Butkovic, from mediavel Bosnia, Croatia to Illinois
Hi, my grandmother's maiden name was Butkovic, and she was born in Gospic, Croatia in 1911. Her father, Ilija (Elias) Butkovic was born in Bilaj (vicinity of Gospic, Lika county,)in 1872. His brother, Josip (Joseph) Butkovic was born sometime after 1882. He left to the US. I do not know when. No one has ever heard of him since that.Except that he has been a very strong man (perhaps a loger), nothing is really known of him.
Now, here is a little text on Butkovic history. The translation is done by "google translate".
NAME: The beginnings of the fathers of the popular personal name Butko (Budo, Budimir, Budislav). Butko descendants Butkoviæi. Linguistically related surnames derived from the same first name as Budak Budiæ, Budimir, Budiseliæ, Budisa etc.
ROD: Great tribal communities founded in the 14th century in medieval Modruš County. It was first mentioned in a document from 1475. Michael B., vicar of the monastery of St.. Mikula on iron (Pauline monastery chapel).
In Modrus Feudal Law from 1486. mentions the monastery of St. Serf. Mikula in Plasih and Bužah (Plašæanski field) - Matko Butkovic country has 10 days, so two ports, serves horse.
During the fiercest Turkish wars in the 16th century gender Butkoviæa completely abandons Ogulin region and moves in several directions. They go to the end and Vinodol Rijeka (Povile, Freezers, Sibinj), then in Istria where developing clan village near Butkoviæi Vodnjan. You go and Slovenia.
Numerous Butkoviæi served as soldiers in ledenik regiments (Vinodol). Several family of Ledenik Butkoviæa coming in the second half of the 17th century Ogulin region where military officers are becoming Ogulinska Authority.
The land register (1775). Contain data for the three home associations: Upper Modruš (Mijat) Ostarije (Anton) and Ogulin (Jandre).
After liberation from the Turks Croatian Butkoviæi participate in the 18th century migration in Modruš Poilovlje where settled in the village Kaniškoj Ivi (23-6) end Garešnica. It should be noted that many LEDENIÈKA Butkoviæi then moved to the newly liberated Lika (Bilaj, Budak, Gospic, Licki Osik).
Butkoviæi participate in the great wave of immigrants from Ogulin area to the U.S. population (1890th-1914th) and permanently settled in Chicago (Illinois).
In the end Ogulin develop clan village in the town Ogulin PODVRH (37-8). According to the census of 1948. there were a total of 54 people with the last name Butkovic.