There are a few discrepancies found in Lithuanian vital documents. It shows Ona Lauzikaite married to and giving birth to children with a Tadeusas Velaniskis and a Matausas Vilaniskis. We are not sure if they are the same person or two different people. As of now, we are assuming they are one person.

Not much is known on the Vilaniskis surname. It is not a common name. As far as our family knows, no Vilaniskiai family members immigrated to the US. While, the surname itself is fairly uncommon, our Vilaniskis line derives from the small villages of Pelysiai and Pupenai. These villages can be found around the Simonis and Kupiskis Parishes in Lithuania.

Throughout the last 200 years, the Lithuanian Catholic churches have held a special meaning for our family. Marriages, Baptisms and other celebrations revolved around the church. You will find most records are drawn from the Skapiskis and Simonis Roman Catholic Church.

Throughout this site you will find a some information on our Vilaniskis line. There are still many unanswered questions. Following, you will find a brief outline of my direct Vilaniskis line.

If you'd like more information on this Vilaniskis line, please let me know. When requesting information, please indicate the individuals name, year of birth and reference number.

Vilaniskis Roots Home | Vilaniskis Vitals | Vilaniskis Photos  | Vilaniskis Descendants

Here are some highlighted facts about our family ::

• Lithuanian archive documents show Ona Lauzikaite married to and giving birth to children with a Tadeusas Velaniskis and a Matausas Vilaniskis.
   

• The Vilaniskis surname can be traced back to Matausas Tadeusas Vilaniskis born in the mid 1800's.
   

• Matausas Tadeusas [b. 1800's] married Ona Lauzikaite and together they had 4 children. All daughters  born in the Pupenai Villiage of the Skapiskis Parish, Lithuania.
   

• Vital documents show two different spellings of the surname Vilaniskis. It is shown as Vilaniskis and Velaniskis.
   

• The Grand-Daughter, Emilija Slapelyte and her Husband, Jonas Dagys, left for the United States. It's unknown if any other Slapeliai family members immigrated to the US.
   

• Family stories tell us the brother [Petras or Lionginas] of Emilija immigrated to Brazil approximately the same time Jonas and Emilija left for America. Possibly around the Sao Paulo area. No documentation has been found to establish this story.

• In the 1930's, 1940's, after the death of her husband, Emilija traveled to Chicago Illinois to visit. In this photo, she is shown with an unknown man. We believe it may be a Slapelis cousin. Can you identify him?
   

• After their arrival to the US, Jonas and Emilija kept in touch with their family back in Lithuania. The only letter remaining is torn therefore the full context of it is lost. We are still trying to determine it's Author. We believe the letter was written by K. Varanavicius who may have been married to Emilija's sister, Marijona. We not 100% certain of the Varanavicius connection to our family but they were also (Juozapas Varanavicius) witnesses at the marriage of Emilija's parents. For more information, take a look at the letters. Can you translate it? Know what it means? Relates to your family? Look familiar?! Let me know!
   

• In 1911, Jonas and Emilija gave birth to their first born child; a son. Joseph Dagys died 12 short days after his birth.