Franzanna
In retirement
They say my family name was invented when a Belarussian (OR could've been also Polish though) soldier, who apparently fought for Russian army, was wounded by this river in Finland in the 1700's. A Finnish priest's daughter healed him and they fell in love and bla bla bla so they are my ancestors. The river is mentioned in pope's documents because they believed it was evil for it suddenly chanced its flowing direction or something. I guess that Belarussian (OR Polish, they don't know for sure) was so keen on this river that my family is named after this river.
So we don't know, maybe you still are the only Belarussian in here....?
What's your story then?
It's a few pages back... My grandfather is Belarussian and my mother lived there until the age of six. He anglicised his accent and name - well, actually, he chose a completely different name that was much more English - and he doesn't often talk about Belarus. It's sad, because if my mother hadn't told me that she'd lived in Mahilyow, I wouldn't even know I was part Belarussian.