Yugoslavian, but what do I say?

Question

Well, I found out that I'm half Yugoslavian. But, however in today's modern world Yugoslavia is no longer present. So, do I still say I am half 'Yugoslavian' or what? The country doesn't exist anymore.

Answer 1

What city are you from and what country is it now?

My family came to America from Russia, but it's now the Ukraine, so I say Ukraine when anyone asks. If anyone delves deep into the question, you can always explain that it's Yugoslavia, but blah blah blah not anymore.

Answer 2

What we called Yugoslavia only existed for about 50 years. Before that it was part of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. You may be in luck because the Empire only allowed migration out of that region after 1890. That coincides with changes in US Immigration law and the records that were required of the shipping companies that bought people into the US. So it's possible that if you can give me the name of the grandparents who came over, we can find the name of the town where they were born. From that you'll know if you're Montonegran, Bosnian, Serbian or what-not. If you can find their names, email me through my profile and I'll snoop around for you.

Answer 3

You don't need to say that you *ARE* half anything (or 1/8th something).  Genealogy has nothing to with *being* something. It deals with history, the past, the places where your ancestry comes from.

The way that people word something is what can really mess them up.  It is completely correct to say that your parent was born in Yugoslavia but even more accurate is to define the town. Where your parent was BORN is not subject to change.. since that was the exact political description AT THE TIME OF THAT BIRTH.  The location never changes.. the label or political boundaries do change. Your parent does not stop being Yugoslavian, because the government is different now.

Answer 4

Depending on WHERE in Yugoslavia they were from, you could be Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian; any number of nationalities.  However, most of those fall under the definition of "Slavic" ethnicity.  "Slavic" refers to a huge ethnic group who's members reach from the Mediterranean all the way to Siberia.   "South Slavic"  Refers to people from the general area of the countries that used to make up Yugoslavia, (now  Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, and Kosovo).  So if you are unable to pinpoint the modern country that occupies the area your ancestors are from, just saying that you are half Slavic might suffice. To be sure,  I would consult your relatives and see what area they were from and if their ancestors might have immigrated to Yugoslavia from elsewhere.  Keep in mind not everyone from former Yugoslavia is "Slavic".