The sections of this website are arranged by current borders. The advantage of this is that most people are more familiar with modern borders than those of hundreds of years ago, and most archives are ordered by existing countries.
Start Researching your Sephardic Ancestry
Genealogy always starts with ourselves and our known relatives. Do not delay in interviewing older family members about their lives, what they remember and what they have been told; make scans of old documents and photos, and get family members to identity people in the pictures; see if older family members will agree to take a DNA test.
You start your ancestry research with your earliest known ancestor and trace back through the archives. If you jump even one generation, then there is a strong possibility you will find yourself researching someone else’s family.
Pay attention to genealogical standards. They are there to help you. A family tradition is, at best, a clue. Remember that much of what is online is untrue, particularly when they talk about so-called Sephardic surnames.
Do I have Sephardic ancestors?
If you are not sure about having Sephardic ancestry, then this site is not the correct place to start. You should join your local genealogical society.
If hiring a professional genealogist, find someone familiar with the archives in areas where your ancestors lived, set a budget and achievable goals.
Genealogical Groups to Join
If you have known Sephardic ancestry then I suggest:
- Joining the Sephardic Genealogical Society mailing list
- Subscribing to the Sephardic Genealogy channel on YouTube
- Joining The Sephardic Diaspora group on Facebook
- Join your local Jewish genealogical society
The first three steps will cost you nothing, and bring you to the heart of the Sephardic research community.
Main Institutions of Jewish Genealogy
Jewish genealogy is dominated by Ashkenazim in the United States. Their focus is different from ours. Sometimes ‘Jewish’ and ‘Ashkenazi’ can be treated as synonyms, although never in a malicious way.
Ashkenazi American ancestral research can be more focused on migration from the ‘Old Country’ and the Holocaust, while Sephardic genealogy is more focused on early modern (roughly meaning 1492-1800) ancestors.
The main institutions of Jewish genealogy are JewishGen, Avotaynu and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. The first two are supportive of and involved in Sephardic research. The IAJGS follows behind.
JewishGen hosts databases and discussion. Avotaynu publishes books on Jewish genealogy and runs the leading DNA project. The IAJGS hosts an annual conference on Jewish genealogy, with a mixed record in the quality and quantity of Sephardic involvement.
Don’t Forget the Countries of Origin
Most ancestors of most Ashkenazim lived in one of three empires. Our Sephardic ancestors lived in dozens of different countries. Genealogical societies and groups researching ancestors belonged to the majority community can be very helpful.
Commercial Genealogy Companies
The international field is dominated by Ancestry.com and MyHeritage. There are also regionally or nationally important companies, such as Geneanet in France.
Ancestry.com is American may have a relationship with FamilySearch and the Church of the Latter Day Saints. MyHeritage is Israeli. Personally, I find Ancestry.com easier to search.
Genetic research has its own section. I am not a genetic genealogist. Some people cite the latest edition of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger as a good introduction to the subject.
Most people take autosomal (family finder) DNA tests which are great for finding fourth cousins, but useless for deep research. A reported small percentage of a specific ethnicity in an autosomal DNA test may just be background noise.
So, start researching your Sephardic ancestry!
