Македонци (село)

[Soldier of Macedon]

Македонци is a village in Thrace, Kardzhali Municipality, Kardzhali Province, modern Bulgaria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makedontsi

I am interested to know how the village acquired its name. It may be from Macedonian immigrants or it may be a remnant from earlier times as it is located within the boundaries of what used to be the Macedonia Theme of the East Roman Empire. The majority population today are Turks. The below link provides some statistics, the earliest are from 1934 where there were 446 inhabitants and most recent are from 2012 where there were only 124 inhabitants.

http://www.webcitation.org/6IsAAReqC

Aside from this, I can't seem to find much else on it. If anybody has any further information on this village, please share it.

[Carlin]

Indeed, it may be possible that it's related to earlier times. In the source below, the author talks about the "forces from Thrace and Macedonia", "the military settled in the Thracian villages", etc.

[stefan559]

https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%9B%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5

village in South Serbia

[Soldier of Macedon]

Thanks Stefan, it mentions two villages with different coordinates but the same name:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%C4%87edonce

Maćedonce - Maćedonce is a village in the municipality of Medveđa, Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the village has a population of 177 inhabitants.

Coordinates: 42°48′40″N 21°34′00″E

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%C4%...e_(Retkocersko)

Maćedonce (Retkocersko) - Maćedonce is a village in the municipality of Medveđa, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 81 people.

Coordinates: 42°50′03″N 21°31′12″E

[Liberator of Makedonija]

I would put money on the village in Thrace being named after Macedonian refugees from the waning years of the Ottoman Empire