Sephardic Jews of Denmark: History and Genealogy

Sephardic Jews in Denmark: A Historical Overview and Genealogical Guide

Early Sephardic Settlement in Denmark (17th Century)

  • 1619: King Christian IV licenses Albert Dionis (Samuel Jachia/Alvaro Diniz/Denis/Dionysius) to direct the royal mint in Glückstadt (Lykstad), Schleswig-Holstein
  • Thirty “Portuguese” families moved to Glückstadt, but the economy stagnated, and they moved away
  • 1640: Sephardic community established in Altona (now part of Hamburg, Germany)
  • 1647: Gabriel Gomez persuades Frederick III (reigned 1648-1670) to allow Sephardic Jews to live in Denmark for trade
  • 1647: Gomez organizes Danish trading expedition to the Caribbean, led by de Casseres brothers
  • 1651: Second Danish trading expedition
  • 1682: Sephardic community settles in Fredericia

Notable Sephardic Figures and Families

  • Albert Dionis (Samuel Jachia/Alvaro Diniz/Denis/Dionysius): Royal mint director, possibly lived in Hamburg and Brazil
  • Gabriel Gomez: Negotiated with Frederick III for Sephardic settlement
  • de Casseres brothers: Led Caribbean trading expedition

Sephardic Influence on Danish Commerce

  • Financial services
  • Luxury products, including jewelry
  • Involvement in Danish West Indies trade
  • 1647 expedition unsuccessful due to social conflict in Barbados related to the English Civil War

Genealogical Resources for Danish Sephardic Jews

Organisations:

    Historical Records:

      Geographical Areas of Interest:

        • Glückstadt (Lykstad), Schleswig-Holstein
        • Altona (now part of Hamburg, Germany)
        • Fredericia
        • Copenhagen
        • Danish West Indies (now U.S. Virgin Islands): Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix

        Interesting Facts and Observations

        • Some German Jews may have adopted Portuguese names and joined Sephardi synagogues to benefit from special privileges
        • Albert Dionis may translate to Alberto Dinis, possibly connecting him to the Dinis family of Pontevedra in Galicia
        • It’s unclear if any Sephardi families have been continually settled in Denmark from the 17th Century
        • There was a Sephardic presence in the Danish West Indies (Danish Antilles/Danish Virgin Islands)

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