Sephardic Genealogy

Sephardic genealogy is a door into your family history. This website is a genealogical resource for people researching their Sephardic Jewish ancestry from Spain and Portugal, a land known by Jews as Sefarad. Jews of this origin are known as Sephardim (singular: Sephardi) or as Sephardic Jews.

Rembrandt, The Jewish Bride

Sephardic Jewish Diasporas

Sephardic Jews formed three often overlapping and intermarried diasporas:

  • Megorashim (from the Hebrew, meaning Exiles) lived mainly in Morocco and Algeria alongside local Jews known as Toshavim. Many Megorashim spoke a Spanish dialect known as Haketia.
  • Eastern Sephardim lived in the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire in western Turkey, Greece, southern Balkans and much of the Middle East. They spoke a Spanish dialect known as Ladino.
  • Western Sephardim, also known as Portuguese Jews, are descended from ancestors who were converted to Christianity in Portugal in 1497, and experienced Inquisition in Portugal and Spain. Later members of this group established Jewish communities mainly around the Atlantic, including in The Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Jamaica and elsewhere. They spoke Portuguese, and also Castilian Spanish. While not Sephardic, Italian Jews are sometimes treated as honorary Sephardim.

This website shares resources for researching Sephardic genealogy in these diasporas. You are encourages to also sign up to the Sephardic Genealogical Society’s free mailing list

There are some proven communities of Iberian Jewish ancestry, such as in the town of Belmonte in Portugal, the Chuetas on the Spanish island of Majorca, and the Dönmeh community now in Turkey. Genetic research and archival research into specific lineages can also prove connections.

Other usages of the word ‘Sephardic’

Confusingly, there are also other uses of the word Sephardic. These include:

  • Jewish communities that follow the Sephardic prayerbook, including most non-Iberian-origin Jews from the Middle East and North Africa.
  • Less common now, but ‘Sephardic’ is sometimes a catch-all expression meaning ‘not Ashkenazi’.

These non-Sephardic communities each have their own histories and traditions. Often they lived in the same places as Sephardic Jews, and hopefully this site will be useful to people researching ancestors in those communities.

A growing number of people believe they have Sephardic ancestry, often thanks to incorrect information online. These include some Ashkenazi Jews and also people who believe they have “crypto-Jewish” or “bnei anusim” ancestors, sometimes based on the erroneous understanding that surnames are Jewish. In most cases such claims are unprovable and often improbable.

I encourage everyone to research their ancestors, compliant with the Genealogical Proof Standard, the Code of Conduct/Ethics of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, and the Code of Conduct of the Sephardic Genealogical Society. Follow the evidence where it leads.

Portuguese Nationality for People of Sephardic Ancestry

I am here to help with your Sephardic genealogy. I am not legally qualified or qualified to offer immigration advise. You should seek legal advice from a trustworthy lawyer regulated by the Ordem dos Advogados.

Both Spain and Portugal offered nationality to people claiming Sephardic ancestry. The Spanish option is now closed. The Portuguese nationality option may still be open. I believe it is subject to both parliamentary and judicial review. In early 2024 a Portuguese lawyer provided an update at a meeting of the Sephardic Genealogical Society.

Need help researching your Sephardic genealogy?

Your Sephardic ancestry is a treasure worth recovering and an incredible family history to pass down to future generations. If you want a professional to work on your Sephardic genealogy, or want help in creating a Sephardic family tree, please get in touch.

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