Hello,
I'm new to RootsChat and came upon a thread here while googling my Jewish REST family. I posted this in reply to the thread, but thought it might belong in a more general topic. So here goes:
The REST family was of Sephardic origin and were living (at some point) 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 from England by the Lithuanian 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'm hoping for some research ideas. I do find many REST families living in England-- none Jewish-- but how would I know if they were hiding the fact, or were converts. There was an interesting REST family in Leeds or thereabouts-- biblical names *and* a child named Oliver Cromwell Rest. I know that many gentiles also had/have biblical names, but I thought this was interesting since Oliver Cromwell was instrumental in "legitimizing" Jews in England for a time....
Thanks for this forum!!
