Portuguese citizenship on the basis of surnames
Did you know that many of the common surnames in Israel were originally names of places in Spain, and that it is a simple matter for someone with one of these surnames to prove eligibility for Portuguese citizenship? In this article we bring you the full list of Portuguese citizenship Jewish surnames and their origins in Spain Portugal.
Our law offices specialize in emigration to Portugal, particularly obtaining Portuguese passports for descendants of Jews expelled from Spain. If you bear one of the surnames appearing in this article, you are eligible for Portuguese citizenship and our office can assist you in the process.
Portuguese citizenship Jewish surnames
The following is a list of characteristic Jewish surnames with a direct Spanish/Portuguese connection. If you or a close relative bears one of these surnames, you are eligible for a Portuguese passport!
The list includes dozens of surnames that are well known among Israelis and Jews throughout the world (as well as their non-Jewish descendants, who are also eligible).
Israelis with these surnames number in the hundreds of thousands. Throughout the world, the numbers apparently exceed one million. Here is the list:
Ohana – Its source is from the village Ugena, located between Madrid and Toledo. The name is particularly common among Moroccan Jews, and there are over 11,000 Israelis with this surname. There are other versions of the name, such as Ohanun, Ochana, Ohaninna, Ohanuna, Ohananna, etc.
Iluz – Ilozi is the name of a village located in northern Spain, near the Basque strip. Jews once lived in this village, apparently having settled there during the Muslim conquest in the 8th century. Approximately 5000 Israelis bear some form of this name. Variations of the name are Banailuz, Yaloz, Illus, Ben Iloz, etc.
Albala – A village in western Spain. The name appears among Jews in various forms. Here are a few examples: Albalak, Albalia, Albalag, Albalach, etc. A Spaniard named Yitzhak Albalag was a leading philosopher in the 13th century. He was an Aristotelian philosopher who tried to bridge essential contradictions between religion, science, and philosophy. Spanish rabbis, however, did not accept his ideas, and banned him on charges of heresy.
Alkalai – Several villages in Spain bear this name. However, most people with this surname apparently came from the village Alcala de Henares, near the city of Toledo.
Elkaslassy – The surname comes from the village Casales, located in northern Galicia. After the expulsion from Spain, most of the village’s population settled in the countries of North Africa, particularly Morocco.
Arroyo – There are a number of villages with this name in Spain. Jews used the name during the early Golden Age period. Thus it is considered one of the most ancient names among Spanish Jews. The name has various versions, among them Arvaya, Da Arvius, Ben Arroyo, Arollia, Ben Arvia, etc. After the Spanish expulsion, the name was common, primarily throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Aragon – This is also the name of an ancient strip of land in Spain. The kingdom of Aragon existed for about 500 years, until the 15th century. At that time it merged with the kingdom of Castille, forming the kingdom of Spain as we know it today. Nevertheless, the name is considered rare among Jews.
Gavizon – Derived from the name of the village Cabezon, which lies near the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain. This surname is more than 700 years old. A respected and wealthy family bore this name in Spain of the Middle Ages. After the Expulsion, the name migrated to North Africa and Turkey.
Giron – Derived from the city named Girona. The Jewish settlement in the city was remarkable for its scholars. Moreover, Girona was the birthplace of Kabbalistic teachings, which became a fundamental component of Jewish being. This was thanks to the Torah scholars Ezra and Azriel, who were also teachers of the Rambam. The community was established in the 9th century and earned a significant standing in wisdom literature. The surname is connected to the Spanish Muslim era, when the first letter was pronounced as a soft gimmel (Jirona/Jirondi) and not a hard consonant like a chet, as it is today.
Granada – The source of the name is the city of Granada in the Andalusian strip. The city became the Islamic capital for the entire 11th century. As a result, there was an influx of Jews to the city, who became a significant force there until the Expulsion in 1492. Traces of the name can be seen until today in names such as Agranati, Granati, Elgranati, and other similar ones. Famous Jews of the city included Shmuel HaNagid, as well as his son Yehosef HaNagid. In addition, the “Granada Edict” was published in the city – the edict ordering the Spanish Expulsion.
Valensi – This of course refers to the city of Valencia. It is known that Jewish settlement in the city began in the 11th century. The port city formerly served many Jews involved in commerce. Famous Jews in the city included the well-known adjudicator Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet (Rashba), who served as rabbi of the city; the Jewish Minister of the Treasury in the Christian Spanish kingdom, Shlomo Bonafos; and the poet Rabbi Shlomo Ibn-Gabirol.
Toledano/Toledo – Apparently the most well-known surname among descendants of Spanish expellees. Its source is the city of Toledo, located in central Spain. Toledo was an important center for Spanish Jews, where tens of thousands of Jews lived for generations. Leaders of the city included such distinguished figures as Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham Ibn Daoud Halevi (Rabad), Rabbi Asher Ben Yehiel (Rosh), etc.
Leon – Named after the city of Leon, which is located in the district of Castille and Leon. The beginning of Jewish settlement in the city is dated to the 10th century. We know of famous Jewish figures who bore this name over time in various forms, such as: Rabbi Moses de Leon – a rabbi and kabbalist who lived in the 13th century. He was considered to be the author/distributor of the Zohar. Rabbi Yitzhak di Leon lived in the 15th century and served as rabbi of Toledo, the city of Torah scholars. Other forms of the name are: Da Leon, De Lyon, Lyon, Dilion, etc.
Lugassi – Named after the village Lugas. The village is located in northern Spain, near the city of Oviedo. Most people with this surname migrated to Morocco after the Spanish expulsion. About 5,400 Israelis currently bear this name. Other forms of the name are: Lugazi, Lugashi, etc.
Lachiani – A very ancient name which was widespread among Spanish Jews. Its source is the city of Jaen in southern Spain. However, it is also known in the form Alchiani. In Golden-Age Spain, it was written as Algiani – after the Muslim city Jaen. However, when the Christians conquered the city, they changed the pronunciation of the city’s name. At that time the Jews also began to use the Spanish language and thus changed the pronunciation of the letter J to “Ch”.
Moyal – There is a village in the land of Catalonia by the name of Moya. The village is situated between Barcelona and Jirona, which were two great Jewish centers in the past. Thousands of descendants of the Jews of Moya carry the name today in different variations, such as: Ben Moyil, Emoyil, Moil, Emoil, etc.
Monsonego – Taken from the village by the name of Monson, located to the west of the Catalonian strip. Cities close to Monson which were full of Jews in the Middle Ages included Saragossa, Tarragona, Barcelona, and Jirona. Jews of the village of Monson may have arrived via these cities.
Malka – A famous surname, borne by almost 18,000 Israelis. Malka is considered one of the most ancient Jewish surnames. The initial source of the name comes from northern Spain in the 12th century. The name was most likely taken as a nickname for residents of Malaga in the distant past.
Maman – Its source is the village Maman, located in the Galicia district in northern Spain. Almost all those bearing this name come from Morocco, and they number almost 10,000. Variations on the name are – Ben-Maman, Mamani, Mamana, etc.
Marciano – Its source is the city of Murcia in southern Spain. Over time, outstanding Jewish figures lived in the city, such as Yehuda de la Cavaleria – one of the most important commercial suppliers, who helped arm the Christian navy in their war with the Muslims. Other distinguished Jewish families who lived alongside the king in Spain were ibn Turiel, Bonsegnor, ibn Lop, and more. Other variations derived from the name Marziano include Marsiano, Morsia, Morziano, etc.
Navaro/Navarro – The Navarro district is located in northern Spain between the Basque strip and Aragon. Official Jewish settlement in the district began in the 10th century. The surname among Jews is extremely ancient, almost 800 years old. The name was also widespread in the Middle Ages among Portugeuse Jews (who apparently came from Spain).
Sevilla / Sevilia – The name of the famous city of Seville, located in the Andalousia region in southern Spain. Until the year of the expulsion, the Jewish settlement in Seville was one of the most ancient on the Iberian peninsula, going back two thousand years. Noble and famous Jewish families lived in the city, such as Arbarbanel, Ibn Tibon, Abulafia, Ibn Virga, and more.
Sfard – The name directly indicates Spain. In many cases the name can be found in official documents of Jews of Eastern and Central Europe. This is also true of similar names such as Spanier, Shpanir, Sfaradi, Spaniol, Spaniard, etc.
Swissa – From the name of the village of Suesa located in the Cantabria region in northern Spain. The name has roots from as early as the 13th century. In addition, Swissa is considered one of the most famous Sephardic names, with over 10,000 people bearing this name in Israel.
Saragusti – Comes from the name of the city of Saragossa. It is said that Jews settled in the city as early as Roman times. The name is mostly common among Jews of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, but it can also be found in the countries of the Ottoman Empire.
Pardo – Named after the village of Pardo. The village is located in the Madrid district in central Spain. El Pardo is located next to Toledo, which was the most magnificent Jewish center during Spain’s Golden Age.
Portugali – The name testifies that its bearers are from Portugal. The name has additional derivatives: Portuguez and Di Porto.
Pinto – In fact there are several villages with this name, some in Spain and others in Portugal. However, the most famous one is located between Toledo and Madrid. This name also proves a direct connection to the Iberian peninsula.
Prado – Named after the village Prado del Rey. The village is located in southern Spain between the cities of Malaga and Seville, places where tens of thousands of Jews once lived.
Cuenca – A village located between Madrid and Valencia. During the Golden Age, there was a famous family of this name. Today the name is very rarely found among Jews.
Cordoba – Taken from the city Cordoba. The city was a prominent focus for many Torah scholars during the Muslim period in Spain. Among the outstanding Torah scholars were Rabbi Maimon Hadayan, the Rambam, Rabbi Joseph ibn Migash, Hasdai ibn Shaprut, etc. With the Muslims’ arrival in Spain, Cordoba became a center of arts and literature for all of Europe.
Curiel – Although it seems to have a Hebrew connection, it is also the name of a Spanish village near the city of Valladolid. Official documents show that Spanish Jews began to adopt this name in the 15th century.
Castiel – This name also has roots in the Iberian Peninsula, but in this case there are two possibilities. One is that the name comes from the Castille strip, which was founded in the 12th century during the religious wars with the Muslims. On the other hand, there is also an opinion that the name derives from the Portuguese city Castelo. Documents show that the name appeared in Spain at least 700 years ago.
Shriki – Comes from the name of the village of Xerika in the Valencia district. The initial sound “ch” was once pronounced as “sh”. The name is carried by almost 3,400 Israeli citizens.
In conclusion – Surnames eligible for Portuguese citizenship
The gateway to Europe may close. If you have ever thought of becoming a European citizen and enjoying the wide range of benefits offered by the sought-after passport, there is no better time for you to do it.
Portuguese law grants eligibility to anyone who can prove that his or her surname appears in the above list. If you have found your current or former last name in the list – we will be happy to help you obtain a Portuguese-European passport. Portuguese citizenship can be obtained by showing the relevant surnames.
Contact us – Surnames eligible for a Portuguese passport
Tens of thousands of Jewish surnames are known to have a Spanish or Portuguese origin. Is your surname also eligible? If you are a descendant of ancestors from a North African country or a former part of the Ottoman Empire, there is a good chance that you are eligible. Contact us to find out if you are among those eligible for Portuguese citizenship.
Eligibility for Portuguese citizenship via surnames – emigration to Portugal with our law offices.
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