Wanting to trace family roots in Croatia? A chat with Matea

Matea Ćutuk (Photo: Private album)

More and more people of Croatian descent around the world are becoming curious about uncovering their family roots in the homeland, but many find themselves unsure of where to begin their journey of discovery.

To shed light on the process, we caught up with Matea Ćutuk, a psychologist and genealogy researcher based in Croatia, who helps people from around the world reconnect with their Croatian roots.

“I have a background in psychology, but my passion for history, family heritage, and uncovering personal stories led me into the field of genealogy. I began by researching my own family tree, and over time, what started as a personal interest grew into a professional pursuit,” Matea tells us.

Genealogical research involves collecting and analysing historical records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, church registers, census records, and land documents.

“In Croatia, this often means visiting archives, local parishes, and municipal offices. I also conduct interviews and verify family stories. The process requires patience, attention to detail, and knowledge of historical and regional context,” she adds.

Depending on the availability of church and civil records, but in many Croatian regions, Matea says she can trace family lines back to the early 1800s, sometimes even the mid-to-late 1700s.

Parish records (births, marriages, deaths) are key she says, especially since civil registration only began in the late 19th century. In rare cases, with noble or landowning families, records can go further back.

“One major challenge is record accessibility, not all church books are digitised or publicly available. Some parishes are hesitant to share their archives, or records are missing due to war, natural disasters, or poor preservation.

Another issue is the variation in surnames or spelling changes over generations, especially in border areas where multiple languages were used (Latin, Hungarian, German). Deciphering old handwriting and navigating administrative changes in place names also takes time and patience,” Matea explains.

One of her favourite cases involved a client whose father had left for Australia in the 1920s in search of a better life, leaving behind his first wife and their young son in Croatia.

“While in Australia, he started a new life, had two daughters, and lived there for many years. After World War II, he returned to his first wife in Croatia, who had waited for him all that time, and they even had another child together. Just a few years ago, I was able to connect the half-brother in Croatia with his two half-sisters from Australia. It was a truly emotional and meaningful reunion,” she reveals.

Matea says that that many people expect a clear, uninterrupted line of information, but are surprised by how fluid identities were – surnames changing slightly, people being recorded under nicknames, or shifting between villages and parishes.

“Others are surprised to find Austro-Hungarian or Ottoman influences, or that their ancestors may have lived under multiple empires. Some also discover unexpected religious or ethnic roots,” she adds.

More and more people are keen to trace their roots in Croatia

Matea also sees recurring themes, especially from the U.S., Canada and Australia.

“Clients from the U.S. and Canada often have ancestors who left Croatia between 1890 and 1930 due to poverty or land scarcity. They’re often surprised at how young their ancestors were when they left and how strong village ties remained.

With Australian clients, many families emigrated post-WWII, often as displaced persons or labor migrants. There are often silences or gaps in the family narrative because of trauma, war, or political reasons. These stories are often emotional and complex.”

So what advice would Matea give someone wanting to know more about their family roots in Croatia?

“Start by gathering as much family information as possible – names, dates, birthplaces, and any family stories. Old letters, gravestone photos, and passports can be surprisingly helpful. Then reach out to a professional researcher who understands the structure of Croatian records and how to navigate the archives. I’m always happy to talk about your roots and how we can uncover them together,” she concludes.

You can contact Matea through her website www.deepinthepast.com or email her at: [email protected]