I have begun researching my great grandparents who were born in Galicia, Ukraine. My great grandfather, Michael Slotwinsky was born about 1880 and have yet to find a birthdate for his wife, Yuska or Uska Olpeta. I do not have their parents names or any further information other than they had 9 children and immigrated to Manitoba, Canada in the early 1900's. My grandfather was born in Manitoba, Canada. I would like to learn as much as I can about Yuska and Michael as this side of the family is a mystery. My grandfather’s birth certificate does not show a date of birth for his parents, only Galicia, Ukraine. Any information or direction of where to search would be greatly appreciated.
You may have already found more information by now considering this an old thread. If you haven't already done so, sign up for familysearch.org the site is free to use. Refining the search may bring up more information than I've already found, and as there are apparently 9 children, you may have more names to enter.
Your great grandfather is listed on the site under 1916 Canada census. At that time he was married to Uska Slotwinski, and 4 children are listed, Amielka ( 6 yrs old ) Marria ( 4 years old ) Anna ( 2 years old ) and Franko ( 4 months old ) Slotwinski. Michael is listed as being 36 years old and Uska 24. His birth year is given as 1880, but Uska's is estimated as 1892.
Both were born in Galicia, Ukraine.The immigration date to Manitoba is given as 1905. I couldn't find anything listed under Uska Olpeta, but on typing in just the surname, and likely birth ranges for her father, all the matches came back in Cyrillic script, so if indeed one is her father, you would need someone that can read Ukrainian.
S£OTWIŃSKI: toponymic tag from Słotwiny; probably from słota (wretched rainy weather), so perhaps translatable as Rainton, Drenchbury or Downpourville.
OPLETA: possibly from verb opleść (entwine, enwrap, cover, encirlce - such as a bottle wound round with cord = butlka opłeciona sznurkiem).
