ABOUT OUR SEPHARDIC SURNAMES
by Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum

Many of the Sephardic surnames are directly related to geographical locations and were acquired due to the forced wanderings caused by exile, persecution and denied opportunities. Often taking the name of a community or region. The place of origin could then be traced no matter where in the world the Sephardic would find her/himself. It possibly also created a sense of security, a knowledge that one had a "home base", roots somewhere, even though it was of a psychological nature. Many took the names of trees connecting them to the Tree of Life and as a reminder of the area where these trees are found.

Names of Arabic derivation, e.g.; Mesquito, Abenatar, Abensur, also occur frequently which relates to the Iberian peninsula from where the Sephardics came. During the long Moorish occupation of Spain, and to a lesser extent Portugal, much of their high civilization became part of the Sephardic sphere as well. This name borrowing occurs time and again in instances of prolonged culture contact between different peoples.

We find in many cases that the Portuguese Sephardim bear surnames of pure Iberian / Portuguese / Christian origin - e.g.; Machado, Texeira, Alvares, Castro, Gomes, da Silva, da Costa.

These names were given to - or taken by - the Iberian Jews during the centuries of Iberian peninsula life. Scholars are undesided - and remain divided - as to whether these names were originally Jewish and then introduced into Christianity at the time of their forced conversion - or whether the names derived from Iberian sources were given to the Jews when they were made to renounce Judaism. This remains unanswered and will remain part of the 'Iberian mystery'. We can only state that these types of names date back to the days of the imposed changes of religious affiliation by the Inquisition.

Of interest are the many double family names which essentially fall into two categories. The first type relating to the time of forced ( and willing )conversions. Often of the two names composing the double family name, the first dating from the pre-conversion period, and therefore typically Jewish. This was the name which later was used within the Jewish community. The second one was of 'Christian' origin and was given to the "New Christian" or Marrano upon their conversion. This latter name was used officially and for and business.

Some examples are: Cohen Henriques, Levy Madeiros, Shalom Mendes, Baruch Pinto or Moises Alvares . In some places -like Curacao - the Hebrew name could be used freely and by itself and when in relations with the Spanish or Portuguese - the Christian name would be employed. For the sake of avoiding confusion, and also in order to maintain the cherished family coherence, the two names were used in conjunction. This was not possible in Iberia as it would identify the person as being Jewish or 'New-Christian'. Both putting the person and their family in danger of the Auto da Fe. It was used in countries ruled by the Dutch like Curacao and Amsterdam. One such example is the baptised Beatrice da Luna who became Dona Gracia Mendes - also known as Hannah.

In many instances "aliases", or totally new names were adopted. Thus David Israel Bernal became known as Francisco Henriques and Moses Baruh Louzada adopted the name Juan Hernandez Louzada. This was especially predominant between the sixteenth and the eighteenth centuries among Portuguese Jewish merchants who resided in Amsterdam and Italy. To ensure some measure of safety for their family still living either in Iberia or in countries ruled by Spain or Portugal. Sometimes the change of names would happen a number of times including the firstname. Reasons for this can be traced to the rigor of the Inquisition and the dangers involved for the relatives and friends of the Sephardic refugees.

The second type of double name , is unrelated to the reasons cited above. Instead, they stem from a custom much in use in all Iberian countries where a son would supplement his own paternal surname with his mother's maiden name, e.g., Lopes da Fonseca and Jesurun Sasportas.

Copyight 1997, 1998, 1999 Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum


1) Sephardics of Curacao by Frances P. Karner
Published 1969 by Van Gorcum and Company, Assen, Netherlands

E-mail: Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum