Comments on: Italian Jewish Surnames & Genealogy – Part I

By: Emme

Emme — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:43:29 +0000

It definitely comes from where your ancestors were when they were giving surnames. It could be that they were orphaned, thus taking the name of where they were, or where they were from, it could be that it’s just what they chose, or that it was chosen for them, etc. I don’t see why it couldn’t be Jewish. For instance, I noticed Di Veroli, and that’s a small town near Frosinone in Lazio. I also noticed D’Italia too. I know a couple of Italian Jews. Their surnames are Russo and Fonseca. I hope you’re able to find out your ancestry. It’s such a feeling of emptiness for me; that not knowing the history of your family beyond some vague stories of great grandparents.

Good luck!

By: Emme

Emme — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:32:56 +0000

Because of the language barrier, it’s hard for me to do any ancestors research in Italy. My surname is kind of unique, and my grandmother’s surname translates to “from Persia”. Her family, not sure which (maternal or fraternal) come from Spain. That family story was confirmed in a sibling’s DNA showing a 7-10% Iberian. I wish I could research all these more. I did this for my British (so I though, lol) all the way back to the 1500s.

By: Saleh C.

Saleh C. — Wed, 10 May 2023 00:42:04 +0000

In reply to Ms Calabrese.

Yes it, based on “Diciionario Sefaradi De Sobrenomes” = Sefardi surname
: Dictionary of Sephardic surnames : including Christianized Jews, Conversos, Marranos, Italians(!), Berbers, and their history in Spain, Portugal and Italy(!).
.

By: Ms Calabrese

Ms Calabrese — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 03:53:48 +0000

I would like to know if my mothers name Calabrese I’m Calabria would be Jewish?

By: José Angelini Aquino

José Angelini Aquino — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 05:51:32 +0000

In reply to Victoria Tabacco.

por favor, Victoria , me ajude! https://www.facebook.com/joseangeliniaquino.autor.1

By: Victoria Tabacco

Victoria Tabacco — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:21:17 +0000

In reply to Theresa Colosimo.

Well most of italians do know about their jewish ancestry In 1350 aa lot of them were convert.
Plus Italia remains with many jewish communities.
They carry names of professions, cities and combined items.
If you are talking about italo americans then it makes sense , they do not know about it.
Most of jews born in Italy fled to North America .
South América many specially Brasil, Uruguay and

By: jonathanmnh

jonathanmnh — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:36:32 +0000

In reply to Theresa Colosimo. Absolutely! My maternal grandparents came from Naples area with " Porto" a Sephardic surname and were Catholic but there are many Portos on Inquisition murder ljsts as welk as a Lorenzo Porto who died in Concentration camp. I've now reconnected with my Jewish roots and faith. I feel I've come home to who I've always been deep down. Hebrew names like Miriam and my maternal aunt Esther have always been in our family.

By: Theresa Colosimo

Theresa Colosimo — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 16:08:32 +0000

The person named Alberto who is making comments about the names on the list of Jewish Italian surnames is perhaps not familiar with Calabria alone being 50% Jewish before the Inquisition. Many Italians do not know of their Jewish ancestry until they do a DNA test. I personally have the Rado’ and Pugliese surnames in my family. Both have Jewish ancestry and Pugliese is a very well known Jewish surname. So, just because many Italian Americans may not be aware of their Jewish ancestry does not mean it did not exist. It did.

By: Luciano

Luciano — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 02:09:11 +0000

SONCINO to

By: Nuccia

Nuccia — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:16:14 +0000

In reply to alberto. Thanks for your feedback. This is what the site is about...using various sources to find the answers we look for! And your English is fine. Grazie.