MENEOU

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Meneou is a village situated in the Larnaca district, almost eight kilometers southwest of the town of Larnaca on the road to Kiti. The origin of the name is obscure. However, according to Goodwin the villagers claim that the name derives from “milliunia,” meaning “innumerable.” On the other hand he suggests that the place was most likely named after a feudal lord who owned the area as a fief during the mediaeval period. The Turkish Cypriot alternative name Menevi has been in use since the Ottoman period. The origin of this name is obscure.

 
Historical Population

As can be seen in the above chart, the village has had a mixed population since the Ottoman period. However, Greek Cypriots were always in a clear majority. Throughout the British period, while the Greek Cypriot population increased steadily, the Turkish Cypriot proportion declined from 44% in 1891 to 13% in 1960.

Displacement:

The first-conflict related displacement took place between December 1963 and January 1964, when all the Turkish Cypriots from this village fled the village and sought refuge in nearby villages such as Dromolaxia/Mormenekşe(353) and Alaminos(347). The number of Turkish Cypriots who fled the village was approximately 25-30 (22 in 1960). They remained in those villages where they sought refuge until 1974 when they were once again moved, this time to the Turkish-controlled north of the island, to be resettled in the Famagusta district.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by Greek Cypriots displaced from their homes in the north and the village’s original Greek Cypriot residents. By 1980 a large Modern Housing Development with 470 units had been constructed for the displaced Greek Cypriots from the north. The last Cypriot census of 2001 put the total population at 1,196.

  


 
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