Posted By:	Tom Albano
	Email:
	Subject:	Many Da Silvas are Jewish
	Post Date:	September 08, 2001 at 18:41:43
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/dasilva/messages/112.html
	Forum:	Dasilva Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/dasilva/

There is a good chance that you are Jewish. My name is also Da Silva and I believe there to be Jewish blood in my background. Many Jews took the last name Da Silva, or were given that name. It means "thorn" in Portuguese. These were the Marrano Jews, or "PIG" Jews, and although some converted to Catholicism, some did only for convenience, but continued to practice their Jewish faith privately.