Wow, this is truly a wonderful piece of information to me. Again, I need to
get my records out and spend some time on them, but I have always thought
that there might be some Jewish lineage in my family on my father's side
which from at least 3 of his grandparents, I would love to know more. Thanks
keep the info coming :)
Debbie Lomax
G'day Debbie, I have to say that my much beloved Nan, Eliza
Cavill(Cartwright) was first & foremost an English woman, but of yet to be
proven Jewish people ancestry; because I believe that one's country of birth
is their nationality, regardless of their parents' nationality(s).
My home area of North London is arguably the "HQ" of all British Jews, and
whilst they are no longer persecuted, they still have this "united secrecy"
about them; and for the most part, marry their "own".
They have this strict definition as to who is Jewish, and who is not; and
that is:
Jewish Father & Jewish Mother = Jewish children
Non-Jewish Father & Jewish Mother = Jewish children
Jewish Father & Non-Jewish Mother = Non-Jewish children.
This is why I think that somewhere down the line of my Cartwright ancestors
that a male Cartwright married a non-Jewish female; making their children
non-Jewish.
However, this did not and does not prevent some of the genetically inherited
Jewish features, mannerisms, and attitudes being passed on to the non-Jewish
children; or the tradition & preference of giving the children Old Testament
forenames.
I have been in this genealogy "game" for about 25 years now, and whilst this
practise was not set in stone and unbreakable, I have noticed that it was
fairly common for those of the Catholic faith to choose saints forenames for
their children, the Protestants to choose Kings & Queens names, and the
Jews/Hebrews choose Old Testament names.
Pete Cavill
Western Australia
ex North London, England.