The following census is transcribed and translated from its publication in the periodical Gurini Housher (Levon Hekimian, ed.), issues 5-9, 1978-1981. The original was found in the archives of the San Lazzaro monastery in Venice by Father Sahag Vartabed Jemjemian, a Mekhitarist priest, who was born in Aleppo on March 5, 1930, the son of Gurintsi Hagop Jemjemian and Sinanoush (a Talastsi). His birth name was Garabed.
It is difficult to judge how complete the census is. Only 200 Armenian houses have been transcribed below, but, as stated above, the published material has not all been located and the numbering of the sheets suggests that some parts were never published. In 1806, Fr. Ghougas Indjidjian numbered the Armenian houses at 400-500, but this number had reached 1350 by 1847, according to Parounag Beyi Feroukhian. Therefore, an educated guess would place the number of Armenian houses at 800 in 1828, which would mean that the list below represents 25% of the households one should expect to find in the census.
For ease of reading, I placed the first names and the last names in two separate columns. The first names are often preceded by the mention Mahdesi, which means they visited Jerusalem. Sometimes there is what appears to be a nickname between the first and last names; I placed such names in the first column. The last names often don't contain the -ian suffix. A name ending in -oghlou is simply a Turkish equivalent to the same name ending in -ian; last names were often translated from one language to another, such that someone named Arabian may also go by the name of Araboghlou. Sometimes, a mention (ոչ/no) appears next to the last name; perhaps it indicates an unmarried status. The mention Fireng / Firenk probably indicates a Catholic Armenian family, while the name Horom may refer to Armenians practicing or converted from the Greek Orthodox faith. The Armenian Evangelical Church had not yet been founded in 1828. The numbers in the third column appear to be a count of the children or dependents in the household.
Transcription and translation of the census
Transliteration key
| ԱՀԱՒԱՍԻԿ ԸՐԱԲԱԼԵԱՆ ԽՈՀԵՄԱՄԻՏ ՏԷՐ ԳՐԻԳՈՐԻ ԾՈՒԽՔՆ ԵՆ Ի ՍՏՈՐԵՒ ԳՐԵԱԼՔՆ ԿԱՐԳԱՒ, ՄԻ ԸՍՏ ՄԻՈՋԷ։- | ||
| HERE ARE THE PARISHIONERS OF HUMBLE DER KRIKOR, WRITTEN DOWN IN ORDER, ONE BY ONE. | ||
| Մահտեսի Գաբրիէլ Mahdesi Kapriel | Վարդապետեան Vartabedian | 12 |
| Մահտեսի Սարգիս Mahdesi Sarkis | Վարդապետեան Vartabedian | |
| Մահտեսի Յակոբ Mahdesi Hagop | Աֆարեան Afarian | 12 |
| Մահտեսի Թորոս Mahdesi Toros | Ղօչունեան Ghotchounian | 6 |
| Մահտեսի Մելքոն Mahdesi Melkon | Ղօչունեան Ghotchounian | 6 |
| Մահտեսի Յարութիւն Mahdesi Haroutioun | Ղօչունեան Ghotchounian | 6 |
| Մահտեսի Գրիգոր Mahdesi Krikor | Արապօղլու Araboghlou | 6 |
| Սէֆէր Sefer | Չիլինկիր Tchilingir | 6 |
| Մահտեսի Զաքարիա Mahdesi Zakaria | Ուրուպեան Ouroubian | 6 |
| Վարդեվարր Vartevarr | Չիլինկիր Tchilingir | 4 |
| Սարգիս Sarkis | Ճամուզ Djamouz | 5 |
| Յովսէփ Hovsep | Պօյաճը Boyadje | 6 |
| Յակոբ Hagop | Րրաբալեան Rrapalian | 5 |
| Պաղտասար Baghdasar | Մակարեան Magarian | 4 |
| Մարտիրոս Mardiros | Մուղամեան Moughamian | |
| Սիմոն Simon | Թերճանեան (ոչ) Terdjanian (no) | |
| Մահտեսի Օհաննէս Mahdesi Ohannes | Շէհիրեան Shehirian | 2 |
| Թերճան Terdjan | Թերճանեան Terdjanian | |
| (Վերջ Թղ. 1ա) (End Sheet 1a) | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 1B THE OTHER SIDE (SHEET 1A) IS | 125 | |
| Margos | Rapayelian | 3 |
| Haroutioun | Rapayelian | 1 |
| Khatcher | Rapayelian | 1 |
| Mahdesi Kevork | Aharonian (no) | |
| Haroutioun | Djeghelian | 2 |
| Sarkis | Djeghelian | 2 |
| Dzeroun | Kizir | 3 |
| Hagop | Kizirian | 2 |
| Sarkis | Kizir | |
| Mahdesi Sarkis | Zeytountsi | 2 |
| Toloy | Zeytountsi | 1 |
| Garabed | Shehirian (no) | |
| Vartavar | Haladj | 1 |
| Hagop | Haladj | 1 |
| Hagop | Djemdjem | 1 |
| Toloy | Djingene (no) | |
| Sahag | Boghig | 1 |
| Mahdesi Zakaria | Boghig | 1 |
| Haroutioun Mahdesi | Boghig | 2 |
| Krikor | Boghig (no) | |
| Mahdesi Ohan | Siranos | 2 |
| END SHEET 1B | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 2A THE OTHER SIDE (SHEET 1B) IS | 187 | |
| Kevork | Devedji | 12 |
| Devedji Firenk are these children | 3 | |
| Nazar | Devedji | 3 |
| Hagop | Devedji | 1 |
| Kevork | Agheksantros | 12 |
| Vartavar | Agheksantros | 4 |
| Nazar | Gerger | 12 |
| Aghazar | Gerger | 1 |
| Haroutioun | Gharateli | 12 |
| Krikor | Hekim | 12 |
| Arout | Sarafian | 10 |
| Toros | Sarafian | 4 |
| Hovsep | Hurmuzian | 4 |
| Yeghiay | Hurmuzian | 1 |
| Sdepan | Shrvan | 2 |
| 280 | ||
| END SHEET 2A | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 2B | ||
| THE PARISHIONERS OF DER SAHAG ARE THESE PEOPLE | ||
| Mahdesi Nazar | Mermer | 3 |
| Mahdesi Toros | Hekim | 12 |
| Mahdesi Tchagher | Ghazan | 1 |
| Hagop | Ghanzade | 4 |
| Mahdesi Haroutioun | Ghazan | 1 |
| Haroutioun | Ghoudough | 1 |
| Ohan | Ghoudough (no) | |
| Vartavar | Tchaghlay | 1 |
| Simeon | Khanzet | 3 |
| Sahag | Gouzoug | 1 |
| Haroutioun | Maladiatsi | 1 |
| Hagop | Gharageuz (no) | |
| Kevork | Gharageuz | 1 |
| Mahdesi Manoug | Vran | 2 |
| Hagop | Gotchig | 1 |
| Khatcher | Gagos | 1 |
| Sarkis | Boghnag (no) | |
| Mahdesi Ohannes | Tahmazian (no) | |
| Krikor | Mamay | 1 |
| Kasbar | Zadigian | 1 |
| Ohannes Kel | Manoug | 1 |
| END SHEET 2B | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 3A THE OTHER SIDE (SHEET 2B) IS | 61 | |
| Tchapar | Oini (no) | |
| Hagop | Haladj | 1 |
| Sahag Arab | Melkeun | 1 |
| Vartavar | Haladj (no) | |
| Sarkis | Haladj | 1 |
| Giragos | Bergirdji (no) | |
| (Simeon | Harabtsi Fireng (no) | |
| Baghdasar | Andjeulen (no) | |
| Hagop | Doroun | 1 |
| Hagop | Borbezeg | 1 |
| Mgrditch | Aladjudjug | 1 |
| Mardiros | Gotchig | 1 |
| Hovsep | Bugudju | 2 |
| Toros | Hurmuz | 1 |
| Simeon | Halebtsi Fireng | 1 |
| Gebid | Gerger Fireng | 2 |
| Garabed | Gubudju Fireng | 2 |
| Simeon | Hekim (no) | |
| 76 | ||
| END SHEET 3A | ||
| TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: SOME SHEETS MISSING HERE | ||
| Mahdesi Bedros | Yeghisay | 3 |
| Khatcher | Yeghisay | |
| Tatevos | Yeghisay | 1 |
| Vartavar | Boyadje | 1 |
| Hagop | Khebedjan | 1 |
| Kevork | Khebedjan | |
| Garabed | Hilal | 1 |
| Ovagim | Ovasap | 1 |
| Giragos | Hovasap | 1 |
| Oavagim | Azaria | 1 |
| Sarkis | Aladjudjug | |
| END SHEET 8B | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 9A THE OTHER SIDE (SHEET 8B) IS | 285 | |
| Mahdesi Toros | Baron | 1 |
| Baron | Baron | 2 |
| Kevork Keur | Hagop | 2 |
| Kevork | Gharay | 3 |
| Medzadour | Gharay | 1 |
| Boghos | Katchoy | 3 |
| Hagop | Shakkhi | 1 |
| Hayrabed | Mnatsagan | |
| Mahdesi Kapriel | Tchokar | 3 |
| Kevork | Tavout | 1 |
| Giragos | Kurt | 3 |
| Sarkis | Kurt | 1 |
| Anasdas | Kurd | 1 |
| Beloy | Baghdadle | 1 |
| Hagop | Ghelav | 3 |
| Mahdesi Sarkis | Ghelav | 1 |
| Manoug | Ghelav | 1 |
| Mahdesi Mardiros | Gherdjakh | 1 |
| Mardiros | Djamouz | 2 |
| Mahdesi Sarkis | Borbezeg | 2 |
| Pilibos | Marashle | 1 |
| END SHEET 9A | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 9B | ||
| Mahdesi Manoug | Maranian | 12 |
| Mahdesi Ohan | Bahadourian | 8 |
| Mahdesi Hagop | Mahadour | 8 |
| Mahdesi Krikor Gagh | Sarkis | 12 |
| Mahdesi Toros | Atmadjay | 12 |
| Sarkis | Abdal | 12 |
| Haroutioun | Bahadour | 4 |
| Nigoghos | Bahadour | 3 |
| Mahdesi Mgrditch | Bahadour | 3 |
| Khatcher | Bahadour | 3 |
| Sarkir | Bahadour | 3 |
| Toros | Ghazegh | 4 |
| Mahdesi Haroutioun | Kildji | 5 |
| Mahdesi Hagop | Taghtagh | 3 |
| Ohan Kese | Kesber | 5 |
| Varvavar Kese | Kesber | 3 |
| Ohan | Gouzoug | 12 |
| Sarkis | Ghazegh | |
| Mardiros | Nadjar | 1 |
| Vartavar | Tavout | 1 |
| Manoug | Tavout | 1 |
| Haroutioun | Nadjar | 1 |
| END SHEET 9B | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 10A THE OTHER SIDE (SHEET 9B) IS | 139 | |
| Mahdesi Krikor | Bahadour | 1 |
| Toros | Gouzoug | 1 |
| Mikayel | Boshnag | 1 |
| Sarkis | Bengli | |
| Dede | Bengli | 1 |
| Mardiros | Bengli | 1 |
| Sahag | Bengli | 1 |
| Mahdesi Avedik | Bengli | 3 |
| Mahdesi Asdadour | Bengli | 3 |
| Mardiros | Dzoy | 1 |
| Yeghiay | Handal | |
| Mardiros | Meshovgale | |
| Kapriel | Meshovgale | 1 |
| Dede | Azariay | 1 |
| Andon | Tchapout | 1 |
| Kasbar | Ohni | 1 |
| Ehan | Topbash | 1 |
| Mahdesi Baghdasar | Tahmaz | 2 |
| Bedros | Ghoyoumdjou | 1 |
| Hagop | Beredjigtsi | 2 |
| Kasbar | Beredjigtsi | 3 |
| Ehannes | Terzi | 2 |
| Hagop | Berber | 1 |
| END SHEET 10A | ||
| SHEET 10B IS EMPTY | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 11A | ||
| THE PARISHIONERS OF DER SIMEON ARE | ||
| Mahdesi Hagop | Purenian | 12 |
| Mahdesi Haroutioun | Purenian | 4 |
| Mahdesi Hagop | Adjemian | 8 |
| Mahdesi Haroutioun | Adjemian | 8 |
| Apargos | Terdjanian | 4 |
| Simeon | Narbegi | 5 |
| Narbeg | Narbegi | 2 |
| Manoug | Mougham | 2 |
| Haroutioun | Mougham | 3 |
| Mahdesi Sdepan | Djeglez | 4 |
| Simeon | Tavout | 2 |
| Mahdesi Melkon | Magarian | 2 |
| Mahdesi Garabed | Magarian | 2 |
| Mahdesi Kevork | Mendil | 2 |
| Hagop | Ohni | 1 |
| Tchapar | Ohni | |
| Hagop | Gharadeli | 1 |
| Aharon | 1 | |
| Sefer | Maran | 1 |
| Manoug | Terdjan | 1 |
| END SHEET 11A | ||
| SHEET 11B IS EMPTY | ||
| BEGIN SHEET 12A | ||
| THE PARISHIONERS OF DER MOVSES ARE | ||
| Kasbar | Didizian | 4 |
| Garabed | Mermer | 1 |
| Mahdesi Gotchig | Hagop | 2 |
| Mahdesi Khatchadour | Horom | |
| Mahdesi Haroutioun | Horom | |
| Sarkis | Djoshkhoun | 3 |
| Ghazar | Gedelogh | 1 |
| Haroutioun | Gedelogh | 1 |
| Dzeroun | Gizir | 1 |
| Hagop | Kiahiay | 1 |
| TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: PART FROM ISSUE 9 MISSING HERE | ||
a) A final Y (Յ) is often silent in Armenian, but I have preserved them.
b) A small vowel is typically inserted in spoken Armenian to break up consonant sequences such as the one in Mgrditch. As a result, one often finds extra vowels in adapted spellings (a practice which I have not followed): Megerditch, Megirdich, Mugurdich, Meuguerditch, etc.
| ARMENIAN LETTERS | SIMPLIFIED WESTERN ARMENIAN TRANLITERATION VALUES | PLAUSIBLE ALTERNATIVES |
| Ա | A | |
| Բ | P | |
| Գ | K | C, CU (French), Q, QU (French) |
| Դ | T | |
| Ե | I before Ա and Օ, YE initially, E elsewhere | A (English), I |
| Զ | Z | |
| Է | E, except before Օ | A (English), I |
| Ը | E | |
| Թ | T | |
| Ժ | ZH | G (French), J (French) |
| Ի | I, except before Ւ | EE (English), E (English) |
| Լ | L | |
| Խ | KH | H, K |
| Ծ | DZ | Z |
| Կ | G | GU |
| Հ | H | |
| Ձ | TS | TZ |
| Ղ | GH | G |
| Ճ | DJ | G (English), J (English) |
| Մ | M | |
| Յ | H initially, Y elsewhere | |
| Ն | N | |
| Շ | SH | CH (French) |
| Ո | VO initially and after a vowel, O elsewhere | |
| Չ | TCH | CH (English), DCH |
| Պ | B | |
| Ջ | TCH | CH (English), DCH |
| Ռ | R | RR |
| Ս | S | |
| Վ | V | |
| Տ | D | |
| Ր | R | |
| Ց | TS | TZ |
| Ւ | V, except after Ի and Ո | |
| Փ | P | |
| Ք | K | C, CU (French), Q, QU (French) |
| Օ | O, except after Է | |
| Ֆ | F | |
| ԷՕ | EU (except in the name Simeon) | |
| ԻՒ | IOU in the suffix -թիւն, U elsewhere | IU, IOU, YU, YOU |
| ՈՒ | OU | OO (English), U |