Are there any descendants of conversos/marranos on YA?

Question

I'm reading a wonderful book about them called "The Mezuzah in the Madonna's Foot" by Trudi Alexy. They are also called secret or crypto-Jews.

Answer 1

Conversos are Spanish and Portuguese Jews that had converted to Catholicism. Marranos are Spanish and Portuguese Jews (Sephardim) that had not converted. Marrano is a deregatory word in Spanish meaning a "pig or swine". Don't go around asking for "marranos". The descendents of the conversos are some of today's modern day Spaniards that were not expelled from Spain in 1492 because they had become Catholics. Many don't know or choose not to acknowledge any Jewish ancestry. Many conversos and marranos did leave Spain and made it to America (Brooklyn, NY holds the oldest synogogue in the U.S. which was built by Spanish Jews), some sephardim were on board when Columbus discovered America, most sephardim escaped to the Ottoman Empire which is modern day Turkey. I met a Sephardic family in Mexico a few years ago and apperantly Mexico City has a sizeable Jewish population.

Answer 2

On my mom's side there were some Guzman's who claimed that distinction in the 19th century. From what I know of them, I don't think either tradition would claim THEM.

Answer 3

i am descended from some. far back, though.