Through my conversations with various extended family members and others in the Joliet Greek community I began to piece the puzzle together. The records avaliable from the Ellis Island Foundation offered priceless details about where they came from and where they were going.

In May of 2014 I had the unique opportunity to speak with Maroulina Xanioti-Pfeiffer  She is a first cousin of my father and the daughter of Dimitri Xaniotis - one of the many siblings of my grandfather John (Ioannis) Honiotes. She was able to provide many missing pieces of the puzzle and the origin of the Honiotes (Xaniotis) name.

I encourage you to make suggestions, corrections, and/or additions to anything you see here. I want this to be an accurate account of a proud family with a strong Greek heritage.

<<<ZOUGANES K. VLAHOYIANNAKIS-XANIOTIS circa 1880. Father of my grandfather Ioannis (John) Xaniotis and namesake of my Uncle Zougane known as "John"  ( note the light Cretan eyes).