Jewish Genealogy in Sicily (Sicily)

Jewish Genealogy in Sicily (Sicily) – The origin of the Jewish life in Sicily

Jewish settlements existed in Sicily since the early Roman times.

After the sack of Jerusalem in 63 the Romans brought about thirty thousand Jewish slaves from Palestine in the island.

During the Middle Ages there were Jewish quarters, or so-called «Giudecche» in about fifty towns of Sicily.

When the Jewish communities of southern Italy suffered persecutions at the close of the thirteenth century, those of Sicily, at that time under a different rule, were unaffected.

The Normans were tolerant with of the Jewish population and in this period Jewish welfare incresed and the culture flourished in many fields (medicine, philosophy, litterature, etc.). The nearness to Africa and the Moslem world gave to the Sicilian Jewry the characteristics of a Moresque community.»When the Jewish communities of southern Italy suffered persecutions at the close of the thirteenth century, those of Sicily, at that time under a different rule, were unaffected.

Hence «Sicilian Jewish history had in certain respects closer affinities with Spain than Italy» (C. Roth).

The expulsion of 1492

In 1492 the king Ferdinand The Catholic proclaimed the Edict of expulsion.

At those times Palermo, Messina and several other cities had a considerable Jewish population.

At their height, Jewish Sicilians probably constituted around one tenth of the island’s population.

After the edict of expulsion the Jews had to choose between to leave the island or to convert. The Jews left or converted.

The date of the expulsion was extended from the 18th of September 1492 to 12th of January 1493 in order increae the looting.

In the fist decades of 1500 acts of baptism and marriage in Sicilian churches list families bearing Jewish surnames and baptismal names such as Isacco, Beniamino, Abramo, and Davide, formerly rare among Sicilian Christians.

The infamous Spanish edict of expulsion brought to an end the Jewish influence in Sicily.

But the conversos kept secret Jewish customs. In 1516 a revolt took place in Palermo as reaction to Catholic zeal.

The Inquisition begun a fight the neophiti (the newly converted) with trials and stakes . This persecution went on for decades

Although the Inquisition succeeded in erasing almost all evidence of the existence of Sicilian Jews, it remains material for the careful researcher on genealogy: lists of baptisms, trials of the Inquisition, etc.

Moreover before their forced departures, Jews often sold or closed out their goods. As a result some notarial (notary) archives store the notary’s deeds of these Jewish fugitives, with some of the most detailed found.

Places in Sicily were Jews are attested in the 15th century

Aci, Aderno, Agrigento, Alcamo, Assaro, Bisacquino, Bivona, Bronte, Caccamo, Calatabiano, Calatafimi, Caltabellotta, Caltagirone, Caltanisstta, Caltavutoro, Cammarata, Capizzi, Carini, Castania, Castelbuono, Castiglione, Castronovo , Catania, Chiaramonte, Chiusa, Ciminna, Collesano, Corleone, Ferla, Fiumedinisi, Francavilla, Geraci, Giuliana, Lentini, Licata, Licodia, Marsala, Mazara, Mazzarino, Messina, Milazzo, Militello, Mineo, Modica, Monreale, Monte San Giuliano, Naro, Novara, Palagonia, Palazzolo, Palazzolo Acreide, Palermo, Paterno, Patti, Petralia, Piazza, Polizzi, Ragusa, Randazzo, Regalbuto, Rometta, Salemi, San Filippo de Argiro, San Marco, Santa Lucia, Savoca, Sciacca, Scicli, Siracusa, Spaccaforno, Sutera, Taormina, Termini, Terranova, Trapani, Vicari, Vizzini,

About the Sicilian Jews gone away

After the edict of expulsion part of the Jewish population left the island.

The arrival of the fugitive Jews from Sicily left traces in the places of arrival

These:newcomers built new synagogues, created their own chevrot (brotherhoods).

In the places of arrival there were disputes regarding ritual matter or there were religious polemics.

Surnames of the former Jews of Sicily:

After the edict of expulsion part of the Jewish population converted. These are some surnames adopted by Jews after the conversion.

Abene, Accardo, Accolla, Actuni, Actuni, Acugna, Adario, Aiello, Ajello, Alagona, Alaimo, Alaymo, Albertino, Alessandro, Alessi, Alessio, Aloysi, Amato, Ambrosio, Amore, Andrea, Andriano, Anello, Angrida, Angrida, Anigito, Anquida, Antilla, Arberiz, Arena, Ariola, Ariza, Attuni, Attuni, Atuni, Aurifici, Ausello, Ayello, Balam, Balbenta, Balbentano, Balbo, Ballester, Balsamo, Balventano,

Balvo, Bandira, Barbara, Barbarino, Barbaruso, Barbato, Barbeno, Barbera, Barberi, Barberino, Barbusa, Bardaro, Barisano, Baro, Barone, Barresi, Bastone, Bayna, Bella, Bellavia, Bellissima, Bellocchi, Bellomo, Benjamin, Bentevegna, Bernardo, Bernentano, Biancolilla, Billardita, Bivilacqua, Blancolilla, Blunda, Bochino, Bon, Bonafide, Bonanno, Bonavoglia, Bondelmonte, Bonfiglio, Bongiorno, Bonifazio, Bonina, Bonjorno, Bono, Bonsenor, Bonsignore, Bordonaro, Borrusio, Boxino, Braçavento, Brancato, Branchiforte, Branciforte, Brazavento, Briatico, Brigandi, Briyogna, Bruno, Bucchere, Buchere, Bucheri, Bufalo,

Calandrino, Calanterra,Calcasia, Calcaterra, Calderaro, Calì, Calvi, Calvino, Cameriere, Cammarera, Cammareri, Campagna, Campano, Campanya, Campisi, Campulo, Canador, Candela, candelaio, Candila, Candilaro, Canizzaro, Cannata, Capello, Carbi, Carbon, Cardamoni, Carini, Caro, Caruso, Casachio, Casacho, Casciara, Casciaro, Caserma, Castaeli, Castaneda, Castillo Bono, Caxaro, Certa, Chagegi, Chancho, Chaniteri, Charissimo, Chiarol, Chicala, Chillarano, Chinello, Chinirella, Chirmino, Chirri, Chirullo, Ciccardo, Cimatore, Cocubella, Coggi, Cohino, Coino, Coloca, Compagna, Conciatore, Conso, Contaturi, Conuxenti, Conzatore, Corbiseri, Costa, Costantino, Coyno, Crapi, Cresi, Criscimanno, Crisi, Crispo, Cubaytaro, Cuchino, Culcara, Cundari, Curjali, Cusimano, Cutilli, Cutraro, Cuxino, Cuyno,

Damiano, Dangelo, Daniel, Danieli, Dardo, De Abene, De Accardo, De Accolla, De Acugna, De Adario, De Alagona, De Albertino, De Alessandro, De Alessi, De Alessio, De Alotta, De Alotta, De Aloysi, De Amato, De Ambrosio, De Amico, De Amico, De Amore, De Andrea, De Andriano, De Anello, De Angelo, De Anigito, De Anquida, De Antilla, De Antonino, De Antonino, De Aquino, De Aquino, De Arberiz, De Arena, De Ariola, De Ariza, De Atilia, De Atuni, De Ayello, De Balsamo, De Balsamo, De Barberio, De Barberio, De Baro, De Baso, De Bella, De Bella, De Bellissima, De Bellissima, De Bellocchi, De Bellochi, De Bernardo, De Bernardo, De Blunda, De Blunda, De Bona, De Bonanno, De Bonanno, De Bono, De Bonomo, De Bonomo, De Borrusio, De Borrusio, De Brancato, De Brancato, De Briatico, De Briatico, De Bucheri, De Camastra, De Cardonas, De Carlo, De Caruso, De Certa, De Cervellon, De Cesare, De Cola, De Colacerdo, De Composta, De Cona, De Costa, De Costancio, De Costanzo, De Cotrona, De Diana, De Donato, De Fassati, De Favata, De Ferlito, De Ferrante, De Fide, De Figlia, De Flore, De Fluri, De Francardo, De Furnari, De Garcia, De Gennaro, De Giansardo, De Grande, De Grimaldo, De Gualterio, De Gurreri, De Gurrerio, De Hector, De Heredo, De Iona, De Iurato, De Jaffe, De Jenaro, De Jeronimo, De Jesu, De Jop, De Jordano, De Judeo, De Lauria, De Lazaro, De Leofante, De Levi, De Li Causi, De Lione, De Lione, De Liotta, De Lippo, De Macri, De Mancuso, De Mandato, De Manuel, De Marchisi, De Maria, De Marino, De Marquesi, De Mayo, De Maystro, De Mela, De Melito, De Melzo, De Merion, De Michele, De Migna, De Millisio, De Minardo, De Minutili, De Moncada, De Mufari, De Nardo, De Nava, De Nechito, De Nichito, De Nicolao, De Nonis, De Nuchio, De Oliva, De Oliveri, De Oviedo, De Pagano, De Palma, De Paolino, De Paolo, De Parisi, De Patela, De Peri, De Perino, De Perna, De Perollo, De Perrino, De Pimentorio, De Porreta, De Rafaeli, De Rainaldo, De Rainerio, De Recupero, De Requesens, De Rizo, De Rizzuto, De Rodiglia, De Rogeri, De Rosso, De Russo, De Sagona, De San Martino, De San Michele, De Sancto, De Sangiorgi, De Sansoni, De Santa Fe, De Santa Luchia, De Santapao, De Santelmo, De Santo Padre, De Scalona, De Scavello, De Sena, De Simone, De Soldano, De Speciis, De Spines, De Stabile, De Tirpiano, De Turris, De Villesima, De Vita, De Vitali, De Zacaria, De Zacco, del Pesce, Demma, Despecie, Dexne, di Alvaro, di Anigito, di Bruno, di Cappitello, di Chirico, di Corno, di Fontana, di Franco, di Gavarecto, di Gerardo, di Giorlando, di Greco, di Jeso, di La Turri, di Leo, di Martino, di Milicia, di Monpilleri, di Muchera, di Paulino, di Peralta, di Ricardo, di Romano, di Russo, di Vento, di Vignuzo, di Xurtino, Embarbara, Estabele, Estaiti, Estanataro, Estayte, Estayti,

Falcon, Falcone, Fardella, Farna, Faso, Fava, Felipponi, Ferlisi, Ferlito, Ferrante, Ferranti, Ferrantí, Ferrario, Ferro, Filippazzo, Filippuni, Finocchi, Firruni, Fois, Formica, Fornaia, Fornazzo, Fragano, Franamonaco, Frantiza, Fratello, Fundacaro, Furnari, Fusaro,

Gagliardo, Galefi, Galeon, Galiano, Galifi, Galifo, Galisi, Galiuni, Gallardo, Gallo, Galluxo, Galluzzo, Galofaro, Gambadauro, Gandarano, Garcia, Gargana, Garrafa, Garraffo, Garsia, Garzìa, Gato, Gatta, Gatto, Gavarreta, Gentil, Gentili, Geremia, Giannotta, Giganti, Gipponaro, Grabynia, Granatino, Grasso, Greco, Grimaldi, Grimaldo, Guaglardo, Guagles, Guagliazzo, Guallardo, Guillermoso,

Imbarbara, Imbo, Impignolo, In Parrino, Inserra, Iob, Iop, Iurato, Jaffe, Joffe, Jofre, Jucondo, Juda, Karissimo, La Biscania De Toledo,

La Bonanno, La Bufala, La Buffa, la Cachara, La Carruba, La Castellana, La Castillana, La Chiana, La Chinia, la Cofinata, La Costa, la Delia, La Fenza, La Gaipa, La Gallola, La Gambina, La Giyusa, La Juppa, La Liota, Maccayuna, La Madiana, la Madiuna, la Manczuna, La Matina, La Mendola, La Muta, La Muta, la Oliva, La Padula, La Parrina, la Requesenza, la Restiva, La Rosa, La Russa, La Sala, La Scaletta, La Sena, La Valle, La Villa, La Yupa, Lagunari, Landolina, Lanza, Lanzafame, Lanzarota, Lanzarotta, Lanzarotto, L’Arricchito, Laudato, Lauria, Laurichito, Laurifichi, Laurifici, Leone, Li Castelli, Li Chiavi, Li Duchi, Li Pira, Li Puzzi, Libertino, Lione, Lixandro, Lixandro, Lo Bianco, Lo Biundo, Lo Buccheri, Lo Campo, Lo Castello, Lo Cheraulo, Lo Conte, Lo Conzo, lo Ferraro, Lo Gallolo, Lo Guzardo, Lo Lippo, Lo Marcho, Lo Mosuto, Lo Nanfrio, Lo Nobile, Lo Palazzo, Lo Porto, Lo Preste, Lo Presti, Lo Puzo, Lo Russo, Lo Surdo, L’Orefice, Lu Battiatu, Lu Janco, Lu Monaco, Lu Perno, Lu Pichulo, Luchiani, Luchiano,

Maccagnuna, Madioni, Madiuni, Magistro, Maimone, Maiolina, Maiolino, Malaherba, Malandrino, Malaventano, Malerba, Maltisi, Malventano, Mamiuni, Mammana, Manegla, Manescalco, Mangananti, Manganaro, Mangiavillano, Manilla, Mansone, Manuel, Manuele, Manuele, Manuello, Manzone, Marchesano, Marinara, Marinaro, Marsello, Maymuni, Mayo, Mazone di Aragona, Mazulo, Mazza, Mazzullo, Melito, Mercheri, Merciero, Mezaparti, Midari, Modioni, Modioni, Monello, Monj, Montalbano, Montaperto, Montemagno, Monterusso, Montinero, Montiviridi, Morello, Morso, Mozzicato, Mucicato, Mufori, Mulè, Muleto, Mulino, Murales, Murella, Mustaza, Musulione, Musuliuni, Muzarolo,

Napulino, Naso, Nasone, Naynere, Nichifora, Nigrelli, Nuchifora, Occhipinti, Oliveri, Ottone, Ottone, Ottuni, Ottuni,

Pagunj, Palagio, Palazo, Palmerino, Palumba, Palumbo, Pancarj, Papaloro, Paparone, Parquitano, Paschali, Pastorella, Patela, Patella, Patella, Pecoraro, Pegna, Pellegrino, Pelliceri, Pelobianco, Perella, Perna, Pernichi, Perrone, Petrosino, Pettula, Pezzimenti, Pidalu, Pidolo, Pimentel, Pizzimenti, Pizzolu, Pontela, Ponti, Porco, Porreta, Preste, Provenzano,

Rabbi, Rabbiba, Raffa, Rali, Rangulosa, Raynaldo, Recaro, Remissana, Restivo, Ricotta, Riczo, Rigio, Rizo, Rizone, Rizzo, Rocaforte, Rosela, Rosello, Rossello, Rosso, Rotolo, Rubino, Russo,

Saba, Sabeti, Sabia, Salamon, Salichito, Salicoti, Salinaro, Salvo, Sama, Sami, Samma, Sanso, Sansone, Sansoni, Santa Croce, Santa Lucia, Santafè, Santafide, Santangelo, Santanisi, Santantoni, Santiglia, Santilla, Santoro, Sanzapace, Sapia, Sarto, Sartori, Satariano, Savarino, Scamiglia, Scandiano, Scanomontano, Scantiglia, Sciandiano, Sciarrat, Scono, Sellaro, Senia, Senia, Sgrima, Silvestro, Sinacolfi, Sinorello, Sirina, Solana, Soldano, Sonzeri, Sorino, Sosini, Spataro, Speciale, Stagnataro, Stagno, Staiti, Statella, Svaglia,

Tavaglia, Terra, Timpa, Torregrossa, Torturici, Tramontana, Traper, Trubitteri, Truppiano, Turpiano, Turriforti, Turturici,

Valentino, Valisti, Vanarco, Varisano, Ventimilla, Ventuni, Venturino, Vergogna, Vriatico, Vriatico, Xandiano, Xarat, Xernera, Xortino, Yelpo, Yona,

Zabateri, Zacarias, Zacco, Zaffarana, Zafuta, Zafuto, Zafuto, Zapateri, Zarzana, Zavatteri, Zebedeo, Zingarella,

Resources for Genealogy:

Names and places are good starting points to begin your genealogical research.

This database lists the resources sorted by place and period.

Consult the Database of the Resources for Jewish Genealogy in Sicily.

Bibliography:

– Vito La Mantia in Origini e vicende dell’Inquisizione in Sicilia, Palermo, Sellerio editore, 1977.

– Carlo Alberto Garufi, Fatti e personaggi dell’Inquisizione in Sicilia, Palermo, Sellerio editore, 1978.

– C. Di Giovanni, L’ebraismo in Sicilia, Palermo 1748, Sala Bolognese 1976.

– N. Buccaria, Sicilia Judaica. Guida alle antichità giudaiche in Sicilia, Palermo 1996.

– Giovanni Modica Scala, Le comunità ebraiche nella contea di Modica, SETIM, 1978

– F. Renda, La fine del Giudaismo Siciliano, Sellerio, Palermo 1993.

– Gaudioso Matteo, La comunità ebraica di Catania nei secoli XIV e XV, Catania, Nicolò Giannota, 1974.

– Giovanni Di Giovanni, L’ebraismo della Sicilia ricercato ed esposto, in Palermo, nella Gramignani, MDCCIXVIII.

– Ashtor Eliahl’, La fin du judaïsme sicilien, in «Revue des études juives», CXLII, juillet-décembre 1983, nn. 3-4.

– Angela Scandaliato, La Sinagoga e il bagno rituale degli ebrei di Siracusa, Giuntina Firenze 2002.

– Lea Henry Charles, Storia dell’Inquisizione. Origine e organizzazíone, Milano, Feltrinelli-Bocca, 1974.

– Matteo Gaudioso, La comunità ebraica di Catania nei secoli XIVe XV, Nicolò Giannota, Catania 1974

– M. Ben-Sasson, The Jews of Sicily (825-1068). Documents and Sources, Jerusalem, Ben-Zvi Institutre, 1991.

– Viviana Mulè, La comunità ebraica di Siracusa nel ‘400: aspetti di vita economica e sociale in «La Rassegna mensile di Israele», vol. LXIX, n. 3 (settembre-dicembre 2003), pp. 59-86.

Source: Italian Family History

Related articles: LOS JUDÍOS DE SICILIA – UNA HISTORIA OCULTA por Alicia Benmergui

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