Ostrec

Ostrec (Macedonian Cyrillic: Острец; Albanian: Ostrec) is a village in the municipality of Bitola, North Macedonia. The village is about 12 kilometers away from Bitola, North Macedonia. It used to be part of the former municipality of Bistrica.

Ostrec
Village
Острец
Air view of the village
Ostrec Location within North Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°02′N 21°16′E
Country	North Macedonia
Region	Pelagonia
Municipality	Bitola
Population  (2021)
• Total	161
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Car plates	BT
Website	.

Culture

Ostrec has traditionally and exclusively been populated by Ghegs, a northern subgroup of Albanians and speak the Gheg Albanian dialect,^[1][2][3] similar to the Matjan and Dibran Geg subdialects.

Demographics

Erekovci is attested in the Ottoman defter of 1467/68 as a village in the vilayet of Manastir. The inhabitants attested largely bore Albanian anthroponyms, such as Leko Arbanash, None Arbanash, Gon son of Tanush etc.^[4]

Due to emigration in the 1960-1970s, a sizable diaspora from the village exists in the mainly Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.^[5]

As of the 2021 census, Ostrec had 161 residents with the following ethnic composition:^[6]

• Albanians 154
• Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources 7

According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 229 inhabitants.^[7] Ethnic groups in the village include:^[7]

• Albanians 228

Many Albanians migrated to Türkiye from this village between 1920-1930. In addition, in the 1950s, there were migrations to Türkiye again. There are also those who immigrated to Australia and America. Immigrants to Türkiye and their children mostly reside in Büyükkale village of Tire district of İzmir city. In 1960 through to the mid-1970’s many of these Ostrecly moved to Australia, the vast majority live in Melbourne, (Naarm) Victoria.

References

1. Indogermanische Gesellschaft (1929). Indogermanisches Jahrbuch, Vol. 13. Karl J. Trübner. p. 183. "Monastir (Bitol) auch für das Studium des Alb. geeignet: Ostrec (11 km von Monastir), Zlokućani haben geg., Dihovo, Bratindol, Magarevo, Ramna, Kažani, Dolenci, Lera, Crnovec, Drevenik, Murgašovo tosk. Bevölkerung. Die tosk."
2. Jusufi, Lumnije (2010). "Eine zentralgegische Sprachinsel im toskischen Sprachareal von Manastir". In Demiraj, Bardhyl (ed.). Wir sind die Deinen: Studien zur albanischen Sprache, Literatur und Kulturgeschichte, dem Gedenken an Martin Camaj (1925-1992) gewidmet. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 282. ISBN 9783447062213.
3. Godišen zbornik (1969). Volumes 17-18. Univerzitet vo Skopje. Geografski institut. p. 171. "Чисто албански села сега се: Арматуш, Кишава, Острец, Злокуќани, Снегово, Старо Змирново, Саждево, Јакреново, Борино, Норово, Древеник. При ослободувањето од турското владеење во 1912 г. оваа област имала повеќе чисто албански села."
4. Murati, Qemal (2022). "EMRA VETJAKË TË PROVENIENCËS SHQIPTARE NË VILAJETIN E MANASTIRIT NË DRITËN E DEFTERËVE OSMANË TË SHEK. XV". Studime Albanologjike. ITSH: 36. OSTREC Leko Arbanash; None Arbanash; Gin, vëllai i Nikollës; Gin, i biri i Tanush-it; Gon, i vjetër; Gon, i biri i Koke-s; Gin, i biri i Pano-s.
5. "After World War II". Immigration Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
6. Total resident population of the Republic of North Macedonia by ethnic affiliation, by settlement, Census 2021
7. Macedonian Census (2002), Book 5 - Total population according to the Ethnic Affiliation, Mother Tongue and Religion, The State Statistical Office, Skopje, 2002, p. 70.

External links

Facebook Ostrec Group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ostrec