My great-grandfather was Lazslo Szakal, who moved to Michigan from Romania in the early 1900's. He changed his name to Basil Sakall to make it "sound more American" from what I've been told. He was born in Romania December 28, 1888. I was also told his father was a "mayor" (somewhat like a governor is here in the U.S.) back in Romania. He met & married Juliana (Bese) in MI & had 9 children. I found them under "Vasil Sakall" in the 1930 census. My grandfather, John Sakall, was born in 1921. If you have found out anything further on the Szakal name, please post!