RootsChat.Com

Hello,
I'm new to RootsChat and came upon this thread while googling my Jewish REST family.  I specifically wanted to address this to kateblogs so I hope she sees this.
The REST family were of Sephardic origin and were living in England after being booted out of Spain or Portugal during the Inquisition.  The earliest knowledge I have of this family name is in Lithuania where they were living in the early 1700s.  The story is that they were invited to move Lithuania by the nobiity who were interested in their expertise in the flax and linen industry.  I have had no luck finding this family in England and I do not know if the REST name was acquired there or after leaving.  I was wondering if kateblogs might have an idea on how I might research this?  I do find many  REST families living in England-- none Jewish-- but how would I know if they were hiding the fact.  There was an interesting REST family in Leeds or thereabouts-- biblical names *and* a child named Oliver Cromwell Rest.   I thought this was interesting since Oliver Cromwell was instrumental in "legitimizing" Jews in England for a time....  Thanks for this forum!!
 

<<There were Sephardic Jews in London prior to the mid-17th century, but they were mostly merchants from Portugal and would have kept their Jewishness very quiet. However, this family do seem to be English, the surname LISSAMAN certainly isn't Sephardic. Biblical names were quite fashionable, or they may have been non-Conformists. >>