California and I beleive that I met John Balaban when I was growing up.

Re: Balaban Family

stinewinn — 2009-07-02 23:09:07Z

My mother, Esther Wells Kneeland, grew up in Robinson ND. She is 89 now and her memory is going, but last night we were reminiscing and she said there were 13 girls and one boy in her high school graduating class of 1936. She said "Johnny Balaban" was older, maybe 20 or 21. She remembers he was from a big family of at least 12 who lived way out of town. My mother's father was Vern Wells and he owned the bank in Robinson. My mother said Johnny Balaban had a lot of courage for going to school with all these younger girls (my mother was 16) and he was very bright. I wonder if this is your father?

Re: Meyer Balaban Family Association of America Cemetery Plot

ballab11 — 2009-06-04 14:18:20Z

I am a Ballaban who is related to the Balabans in the Meyer Balaban plot. I'm currently researching all of the relationships, and should have more information with a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if the Meyer Balalabn is the same Meir/Meer that was from Kishinev and had a son Shoil Zalman Balaban? If this is the case, then H.M Balaban would be a brother of Shoil Zalman, who I beleive is my Great Grandfather. I also have picutres of all of the graves in the plot. More to come.

Re: Balaban/Balabanski/Balabanska

lostdiablo — 2009-03-14 09:48:44Z

im jaroslaw balabanski.my profile myspace.com/diablosjerryb

Re: Balaban/Balabanski/Balabanska

dvaranin2 — 2009-02-22 05:44:33Z

hi,
there does seem to be some who emegrated to ukaraine in the 17th century.
my grandfather came from this area and settled in canada

Re: Balaban/Balabanski/Balabanska

dvaranin2 — 2009-01-12 06:43:19Z

From Dr Tudor Balabanov, he reported that Balaban meant 'drummer' not the same one.

is it possible to be both.

Re: Balaban, Rudolph, death Apr. 7, 1949 Placer Co. California

imjustamom1990 — 2008-12-18 18:01:49Z

I did not find an obit, but did find another article concerning him. See Attachment.
Lincoln Evening News
Lincoln Nebraska
November 13 1911
Page 12

The balabans

ericaguler — 2008-10-09 17:00:19Z

Balabans to exist in Turkey, my mum is one, but i have been told that the balabans were muslims that escaping from the soviet thanks to the tsaren. The journey they made was really long. they started at the bottom (just opposite turkey)and went all the way around, pass moskvo, where some people stayed and did change religion, the rest settled down what later became turkey.

also the meaning of the word balaban is linked to the word honey. as bal means honey in turkey.

Re: Balaban Family

dougbalaban — 2008-09-29 20:54:51Z

Hi Jenny,

I just looked at this site again after all these years. I did not see your message. I would like to talk to you. Can you please email me or call me. My email is dougbalaban@comcast.net and my phone number is 925-828-9367.

I hope to hear from you.

Thanks,

Doug

Re: Will of Benjamin Balaban, Council Bluffs, IA, 5-6-1954

peacechief — 2008-09-08 04:18:06Z

Found some photos of Bernard, also a birth announcement for his twin sons. Evidently he was quite the bassoonist. Anyone else researching this family?

Re: 'Uncle' Henry Balaban

Harlyfk225 — 2008-09-05 23:35:39Z

Hello Mr. Balaban! I am not sure if we are related but it's a good possibility. Uncle Henry was a judge in Dade county Florida in the 1960-s to I think the early 1980's. I believe Uncle Henry died circa 1986. I remember him as an older gentleman when I was a small child in the 60's/70's. I was always told the same too about the relation to the movie industry Balabans but I take that with a grain of salt. I would really love to know how I am related to him. I was told that he was related to my maternal great grandmother Ray Balaban Grossman. Their son, William E. Grossman was my maternal grandfather. I do not know the relation Granny Ray was to Uncle Henry though I am sure he was not a son. I have a picture somewhere of myself and Uncle Henry while he was 'on the bench' I was present when he married a family member at the courthouse back in the early 1970's.
All my elders are gone including my mother and there is no one left to ask. I have had success with my maternal grandmother's ancestors on this website but not much luck with the Balaban/Grossman side. Just about all my mother's ancestors on both sides were from Russia / Lithuania and were Jews. My mother and most of her family moved from Chicago / Elmhurst ILL area in the early 1940's to live in Miami Beach Florida (where I was born in the 1960's). Please feel free to correspond with me as I so much enjoy communicating with other ancestor searchers out there in the world.

Re: 'Uncle' Henry Balaban

ebalaban_1 — 2008-09-05 22:49:59Z

subject; henry balaban- my name is edward balaban i am79 years old and am the son of jessie balaban who had two brothers-henry and marvin! henry was a lawyer in chicago and later moved to florida and became a judge! my father (jessie)died in 1936 and that was the last time i saw my uncle henry! henry's parent's my grand parents) names were mary and abraham who were from kiev russia and syracuse ny and yes i was told that my father was related to the movie balabans

Family Linkage

lenosanov — 2008-08-16 17:42:50Z

Looking for the name of a female Nasanovsky (Nosanov, Nosanow, etc that married a Balaban about 1910 or earlier.
She was born in Czernigow, Ukraine arrived in USA about 1904. Information obtained from my father in the 1940s, he said he had a cousin married to the Balaba/Katz theater people. Need information to update NOSANOV Family Tree.
Lionel Ellis Nosanov

Re: Plenty of Relatives

atreistm — 2008-05-05 19:44:02Z

My great-great uncle was Hirsch Balaban, married to Ida Shore. They had several children who lived on the East Coast- Rose, Lena and Minnie. They passed away some 40-50 years ago. Do you think we have a match here?

Re: Balaban, Rudolph, death Apr. 7, 1949 Placer Co. California

dascanyonlake — 2008-04-08 20:51:42Z

Correction:

Meant 1892 immigration to Nebraska.

Balaban, Rudolph, death Apr. 7, 1949 Placer Co. California

dascanyonlake — 2008-04-08 20:48:07Z

Born Bohemia, Austria, Feb 14, 1876, immigrated 1872 to Nebraska. Married and divorced. If possible would like the obituary record and divorce record.

I appreciate any help on these subjects.

Re: Plenty of Relatives

murchie11 — 2008-02-16 16:42:45Z

Hi,

I don't have time to write right now, I'm going on a trip, so I'll write back on my return. Co-incidentally, I lived in Salta, Comodoro & Ushuia for about a year.

Mike

Re: Plenty of Relatives

E_Aven — 2008-02-16 05:07:31Z

It sounds to me that your wifes Balaban family could be related to mine based on what you've told me. My link is Malka Lesnik Balaban who married the Balaban family and immigrated from Dubossary to Beunos Aires, Argentina

Ellen

Re: Plenty of Relatives

murchie11 — 2008-02-16 04:37:41Z

Hi,

My name is Mike Murchie, and I married a lady named Ala Balaban, from Moldova. Her family is from the Ribnitsa region in what is now the TransDniester. There are many, many groups of Balabans in Moldova and most are unrelated. In the village of Ploti, Ribnitsa Rayon (county), close to Dubassari, my father-in-law grew up with Balabans who were not related. Historically, Moldova, which is the former Bessarabia and lies west of the Dniester river, has long been a cross roads between east and west. A study commisioned by the gov't of Moldova revealed that there are still about 72 groups of people in Moldova and a number of languages. The Turks controlled the area for roughly 300 years. Interestingly, if you check the Turkish and Greek languages, Balaban means tall or great one. There is absolutely no inference to suggest that it comes from any other language, and definitely doesn't mean chatter box. In the south of Moldova there is a village called Balaban. My wifes father, like myself, had a great hunger for history and genealogy. He found that there are Turkish, greek, gagausz (turkish christian), Bulgarian, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Moldovan Balabans. Some of these are also ethnic Jews. There would also be a huge number of people displaced by the last Tsar and Stalin, explaining Balabans from other areas of the world. My father-in-law was a
Moldovan, that is to say, he spoke a dialect of Romanian. He met a jewish man once who started speaking to him in yiddish because of his family name. My wifes relatives have lived in Ploti since time immorial and were wealthy land owners in past history. No one is really sure where the Balabans came from, whether it was east or west or?

Any help?

Mike

Re: Family info on John Balabon

rickgeloff1 — 2007-10-19 20:29:26Z

Hello Fellow Balaban's and Relatives,

My name is Rick Geloff, I have been doing Research on my family for 4 or 5 years. I am the Great Grandson of Peter Geloff and Irene Balaban. Irene is John Balaban's Sister. Recently I have been Researching the whole village of Suvorovo. If you want to know anything I would be happy to share.

Here is my contact info:

Rick Geloff
rick.geloff@gmail.com

Balaban in Moravia -- Nova Ves or Neudorf

marylevesque256 — 2007-04-17 22:45:01Z

I was reviewing some 1870s microfilm images from a Czech archives, and spotted the name Balaban on several of the same pages where my family also had a birth. The village is Nova Ves a Kurim, not too far from Brno.

Re: Balaban Family

karenchorne — 2007-01-22 07:08:21Z

Lynn,
Noticed your surnames of Vlasic, Lubanovic & Balaban.
My widowed ggrandmother Josephine ZVONAR JAMBROVIC married a widowed Thomas VLASIC (m. 1920-1930). Thomas VLASIC first wife's maiden name was Elena / Helen / Ella LUBANOVIC. Thomas had a brother named Charlie and I had just recently found out about the BALABAN name. Charlie married a widowed BALABAN?? Can you fill me in on this info. There must be some relationship here. Fayette / Westmoreland Counties, PA.
Karen