CROATIAN HERALDRY

By Adam S Eterovich

BACICH-BACIC

Bacich can be found in America written as Basich, Bachich and Bacic because of the difficulty of Croatian accent marks being dropped upon coming to America. "Bac" means cow-keeper, herdsman and shepherd in Croatian. This is probably the root and original meaning of the name as many Croatians were herdsmen.

Bacich is a very popular name in Croatia and is found in all parts of the country. The Bacich clan has two coats of arms. Arms were granted in 1545 to Gabriel Bacich and are on file at the University Library in Zagreb. Arms were also granted in 1717 to George Bacich and are on file at the National Archives in Zagreb. Horizontal lines are red; white is silver; black is black.

The first Croatian hall built in America was at Sutter Creek, Amador County, California in 1873. Amador is still the center of an old Croatian colony which traces its roots to the gold rush. Anton, John, Mathew and Peter Bacich all sought their fortunes in the foothills of the Sierras. The Catholic Cemetery at Jackson is full of Croatian pioneers.

John Bacich was selling oysters on St. Louis St., New Orleans in 1859 and Michael Bacich maintained a grocery house on Decatur St.

Courtesy of the Croatian Genealogical and Heraldic Society, 2527 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, California, 94070. E-Mail croatians@aol.com; Web www.croatians.com. Adam S. Eterovich.