Mergenovich Family History & Genealogy

History

Mergenovich is a latinized form of Mrđenović(Mrdyenovitz). It originates from a small town in Herzegovina - Gacko, modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska. It dated from around 14. century. It was a nobel family vith a "vojvoda" fiefdom (duke in English feudalism). They ruled from the Gacko and originate from a nearby village Mrđenovići. They were a port of a bigger tribe called Ljubibratići. After the ottoman conquest of Gacko they live on there land for about two more centurys, one part converts to islam in order to keep there nobility, ther are now Bosnians. A turkish bey wanted to have the right of first wedding night, so one member of the family killed him, and the family fled from bosnia into to lands. The forst went to Dalmacia, Dubrovnik, Lika, Istria, converted to catolichism and they are now Croatians. The other part went to Slavonia, Montenegro, Kordun, Banija (Banovina), and they kept there Serbian Orthodox roots. After the battel of Mohach, part of catolic Mrđenovićs fled deep into Central Europe (Slovakia, Poland, Austria...)and Italy. In around revolutions of 1848, a small part of the family setteld in USA, but there might have been earlier acounts of movint to the New World. They celebrate St. John the Baptist slava( orthodox patron saint ).

Name Origin

Megenovich meens "sons (or desendents) of Mrđen" - Mrđen Ljubibratić. (first mentioning 1359.)

Spellings & Pronunciations

Mrđenović, Mrdjenovic, Mrdyenovitz, Mrđanović, Mrđa, Mrđen, Mrđan, Mrđenovački, Mergen

Nationality & Ethnicity

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska, Gacko
Orthodox Serbian family with some Croatian Catholics and Bosnian Muslims (but originaly Serbian)

Famous People named Mergenovich

Jelena Mergenovich - Canadian boxer
Mel Novak (Milan Mrđenović) - American actor
Marko Mrđenović - Serbian actor and voiceactor

Early Mergenoviches

These are the earliest records we have of the Mergenovich family.