The Fila Family Line Progenitor and Immigration
The Fila family is the last of our "founding" Czech ancestor families to be introduced.
Name Origin
In the Czech context, the name Fila (or the variant Filla) primarily originates as a pet form or diminutive of the personal name Filip, which is the Slavic form of the Greek name Philippos (Philip), meaning friend of horses".
Some etymological roots link the name to the word fil (thread or line), historically associated with weaving or textile work. Slavic Variation: In neighboring Slavic regions like Slovenia and Croatia, it is often used as a first name signifying "loving" or "affection".
Spellings & Pronunciations
- Czech
- Filo, Filko, Filek, Fila
- Feminine Version
- Filová, Filomená
- Slovenia & Croatia
- Fil
- Pronunciation
- The Czech name Fila is pronounced as follows:
The 'Fi' sounds like 'ee' in "fee."
The 'la' sounds like 'vuh' in "lava."
Josef Fila & Františka Kourková
Josef Fila and his wife Františka Kourková came over on the same ocean liner, the 'SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große,' with the Zimola family. There were 14 ancestors across five related families on this voyage to America.
Our 2nd-great-grandparents – Immigrated April 20, 1904 via Ellis Island
The Journey to America
Josef Fila and his wife Františka (KOURKOVÁ), our 2nd-great-grandparents, immigrated with their daughter, Antonína and her husband, Josef Zimola. They came to the United States on April 20, 1904. They arrived at Ellis Island on the fastest ship of its time, the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große.
You can see that Josef and Františka had in their care a niece, 18-year-old Františka "Fanny" Cíhal, who joined them on their journey.
Moravian Origins
The main branch of the Fila family seems to hail from Radonín. House #8 looks to have been in the family for centuries. House #2 and House #20 were all part of the branch through marriage. The Filas also had a branch in the towns of Malé, Panská Lhota and Nová Brtnice. I guess they got around.
As mentioned on the Zimola immigration page, Josef Zimola and his wife Antonína 'Antonia' Fila were on this ship, and they brought the Fila parents of Antonína and her sister Marie with them. Marie was married to František 'Frank' Vlcek and, they also immigrated at the same time along with their four children.
Our Ancestors
Our Fila ancestors and their relatives came from Moravia and settled in Nebraska in 1904.
Moravia - Třebíč
- Radonín
- Malé
- Panská Lhota
- Nová Brtnice
Nebraska
- Wahoo
- Omaha
- Papillion
Life in America
As far as I can tell, the elder Filas never purchased any land. They may have assisted their two daughters in purchasing their farms. They lived out their lives on the Zimola family farm with their son-in-law Josef and daughter 'Antonia.'
The other Fila daughter, Marie, and her husband 'Frank' seemed to have settled in Omaha and never farmed. According to the 1910 and 1920 US Census, he was a laborer in general work and later at a lumber yard.
Their ancestors live in Papillion, Nebraska. I have never tried to contact them, but it's now on my list.
Fila & Zimola Route to America
The journey from Moravia to their new home in Wahoo, Nebraska - 1904
Map Legend
Key locations in the Fila and Zimola families' journey to America.
House #8, Radonín, Moravia - Early 1904
The Fila family's ancestral home in Radonín. House #8 seems to have been in the family for centuries.
Bremen, Germany - April 1904
Bremen, Germany, the port of departure for the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große, the fastest ocean liner of its time.
Ellis Island, New York - April 20, 1904
The family arrived at Ellis Island after their Atlantic crossing. 14 ancestors across five related families were on this voyage.
Wahoo, Nebraska
The Fila family's final destination, where they settled with the Zimola family on their farm near Wahoo, Nebraska.
Family Stories
Anecdotes and tales from across the generations
Family Anecdote
The Fila family traveled together with the Zimola family on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große
There were 14 ancestors across five related families on this single voyage to America. The ship was the fastest ocean liner of its time, holding the Blue Riband for speed. Sadly, the ship met a tragic end during World War I.
The Voyage on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Große
The Fila family traveled with the Zimolas on the fastest ship of its time. Learn about the ship's
history and its tragic end.
Read the full immigration story.
.jpg)
Fila Photo Album
Browse through photographs of the Fila family across the generations.
View the family album.
Fila Documents
Ship manifests, census records, passports and other historical documents from the Fila family.
Explore the archives.
Comments
0 comment(s) on ""