Ethnic Maps from the territory of Moldova

[Ion Basescul]

On the ethnicites of the village of Caplani in Stefan Voda district from the census in 1827 (Описание Бессарабии или Буджака).

83% Moldovans
10% Russians
7% of Greek faith



Zamfir Arbore in 1904 seems to have used the same or a similar source.
"Satul s-a înfiinţat pe la 1822, formându-se din 99 familii de români (358 bărb., 214 fem.) şi 14 familii de ruşi, fugiţi din robie."

[Ion Basescul]

Here's an interesting one, village of Copceac, also in Stefan Voda district near the Southern border with Ukraine.

At the census in 2004 it is 99% Romanian/Moldovan.

At the census in 1907 it is 100% Romanian/Moldovan.


At the census in 1827:

43% Moldovans
23% Mazili (mazili were a class of small rulers at local level who mainly collected taxes from peasants; usually Moldovans who knew the area, but sometimes also foreigners)
22% Volontiri (volontiri/voluntari were a social class of diverse ethnic origins (Moldovan, Serbs, Albanians, Bulgarians, Cossacks, etc.), who volunteered in the Russian army against the Ottomans and were exempt from some taxes.
6% of Greek faith
5% Bulgarians



Notice the high number of volontiri? This village is literally situated next to a village of the same name.



The census in 1907 showed that people in Volontiri were roughly half Moldovan and half Ukrainian. Hence, we can take an educated guess that the 22% of volontiri in Copceac were a mix of Moldovans and Ukrainians.

[Dušan]

On the ethnicites of the village of Caplani in Stefan Voda district from the census in 1827 (Описание Бессарабии или Буджака).

83% Moldovans
10% Russians
7% of Greek faith

Greek faith? What ethnicity are them?
Moldovans, Russians, Greeks are all Orthodox Christians.

[Ion Basescul]

Village of Calfa from Anenii Noi district

2004
98% Moldovan/Romanian
1.5% Russian
0.5% Ukrainian

1907
100% Moldovan/Romanian

1827
81% Moldovan/Romanian
17% Ukrainian
2% Remnants of Russian soldiers



Again current surnames there support the data from 1827. As I have always said, surnames rarely lie, just like haplogroups.
non-Moldovan/Romanian surnames in red

Nr. Ord. Nume de familie Numarul total de familii
1 Costetchi 29
2 Ceban 16
3 Neteda 16
4 Melnic 15
5 Gobjila 13
6 Morari 13
7 Manoli 10
8 Mastac 10
9 Siloci 9
10 Perciun 9
11 Ganu 8
12 Costetcaia 8
13 Postica 7
14 Matei 7
15 Cravtov 6
16 Chirilenco 6
17 Netida 6
18 Caraman 6
19 Repida 6
20 Buga 5
21 Vacari 4
22 Plesca 4
23 Burlacu 4
24 Golomoz 4
25 Palienco 4
26 Gornet 4
27 Calmic 4
28 Hincu 4
29 Trifan 4
30 Moraru 4
31 Trifon 4
32 Pislari 3
33 Galagan 3
34 Manole 3
35 Poiata 3
36 Popa 3
37 Burlac 3
38 Paduret 3
39 Costetchii 3
40 Muntean 2
41 Certan 2
42 Placinta 2
43 Cretu 2
44 Mamaliga 2
45 Netedu 2
46 Barbalat 2
47 Barladean 2
48 Melinic 2
49 Donciu 2
50 Botea 1

[Ion Basescul]

Greek faith? What ethnicity are them?
Moldovans, Russians, Greeks are all Orthodox Christians.

It isn't mentioned, but I guess by Greek faith they might have meant Greek Catholics. They could be either local converts or settlers from Transylvania since it peaks there.

Greek Catholics at the 1930 census



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Catholic_Church

I can see some surnames in Caplani that point towards ancestry from either Wallachia and/or mountains and Transylvania. So maybe those 7% of Greek faith in 1827 are their ancestors.

Nr. Ord. Nume de familie Numarul total de familii
8 Muntean 23 (means either from Wallachia or mountains)
40 Brasoveanu 7 (means from Brasov in Transylvania)
41 Munteanu 7 (means either from Wallachia or mountains)

[Dušan]

It isn't mentioned, but I guess by Greek faith they might have meant Greek Catholics. They could be either local converts or settlers from Transylvania since it peaks there.

Greek Catholics at the 1930 census



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Catholic_Church

I can see some surnames in Caplani that point towards ancestry from either Wallachia and/or mountains and Transylvania. So maybe those 7% of Greek faith in 1827 are their ancestors.

Nr. Ord. Nume de familie Numarul total de familii
8 Muntean 23 (means either from Wallachia or mountains)
40 Brasoveanu 7 (means from Brasov in Transylvania)
41 Munteanu 7 (means either from Wallachia or mountains)

Interesting, thanks for explanation.

[Ion Basescul]

Village of Tocuz in Causeni district
Another great example of the romanisation and complete assimilation of Ukrainians.

2004
99.5% Moldovan/Romanian
0.5% Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Russian

1907
100% Moldovan/Romanian


1827
65% Moldovan
30% Ukrainian
4% of Greek faith
1% Polish


1778
60% Moldovan
40% Ukrainian
"S-a întemeiat la 1778, de 42 familii de ruteni şi 64 familii de ţărani români." (Zamfir Arbore)

[Ion Basescul]

Village of Cenac in Cimislia district
An example of how reliable surnames are for distinguishing mutts from pure Moldovans.

2004
98% Moldovan/Romanian
1.5% Gagauz, Bulgarian
0.5% Ukrainian, Russian

1907
100% Moldovan


1827
96% Moldovan
4% of Greek faith



Surnames in 2004 are almost exclusively of Moldovan origin.
non-Moldovan origin in red

Nr. Ord. Nume de familie Numarul total de familii
1 Popescu 45
2 Zmeu 30
3 Secara 27
4 Ciobanu 15
5 Berdianu 14
6 Roibu 14
7 Udrea 14
8 Dinga 13
9 Sacara 13
10 Slanina 13
11 Popovici 13
12 Enachi 12
13 Javgureanu 10
14 Covrig 10
15 Sandu 9
16 Tabun 9
17 Moldovanu 9
18 Balan 8
19 Rusu 7
20 Harabagiu 7
21 Baciu 7
22 Berdian 6
23 Lungu 6
24 Mardari 6
25 Lozovenu 6
26 Cebanu 5
27 Dirtu 5
28 Coipan 5
29 Zavricico 5
30 Mardare 4
31 Girnet 4
32 Mitreanu 4
33 Catana 4
34 Proca 4
35 Revenco 3
36 Enache 3
37 Diminet 2
38 Tucan 2
39 Bicos 2
40 Cebotari 2
41 Macovei 2
42 Birliga 2
43 Penu 2
44 Vacarciuc 2
45 Harabadji 2
46 Persin 2
47 Harabadjiu 2
48 Placinta 2
49 Plesca 2
50 Harabajiu 2

[Kriptc06]

Thanks for sharing, very interesting thread.
My cousin 100% bessarabian bulgarian scored Haskovo and Kardzali regions in bulgaria in 23andme

[ixulescu]

Greek faith? What ethnicity are them?
Moldovans, Russians, Greeks are all Orthodox Christians.

I doubt Basescul's explanation is correct. Most likely those 7% of Moldovans from Caplani were not Greek Catholics, but rather parishioners of a church still belonging to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

When Bessarabia was occupied by the Tsarist Empire in 1812, Moldova's Metropolis was part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Romanian Orthodox Church has been declared a Patriarchate only in 1925(!).

Shortly after the Russian occupation, Orthodox churches in Bessarabia were forcefully attached to the Russian Orthodox Church, in violation of the Church law. The so called Moldovans of "Greek faith" (counted a decade later after 1812) were probably still resisting assimilation.