The Fernandes, born in the Douro
THE Fernandes Family, of large northern river, was one of those that already managed to prove the descent Sephardic. The family comes from Douro region, North of Portugal, and its first members arrived in Brazil at the beginning of the 18th century.
Coming by ship, the first three Fernandes were two brothers and a cousin, one identified by António José Fernandes, nicknamed “Pimenta”, due to his red skin. Hence the origin of the “Fernandes Pimenta”That inhabited the large northern river and part of Paraíba.
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Among the descendants of António Fernandes, the Major Cosme Damião Fernandes (his grandson), who lived in the Seridó, in Rio Grande do Norte and married with Izabel Maria de Araújo, leaving eight children who settled in that region.
Genealogical research has shown that all descendants of the couple have direct and proven Jewish origin, coming from the maternal side, from inhabitants of the city of Barcelos, forcibly converted in 1497, during the reign of D. Manuel.
It is estimated that thousands of people from Serido are directly descendants of this couple and that, consequently, they have Sephardic origins and may require Portuguese nationality, while the current Nationality Law is in effect.
Do you have the surname Fernandes and want to know how to get your Portuguese nationality?
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Important to remember: Last names are indications, but they do not determine whether or not you are descendants of Sephardic Jews. To prove this link, a genealogical study is really necessary.
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