Re: Gracia as a Sephardic (Jewish) surname
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In reply to:
Re: Gracia as a Sephardic (Jewish) surname
Pamela Gracia 10/05/03
Gracia and Garcia are derived from the same name. Both are conversos names most often acquired through Catholic conversion. In the Azores for example, almost all Garcias were originally Jews (Levi or Cohen) who were forced (as was most often the case) or who willingly converted to Catholicism. The name was taken from Father Manuel Garcia, a Spanish priest, sent to the Azores from Spain in the 1850s to implement a late period version of the inquisition. Other names like De Rego, Costa, etc.. were taken from other priests as well. Some converted but kept there Jewish name within their family naming convention. Example: Coelho which is the Portuguese version of Cohen. If you are unsure of Jewish origins but would really want to know I would suggest you try a DNA test. Specifically mtDNA. Another Manual Garcia, the head of the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies has suggested that due to forced conversion there may be at least twice as many people of Jewish ancestry who are unaware of it as there are Jews in the world today.