List of Jewish (and Crypto-Jewish) Surnames - Paperback

by Miguel Abraham Garcia Torres (Author)

*List of Jewish (and Cripto-Jewish) Surnames* is a practical, research-driven guide for anyone exploring possible Sephardic or converso (anusim) ancestry through family names-without falling into myths, shortcuts, or wishful thinking. After more than a decade working with archives, Inquisition trial files, and thousands of real genealogical cases, Dr. Abraham García presents a carefully curated reference list of over 30,000 surnames documented across Iberia, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Spanish-speaking world. The book is built around a simple idea: a surname is not "proof," but it can be an excellent compass-especially when used with the right methodology. Beyond the list, the author explains how surnames actually function in genealogical research (how they change, multiply, disappear, and reappear over generations), how to set a clear research goal, and how to move from a name on paper to verifiable documentation. A unique feature of this work is a clear grading framework (A-D) to evaluate the strength of a surname's connection to Jewish or crypto-Jewish contexts, based on historical proximity, geography, and archival evidence. Written in accessible language but grounded in primary sources, this book helps readers and professionals alike: genealogists, family historians, researchers, and anyone who feels their surname may carry a hidden story. It is both a reference manual and a roadmap-designed to turn curiosity into structured investigation and, ultimately, into documented family history.