Is it true that the last name Pitkakari was shortened to Kari? and if so when?

Question

I was told by my father that our last name was changed to Kari a long time ago and i would like some more information about it please.

Answer 1

While an answer to this may be possible, it's beyond the scope of WikiTree, We're just a repository for information specific to Genealogy.  Your question is a good question, just not something we're set up to handle.

Names do change over time and if a name change  is covered here and so noted, that change can be traced down. A lot of names have been changed.  My grandmother was a Chilcoat, her grandfather was born a Chilcote, and his ancestors were Chilcotts or Chilcottes. Its not as major a change as yours, but it's hard searching when you don't know the correct spelling.

Answer 2

Tuomas Pitkakari came to Calumet Michigan with his brother Niilo around 1899 to work in the copper mines.  He boarded with the Nordstrom's.  His sister, Alena, married the widow, Mr. Nordstrom.  They had a son eight months after the marriage.  Tuomas married Mr. Nordstom's daugher Amelia.  He was 22, she was 17.  Their son John was born three months later in 1901.   Edna was born in in 1903.Tuomas was killed in an open pit mine cave in in Virginia Minnesota.  His son John changed his name to Kari and eventually ended up in Detroit (I believe).  He also had a son John. who was born in 1934 and a daughter named Nancy born in 1939.

Niilo Pitkakari was my great grandfather.

 

Yours,

 

Tim Graff