Our family's roots are anchored in two distinct regions of Bosnia-Herzegovina, shaped by different histories and cultures.
Šimunac, Perković & Pavić families
Western Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Šimunac family is from the village of Vržerale (Podhum parish, near Livno), where they were formerly known as "Ljubas" and originated from Roško Polje near Tomislavgrad. Family oral history points to deeper roots in southern Dalmatia. The Perković and Pavić families are also from the Vržerale/Livno area, and the families are deeply interlinked: two Perković sisters (Agata and Iva) married two Šimunac brothers (Mato and Blaž).
Culture: Bosnian Croat, Catholic tradition
Hatibović & Manjo families
Eastern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Both the Hatibović and Manjo surnames converge on Foča, a historic town on the Drina River. The Hatibović family were traders in the Foča čaršija (old bazaar), operating multiple small workshops where artisans made trinkets and goods. Sulejman lived in the čaršija (commercial center), while Habiba grew up in Donja Mahala, close to the famous Aladža mosque (built 1549, destroyed 1992, rebuilt 2019). The Hatibović name derives from Arabic "khatib" (preacher). The Manjo surname is extremely rare, likely localized to the Foča area.
Culture: Bosniak, Muslim tradition
Our family represents a cross-ethnic Yugoslav-era marriage: a Bosnian Croat (Catholic) father and a Bosniak (Muslim) mother. This blending of cultures and traditions is at the heart of our family's story.
What genealogical research reveals about our family surnames and their geographic distribution.
A genealogy project documents Perković families in the Livno area. A record exists for Anto Perković, born November 21, 1888 in Potok — parents Marko Perković and Mara Perković (née Ivanković). Given that Agata Perković's father was Stipe Perković from the same area, Anto may be a relative — possibly a cousin or uncle.
Village records confirm "Šimunci" among the Catholic families of Vržerale (Podhum parish, near Livno). The family was formerly called "Ljubas" and came from Roško Polje near Tomislavgrad. Family oral history traces deeper origins to southern Dalmatia. Mato Šimunac served as Mayor of Livno (~1960-1967) before the family moved to Sarajevo in 1968.
The Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo holds 88 sijil (sharia court) registers from 1552–1852. These Ottoman-era records document property transfers, marriages, and disputes — and are among the only pre-1878 sources for Muslim families in Bosnia. The library also acquired the Memi Shah-beg collection from Foča itself.
Only about 136 people worldwide carry the Hatibović surname — 132 of them in Bosnia-Herzegovina, all within the Federation. Combined with Manjo's extreme rarity, this confirms both maternal lines are deeply rooted in a small area around Foča.
Catholic parish records in Bosnia-Herzegovina were introduced in the late 18th century, with the Franciscan order maintaining many of them. For the Šimunac/Perković lines, Catholic parish records from the Livno and Jajce areas (baptisms, marriages, deaths) are the primary source — some accessible through FamilySearch, with deeper records held by local parishes. For the Hatibović/Manjo lines, Ottoman-era sijil registers and defter (tax/population) records at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo are the key pre-1878 sources. Post-1878, civil registration under Austria-Hungary and later Yugoslavia provides additional documentation held in the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The broader historical periods that shaped our family's story.
If you have information about any of these questions, please reach out! Family history research is a living process, and your knowledge could help fill important gaps.
❓ What was Jela Šimunac's maiden name? Do we have records of her family?
❓ Where in southern Dalmatia did the Šimunac family originate before migrating to Roško Polje and then Vržerale?
❓ Who are the Swedish Perković cousins? (Children of Jozo, Niko, Jandre, and Slavko who emigrated in the 1960s)
❓ Who were Sulejman's other three brothers besides Edhem? What happened to his sister Zarfa?
❓ Who was Omer Manjo's wife? Do we know anything about Habiba's stepbrother Omer?
❓ Are there surviving documents, photographs, or records from either family — especially from the Livno or Foča years?
❓ Can Podhum parish records (Vržerale) or Livno municipal archives confirm Šimunac family records going back to the 19th century?
❓ Do Ottoman sijil registers at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo contain Hatibović or Manjo records from Foča?