List of Sephardic Jewish surnames

Sephardic Jews have a diverse repertoire of surnames, with some originating in the Iberian Peninsula before the 1490s expulsions. Others were adopted afterward, either by Marrano families during forced conversions or by those returning to Judaism in their new centers of migration. Additionally, many Sephardic surnames were created or adapted in the countries where they resettled.

Common categories of Sephardic surnames include patronymic surnames, those derived from place names, and terms related to occupations, physical appearance, and other characteristics.

List A–B NameCommunityEarly referencesLater attested inMeaningNotesAbbas, AbbasiSephardicSpain (13th century)TurkeyAbenafiaSpain (15th century)Abendana(n), Ibn DanaSephardicMorocco (13th century)LondonAbenmenasseSpain (13th century)Aben SchoschanSephardicAbensour, AbensurSephardicSpainMorocco, Italy, Amsterdam, HamburgAbi-HasiraMoroccanMoroccoSyria, IsraelAbitbolMoroccanMoroccoAbu ZimraAboabSpain (1263)Holland, Italy, Turkey, Africa and United StatesAbravanel (Abarbanel, Abrabanel)SephardicHistorically associated with Davidic lineageAbsabanOttoman PalestineAbudarham (Abudaram, Abudaran, Abudarhan, Abudarhen)Spain (13th century)AbulkerSephardicItaly, AlgeriaAbulafia (Abenefeia, Afia, Abolafia, Bolaffi, Bolaffey, Bolaffio)SephardicSpain (12th century)Italy, Salonica, Safed (16th century), Izmir, Jerusalem (18th century), Gelibolu, Tiberias, HebronAbzaradielSephardicJerusalem (16th century)AdjimanSephardicConstantinopleAdretSpain (13th century)SmyrnaAguilarSephardicValencia, SpainAkninSpain (1150)AlaishBarcelona, Spain (1391)Tunis, LondonAlascarSephardicJerusalem (16th century)AlashkrSephardicEgyptAlbalia (Abrabalia, Albala, Albalah, Albala, Alba, Alva)Córdoba, SpainYugoslaviaSaid to descend from a noble Judean family of the time of Emperor Titus (70 CE)AlbeldaCastille, SpainTurkeyAlhadefSephardicRhodes, Jerusalem (18th century)AlfakarSephardicSpain (12th century)"Potter"AlfandariSmyrna, Constantinople, Jerusalem, BeirutDerived from a Spanish locality, possibly AlfambraClaims descent from Bezalel of JudahAlboteneSephardicSafed (16th century), Jerusalem (16th century)AlcabezSephardicSafed (16th century)AlgaziIzmir, Jerusalem (18th century)AlgranatiGranada, SpainDerived from GranadaAlkalai (Alcalay)SephardicItaly, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Jerusalem (18th century)Derived from Kalai, near Madrid, SpainAlmanziItaly (1700)Supposedly derived from Almansa, MurciaAlmoli (Almali, Almuli)Arabic for "the one who raises up"AlmosninoAragon, SpainJerusalem (16th century)Arabic for "orator"Alnaqua (also Alnequa, Alnakar, Aluncawi, Ankoa)North Africa (as Ankava)AltarasSephardicJerusalem (18th century)AmarilloSephardicSalonica, Trikala, Jerusalem (18th century)AmigoTemesvar, HungaryAmmarSephardic(14th century)North AfricaArdit (Arditi, Ardot, Ardut)Aragon, Spain (15th century)TurkeyArobasLivorno, Maone, CuraçaoArougheti/Arouguete/AroguetiRhodes, Izmir, Buenos AiresArragelSephardicSpain (15th century)Aroeste Arruesta: Olite, Navarre (1318) Arruest: Calatayud, Aragon (1492)Monastir, Bulgaria, Rochester, Veuey-Montreux, Chile, Buenos AiresAsaelSephardicJerusalem (18th century)AseoSephardicJerusalem (18th century)AsherdiesToledo, Spain (1297)Atias (Athias, Athia)Ottoman Palestine, Jerusalem (16th century), Italy, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London(Ibn) AttarSephardic(14th century)North AfricaArabic for "apotheracy", "spice dealer"AvilaMorocco, Spain (converted to Catholicism)Ayllon (Aelion, Aylion, Hillion)SephardicAmsterdam, London, SalonicaAzevedoSephardicAmsterdam, London, PortugalAzulay, AzulaiMorocco, Italy, England, PalestineDescended from Spanish exiles who settled in FezAzrielGirona, Spain (1160)Rumelia, Frankfurt, VilniusBaamonde, BahamondeSephardic Lugo, Spain (1492)Behar (Bahar, Bakhar, Bekhar)SephardicCastille, Spain (1492)Istanbul (Turkey), Izmir, Bulgaria, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Temuco, Monastir, Mexico City, Jerusalem, Ottoman Palestine (19th century)Hebrew acronym of "Ben Kevod Rabbi" (i.e. "son of the honorable Rabbi"); originally used in the form of "(son) Behar (father)"Family tradition in Istanbul points to ancestral origins in Zaragoza; see Nissim BeharBejerano, BedjaranoSephardicPlovdiv, Sofia, Kizanlik, Ruse, Istanbul, Turkey, Haifa, Ramat Gan, Bucharest, Buenos AiresDerived from Bejar, SpainBelilhosAmsterdam, CochinBelifanteTurkey, AmsterdamDescendants of Joseph Cohen Belifante, who fled Portugal for Turkey in 1526BelishaJuriti, Manaus, Obidos, Belem, Amazonia, Rio De Janeiro, Algiers, Blida, Constantine, Tunis, Tetouan, Mogador-Essaouira, Meknes, Casablanca, Morocco (18th century)Derived from contraction of ben (son of) ElishaBen EzraSephardicIzmir, Meknes, Fes, Casablanca, Oran, Mascara, Morocco, Safed (16th century)Ben ForadoSephardicJerusalem (18th century)Ben HabibSephardicJerusalem (16th century)Ben SanchiSephardicJerusalem (18th century)BenvenisteSephardicNarbonne (12th century)Spain, Provence, Middle East, Safed, Bulgaria, Serbia, Vienna, Constantinople, Jerusalem (18th century)Benzamero(13th century)Leghorn, ItalyBenzaqen(17th century)BerabSephardicJerusalem (18th century)BesudoSephardicSafed (16th century)Bibago / Bibas / Bibaz(15th century)MoroccoAssociated with Abraham BibagoBotonSalonicaEmigrated from Spain to Salonica in 1492BravoLondonBrito / de BritoBrudoSephardicTurkeyAlso recorded as a marrano familyBueno(16th century)France, Italy, Holland, England, United StatesBurlaTurkey, Ottoman PalestineBusalSalonica

C–Z NameCommunityEarly referencesLater attested inMeaningNotesCabessaToledo, Spain (13th century)Morocco, United StatesCabreraSpain (14th century)Caceras / Caceras and other variationsMexico, Portugal, Holland, England, Suriname, West Indies, New York, Philadelphia Probably from Cáceres, SpainCalahoraKrakow, PolandLived in Krakow since the 16th centuryCalay, Kalai, CalatayudSephardicCalatayud, Spain (13th century)Jerusalem (16th century)CaledroSephardicJerusalem (18th century)CamondoSephardicVenice, Constantinople, Jerusalem (18th century), ParisCansinoOran (13th century)CassutoSephardicAmsterdam, HamburgCarmonaTurkeyDerived from Carmona, SpainCaroSephardicSpain (15th century)Turkey, Safed, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, United StatesCastroSephardicSpain and Portugal (15th century)Bordeaux, Bayonne, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Jerusalem (16th century)CheloucheSephardicOttoman PalestineClavaAmsterdamCoelhoSephardicPortugal (13th century)Brazil, Amsterdam, London, Livorno, Israel, Tunis, CuracaoCohen (also Kahin, Coffen, Coen, Katz and other variations)Families bearing this name often claim descent from the priestly line originating with Aaron. It is one of the most common Jewish surnames, borne by approximately 2% to 3% of the global Jewish population. The surname has numerous variations, which differ by region and language.ComtinoTurkeysee Mordecai ComtinoConforti, ConforteSalonica, Turkeysee David ConforteCorcosSephardicSpain (13th century)Italy, Gibraltar, MoroccoCordova, CordobaSephardicAmsterdam, HamburgDerived from Córdoba, SpainCordoveroSephardicOttoman Palestine (16th-century Safed)see Gedaliah Cordovero, Moses CordoveroCovoSephardicJerusalem (18th century)Crescas, CresquesBarcelonasee Vidal CrescasCurielSephardicSafed (16th century)DanonSephardicBelgrade, Jerusalem (18th century), London, Smyrna, (Turkey), Bosniasee Joseph ibn Danon of BelgradeDatoSephardicSafed (16th century)DavilaSephardicDerived from Ávila, SpainFalconSephardicSafed (16th century)GalanteSephardicSafed (16th century)GaonVitoria, Spain (15th century)Gatigno (also Gatinho, Gattegno)SephardicSpain (14th century)TurkeyDerived from Gafines, FranceGavisonSephardicEgyptFamily fled from Seville to Granada in 1391GuedelhaSephardicSafed (16th century)da LeiriaSephardicSafed (16th century)MarhaimSephardicJerusalem (16th century)MasudSephardicJerusalem (16th century)de MayoSephardicSalonica, Jerusalem (18th century)Moreno Sephardic –295}}Bayonne, London, Hamburg, TurkeyNabon / NavonTurkey (Constantinople), JerusalemNahmias(1112)Jerusalem (16th century)Ancient family of Toledo, SpainNajaraSephardicAlgiers, Tunis, Damascus, Gaza, Safed (16th century)Derived from Nájera, Spainsee Israel ben Moses NajaraOliveira, de Oliveira, Olibam, Oliban, Olivan, de Olibam Safed (16th century), Aragon, SpainPalache (Palaggi, Falaji, Pallache)Morocco, TurkeyFirst appeared in Medieval Spain as PalyajPardoSephardicAmsterdam (16th century)Venice, America, Jerusalem (18th century)Derived from prado, Spanish for "Meadow"Pimentel Sephardic

Pepper Merchant - Spice Trade (16th & 17th century) Portugal, AmsterdamRamos (16 & 17 century) Spain, Mexico & Argentina da la ReinaSephardicSafed (16th century)SaguesSephardicSafed (16th century)SahalonSephardicSafed (16th century)SamanonSephardicSalonica, Jerusalem (18th century)SarfatiSephardicJerusalem (16th century)Hebrew for "French", used for migrants from northern FranceSarugSephardicSafed (16th century)SassonSephardicIndia, EnglandDescended from the Toledan Ibn Shosan family (13th century); claims Davidic descentSasportasOran, Algeria (16th century)SuarezEgyptSurujonSephardicSafedToledano (de Toledo)Salonica, Jerusalem, Turkey, Africa, Holland and England.TorresSpain (15th century)Francede VidasSephardicSafed (16th century), Jerusalem (16th century)ZacutoSephardicJerusalem (16th century)

Marrano surnames Abudiente (Obediente)SephardicLisbon (16th century)Amsterdam, Hamburg, LondonConnected to the surname "Gideon"AmesLondon (1521)AntunyesPortugalBrazil, Amsterdam, Suriname, British West IndiesBarassaAmsterdamBargasSpain, France, ItalyBarriosAmsterdam (17th century)BarrocasLisbon (1603)HollandBasurtoSpain (17th century)Rouen, HollandBelmontDescendants of Don Iago y Sampayo, who received Belmonte from King Manuel of Portugal in 1516(de la) Caballeria / Cavalleria(15th century)Descendants of Solomon ibn Labi de la CaballeriaCarabajal (also Carvajal, Carabal, Caraballo, Caravajal, Carballo, Carbajal, Cavajal)MexicoChavesLondon, AmsterdamChirino(15th century)CoronelSpain, England, Holland, PalestineMixed early with Ashkenazi familiesCorreaPortugal, Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdamsee Isabella CorreaCortissosLondon,see Jose CortissosCosta (also Acosta, Da Costa)Holland, England, ItalyCotaPossibly connected to Costa; see Rodrigo CotaCuriel, CourielNetherlands, HamburgRelated to the Najara and Vitoria familiesDelgadoRelated to CardenasGuedelhaSafed (16th century)HazanSafed (16th century)Oliviera, de Oliveira, Oliva Olibam, OlivanSafed (16th century)

List of Sephardic Jewish surnames

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