Sephardic Jewish Genealogy in Bulgaria

Historical Timeline for Jews in Bulgaria:

Early Jewish Presence:

    • Romaniote Jews in Bulgaria before 1396 Ottoman conquest
    • Ashkenazi refugees from Bavaria arrived in 1470
    • Sephardim settled in early 16th century

    Bulgarian Independence and Jewish Rights:

      • 1878: Bulgaria gains independence from Ottoman Empire. Jews granted equal rights
      • 1909: Large synagogue consecrated in Sofia

      20th Century Developments:

        • 1920-1934: Jewish population growth from 16,000 to 48,565
        • World War II: Bulgarian government’s mixed approach to Jewish protection
        • Post-war: Significant Jewish emigration, especially to Israel

        Genealogical Resources for Bulgarian Sephardic Jews

        Archives and Records:

          An overview of different archives in Bulgaria.

          Books and Publications:

            Online Resources on Jewish Bulgaria:

            Vital Records:

              • Civil registration of Births and Deaths (introduced 1891, mandatory 1898). Link.
              • Today Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates are issued by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice and municipal civil registration offices (Матричен отдел).
              • Bulgarian Census records. Censuses were conducted in Bulgaria in 1880, 1887, 1892, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1920, 1926, 1934, and 1946. The 1880 census was under Ottoman rule.

              Directories and Census Records:

              Other Resources for Researching Jewish Family History in Bulgaria

                Dr Joseph Benatov leads tours to the Jewish Balkans, including Bulgaria.

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