Tracing Your Family Roots 149 - Puerto Rico DNA

Sonia Rosa-Velez and Eliud Bonilla both with long family histories of living in Puerto Rico talked about what happened when their families had their DNA tested. Both were surprised that they have the J2 haplotype that is very common among Jews, leading them to suspect that their ancestors were ‘hidden Jews'.
Sidney Sachs

[@BoriPR82]

I'm trigenio, my Puerto Rican mother and grandparents told me that our migration is from spain. my parents are light skin, my grandfather looks white and my grandmother is trigenia. love the diversity of my island. we have the best of everything. I just hate the stupid racism that we have on my island. yes we do have African ancestry, stop denying it.

[@KingJames-qe4lv]

+Ziggy Tafari Thank you. The show really has me heated. And show hostesses know her ass got some african. But she's definitely proud of the European side. SMDH

[@alphawolf5750]

Lu Don All Puerto Ricans have African Y-DNA, from slaves brought to the Island's by the Spanish Empire! When checking my Y-DNA my results also included ancestry from Sefwiss in Ghana! Sad that she doesn't mention such being it's in her face you can't hide it!!!

[@zmezgar2387]

Hey, do you have an email addy you can share? I have some things i would love to share with people who have a brain. And trigenio means tri racial? as black, spanish and native?

[@tedfebo1741]

Hector L Guzman Rivera You can't say all Puerto Ricans are a specific way or another. There's a lot more diversity than Puerto Ricans actually even give themselves.

[@AngelLuisTrinidad]

It's not trigenio, the correct word is trigueño. Trigueño means light brown.

[@lou5781]

Jews are tough people and I would be proud to include that culture in my history .

[@03Venture]

Every Hispanic surname ending in “-es” or “-ez” is Jewish. I have a Torres great grandmother from Puerto Rico.

[@barbievale]

I recently reacted to my Family Tree DNA results and uploaded a video here to KZbin. Got European, African, Native, Middle Eastern and East Asian. Super proud of being Puerto Rican!

[@dannyh7171]

You guys are also African. Yes Puerto Ricans have Jewish lets not be surprise. I am also Puerto Rican when I did my Ancestry and I got Jewish. I wish more Puerto Ricans would learn more on our ancestry which is very exciting. Please don't forget we are all Africans as well.

[@deleted5351]

No matter what I find I'd embrace it, everything from the large portion of the pie to the smallest slice. Its like having children, you'd love all of them (or should) no matter if you have predisposed biases toward certain superficial features. Genetics affect far more than just physical features, sometimes what we don't inherit in the physical we inherit in the characteristic, or sub-dermal biological. In their case, the lady was actually very much interested in Tainos, which are indigenous people, a lot of the connection to these Tainos is hidden in family history so it is very hard to trace. However, she did have an interest in them, which indicates a possibility that they are in fact embracing their entire genetic makeup. In this program they were strictly discussing their Jewish heredity, as it is a subject of interest, as are the other genetic pieces of pie.

[@jennieperez9402]

Joshua Johnson finally an all around comment. Our skin color doesn’t make me or anyone one thing. We have beliefs system that we may not even know why. Can it be genetics? Ancestors? Her master’s degree was in the Taino part of us, in doing so she found she has Jewish ancestors and this is a Jewish show.

[@jennieperez9402]

My father has 14% Sephardic Jewish. His father was from a town nearby where these individuals are from.

[@selinaBARMAR2565]

Well said, I couldn't agree more. I have about 10% Asian, mostly China's regions and I tell you I've been cooking Chinese food for years pretty close to the restaurants. I also found out that I have Jewish on both mom and dad's side. My mom's side mostly African and my dad's mostly European/Spain, Italy, and Greece. He is also of Puerto Rican origins.

[@rickyrivera3944]

I'm not surprised that these people have Jewish DNA. There might be more. Many Jews who came to the Island came under a Spanish last name running away from the persecution in Spain. We all have a mix of different DNA that we probably don't know we have. I do know that Puertorricans have been known to have Taino, African, European, Guanche, Jewish and other.

[@obiepimentel1722]

My mother was born in Puerto Rico from a Azorean Portuguese mother and a father of Corsican descent.

[@Frankygoestohull1]

+Obie Pimentel There were a lot of Azorean families who settled in Puerto Rico back in colonial days. That's interesting that your mom is from a new generation of Azoreans in Puerto Rico.

[@ronaldmartinez9073]

Obie Pimentel my grandmother from my father's side in Puerto Rico also came from Corsica. I just started doing my family tree,for now I hit a wall with my great grandparents

[@Melatina77]

I am also Puerto rican and found out I had Jewish ancestry through my DNA even though I already knew it.

[@indiyaaab]

Melatina77. hi we are cousins your on my ancestry

[@radrook4481]

@Edgardus Did she deny having black blood?

[@David-re4ij]

interesting, how did u know?

[@chinibubu411]

Means nothing. You are only Jewish if your mother is Jewish in accordance to Jewish law. No such thing as Jewish DNA.

[@petebyron1957]

My 3rd grandfather was Roberto Cofresí, ( El Pirata Cofresí) Who's father, Francesco von Kupferschein, fled Trieste Austria to PR. Married María Germana Ramírez de Arellano. His wife was born to Clemente Ramírez de Arellano, a noble and first cousin of the town founder of Cabo Rojo. Her paternal family, descended from the Jimena royal dynasty of the Kingdom of Navarre and the first royal house of the Kingdom of Aragón.

[@Exospheredweller]

No, Puerto Rican is an ethnicity, a culture, and a nationality but not a race. In order for Puerto Rican to be a race a genetic mutation must occur and that takes thousands upon thousands of years, and Puerto Rico has simply not been around that long.

[@jeffpagan7735]

The Carlisle Indian School incident was an atrocity. They took well heeled young Puerto Rican children from good families. They promised them good educations at stay away prepatory schools. They found rough treatment and vocational training. They came from a homogeneous culture and shipped to the United States to find out they were Indians and second class citizens. They were beaten and acculturated under duress.

[@lucymercado66]

So horrible!!!

[@monicaoliveras8240]

Im interested in furthering my knowledge of where my family are decendants of. Any information or resources will be greatly appreciated.

[@ElJibaroBravo]

I'm not sure I follow your logic. Please clarify. There are lots of Indigenous peoples that speak Spanish because they were conquered by the Spaniards, but that's not what's being discussed here.

[@ThePaganSun]

Or Native American! Curly hair can come from the Celts since many Spaniards have it too and my curly hair is brownish red, I have brown eyes and tanned skin. We Puerto Ricans also have 30% of Taino blood.

[@jandunn169]

The K maternal haplogroup is also Jewish....My test had some surprises. My mother is Jewish and I thought Ashkenazi from Kiev with a German name, but my DNA test showed 38 percent Jewish, 12 percent Spanish, 11 Italian, 5 percent American admixture including Taino, Peruvian and E Indian, African and Asian

[@TRUTHTEACHER2007]

If you want to know the full spectrum of your DNA you need to get an Autosomal DNA test. Just the maternal or paternal test will not give you the full story.

[@yukiyu19]

I have an adopted name which tells me nothing about my Native heritage. In Puerto Rico most real names Natives and Africans no longer exists, so to say there is an accurate connection between last names and DNA is very inaccurate. Not to mention, most towns did not have Registrar offices for over hundreds of years. Tainos needed to renounce their names in to christian names or face the consequences, death or en-slavery.

[@rebekahwhite2939]

The Ones Who Remember: Second Generation Voices of the Holocaust. As the Holocaust survivors among us become more frail and pass on, we must ensure their stories and legacies continue. We must keep our promises to them. a great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivor - Some of my Dad Fred White's family members died in the Holocaust in Europe

[@rebekahwhite2939]

Some of my Dad Fred White's family members died in the Holocaust. My Dad, Fred White was born on April 23, 1917, and he was in the NAVY during World War 2. There are exhibits at some of the museums for documents that are kept on file for family members of people who died in the Holocaust. There is also a genealogy research library at some of the Jewish centers. My Dad, Fred White's gravesite is located at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York in Long Island.

[@indiyaaab]

my last name is Diaz is that frm the jews? i have done my dna test i have alot of spain found out its mostly frm canary islands i also have jewish italian middle eastern north african west african native american and polynesia

[@georgiomesina6977]

Diaz is a Sephardic Jew surname...Spanish is With Z..Portuguese is spelling in S....Giorgio R. Messina...for sure...

[@TheDerek47]

Surprised they are not looking into the portugese jews in the caribbean.

[@ElJibaroBravo]

According to the DNA research referenced in the show, the Ashkenazi (those you are calling "fake" Jews) were probably at least partially Spanish Jews who moved northward.

[@teresaguerrasalazar]

You are absolutelly right, this is so ridiculous, this Puert Rican woman looks more African than Spanish an Russian and Jewish. I'm Mexican and I'm proud of the 7% subsaharan African, Because people tell me I look Mix of Black.

[@SidneySachs]

Do not know. However the records are in two places, PR and Spain.

[@joseantravieso]

I would like to know my origins, and would like trace my genetic ancestry with that DNA test.

[@mickman31187]

I want to know if I'm Puerto Rican or not? Is there a test that would determine that?

[@chesedavraham7742]

where in Spain can you find these files she mentioned? Anyone please?

[@wrkk2it]

Archivos de Las Indias, see www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/archivos/mc/archivos/agi/portada.html

[@yolandairene]

It makes a lot of sense once you find out how everyone distance relative left africa and traveled to the americas and caribbean.

[@titorlfc1987]

Im Puertorican. My last name is "Cortes" & other family members are "Torres.

[@georgiomesina6977]

Cortez is a Sephardic Jew surname..in Portuguese, it's spelling with S...Torres, Torrez... Both are Jew surname...for sure ..Giorgio R. Messina...

[@herbertcrespo9459]

this is cool very cool at that. god bless

[@R0GUER0CK]

good stuff

[@touggie2000]

not everyone who speaks spanish are directly "bloodline" from spain. yes they may have spanish influence but that doesnt always mean they have spanish blood or hispanic.

[@maryhedden1192]

I found out my family are descendants of sephardic Jews. I was born in Costa Rica my paternal grandparents are from Nerja Spain. Who can help me with genealogy?

[@garmd4953]

98% of Jews lived in Spain in the 1200s

[@claudiodelgado9073]

Doesn’t surprise me. I looked up my DNA & looked up my last name and it seems like we we’re made into converts. They changed our last names too.

[@mjsanchez2173]

MY MOTHER'S LAST NAME IS PEREZ. COULD SHE HAVE JEWISH ROOTS ??

[@georgiomesina6977]

Perez is a Hebrew Jewish surname...when there is a Z , It's a Sephardic Jew...in Hebrew , spelling is Pereh....for sure...Giorgio R. Messina....

[@leahakel6383]

love it

[@natesmith6713]

I need to get my DNA done. My mother’s maiden name was Yunque (like the Rain Forest) and my dad was black from Barbados. But now knowing that many of the DNA testing companies let the Government access their data has me a little reluctant...scared really. LOL 😂 a

[@SidneySachs]

What I did for a friend was that we used my email address and a fake name for the testing.

[@gracielabonilla5160]

Really interested in the Bonilla because is my last name and there's not too many in the island... Once I read that Bonilla comes from the Latin " Boun figlio"

[@missbritt288]

These are sefardic descendents , that have lineage , from Algeria and Morocco . I have distant sefardic ancestry and cousins in Algeria with the surname Ben Amram "son of Amram" or Imran /Aron of the old testament. Ironically my family is majority African descent from the Caribbean so it's weird , but the Jews did seek refuge many places in the world , as they are a diasporic group ...

[@IslenoGutierrez]

I just ordered the ancestry.com kit. I am an American of Spanish Canary Islander ancestry (Canary Islands, Spain). I sent my sample off, just waiting on results.

[@YUCAYEQUE]

What are your results 8 years to today? 😂

[@jaygonzalez1791]

@@YUCAYEQUE well I’m 69 percent Canary Islands.

[@georgiomesina6977]

Gutierrez is a Sephardic Jew name. Most Spanish surname with a Z in them is a Jew!!..in Portuguese, it's a S.... Giorgio R. Messina... for sure...

[@IslenoGutierrez]

@@georgiomesina6977 I’m not Jewish and Jewish was not found among my results. There are Jews with the surname Gutierrez just like there is with other Spanish surnames that end in z. However, most with these surnames are not Jews and they are not Jewish surnames. They are Spanish surnames that denote “son of”.

[@truthseeker9261]

Yes there is...ready?....WILL THE DEFENDANT PLEASE RISE! If you stood up, you're Puerto Rican.

[@BoyChibi]

His family could of been simple farmers. you obviously won't get a list of exact names because many spaniard who settled here became farmers. and allot came from the spanish army too. I was just saying you could trace them back to SPAIN but not exact names.

[@ronmays7]

in the 13th centurt , 90 percent of the worlds jews lived in Spain. The Garcias , were originally the Cohens in Spain , decendants from Aaron Cohen , Moses brother from the Exodus from Egypt, so I have read

[@amariewalenda3801]

we have 7 different bloodlines the main ones is African and Spanish, My fam is mostly Africans

[@TheAayize]

what year was this made ?

[@SidneySachs]

The show was taped in 2006

[@adric137]

Unique

[@pologeo17]

Im Brazilian and my paternal haplogroup is J2

[@jardentertainmentmanagemen594]

My family are from Tomas de Castro #2 grandmother always said we are of mulato Jews from the Canary Islands

[@MayweatherjrWONandsoTrump]

Levitt families and Brugman been always there and we know they are Jewish. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Puerto_Rico

[@myrnafernandez1835]

My grandmother name in english is Bridet in Spanish is Brigida From puerto rico she was married to Ezekiel and My mothers Last name is Meicado Her mother last name

[@osiruskat]

Although this post is very old, it is a very interesting look at genealogy and genetics. By the way Ashkenazi Jews Y dna varies but is most prominently J2 and E1b1b and then sometimes a R1b variant. Haplogroup markers only tell you were your ancestral mutation occurred. You could have any skin tone but share similar dna markers...Albert Einstein was E1b1b which originates in East Africa and spread worldwide. Thanks for this informative post.

[@myrnafernandez1835]

Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 in November 19 of 1493 it was when Puerto Rico was the first Established the Irish people used to live in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 that how come to Puerto Rico

[@cyanure7]

interesting but honestly... so full of it... she's so proud about Jewish... Spain, Israel even Russia... ancestry... like really.. what about African ancestry...not her skin but her facial features and such are African like.

[@BoyChibi]

EURO-RICAN can search their last names. Did you not hear I also said " features" such as what africans/ native americans have, and it's also true DNA testing is the best but if you dont look native or african couldn't you trace your last name?

[@tirospaldiablo668]

Rosa era el capataz de todos los rosas no el abuelo

[@thequeefers9015]

What gets me is that she has more taino bloodeven than jewish and its brushed of as unimportant. No disrespect to Jewish people but you guys believe that your blood line overrides all other. That is if some one has a drop of Jewish blood he or she is Jewish. Well we feel the same about Taino blood. We suffered a near genocide,so I hope you can understand why Taino blood is so important to us. Tainos were the natives who discovered Columbus the maboya anky, evil demon. We speak Spanish we are not Spanish! You guys speak English yet you are not English right?

[@TemplePriestess]

life giver 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️! Yes! Thank you for your comment. 😘💕

[@vera747]

day dreamer seems as though they are celebrating the evil done to the Taíno Indian with pride. Also, no doubt they both have African dna and passed over it as well.....

[@joanneriveralopez8985]

Christopher Columbus was Jew/Spanish not Italian because he was raised in Naples by his parents does not mean Italian.

[@michaelmend8959]

who care about those fucking tainos

[@christianmorales1336]

look for a video by eb on tainos on rainy DNA scientific study... and hear about what he say about rain DNA you will be in shock and about your question about this Jews blood overriding ours is bs check the video that I type in the beginning.. of my sentence..

[@amethystamaris]

Brilliant research tools are available now, for Puerto Ricans looking for your Jewish ancestry try starting with Aaron Lopez of Rhode Island and his wife Sarah Rodriguez Lopez Rivera they are Sephardic Jews who were expelled during the Spanish Inquisition and owned and traded 100s of slaves. Many of my Taino Puerto Rican family I'm finding bear these last names

[@themansayz]

Go on National Geographic Geno 2.0. its how I did mine.

[@Bori-Domi-24]

I was born in PR my mom shes puerto rican and my father is dominican but my pops grandfather was cuban so i guess im the king of the Caribbeans but my roots are african and spaniard Im a mutant lol

[@Bori-Domi-24]

***** Why cause I was chosen by God himself and my power or my mind is beyond the regular mind of mankind I believe Im the real new breed and new specie maybe he new type of intelligence like an Alien mind but it comes with a price I believe it was an accident. Now I'm not saying I'm better than everybody cause Im not and I don't want to but the fact is that I'm Unique one of a kind the first of his kind and probably the last of his kind none before me. A phenomenon new mind abilities but I wont reveal my powers or abilities it will continue to be a mystery just like the Triangle Bermuda. I have to many heritage from the Caribbean PRican,Dominican even Cuban in my blood with African&Taino&Spaniard ancestry But my gift is futuristic and is a great access to the Divine Spirit I won't say no more about it just dont think I'm crazy because I could read your mind or thoughts even see people intentions without hearing them.

[@Bori-Domi-24]

Thats awesome good for you bro the Taino blood runs thru your veins.The Tainos were special,humble,noble,brave people.I hate the Spaniards for what they did to the Taínos but Boriken would always be known not because of the Spaniards but because of the Taínos. The Taínos were the true Rulers in the Caribbeans not only PR but also DR,Haiti,Cuba,Jamaica all that basically the Taínos owned the Caribbeans.They are still alive thru us tho .

[@AlAndalusiIbnRagnar]

"Puerto Rican" is Not an ethnicity & not really a culture. It is just a Nationality. In puerto rico, there is a good amount of Jewish ppls for example, who keep their jewish traditions, Kosher meats (Because pork is common in P.R) & jewish holidays. Same with us Muslims in P.R. And when we talk about other ppls of Asian background and italian, they also brought their own culture to P.R. Then again, it is Very Complex topic

[@georgiomesina6977]

Many Sephardic and Ashkenazi JEW migration in the Caribbean( Cuba, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica, Santo Domingo etc. etc.) from the time of Christopher Columbus 500 yrs ago.. Christopher Columbus was a SECRET JEW... for sure... Giorgio R. Messina...

[@BoriPR82]

saying they proud to have ashkenazi DNA when ahkenazi are not the biblical jews. biblical jews were black and arabs. and to be clear arabs were dark up until the Greeks mixed with them. those white lady's do not trace back to the land of israel. israel is in Africa, although we re constructed the borders and in recent years created what we call the middle east.

[@BoriPR82]

Troll lol prove me wrong

[@analeis5]

I did my DNA I found I am fist Taina then European and Jewish , African , Italian,Irish others but in my heart iam very proud of being Puertorrican but I also say i have African and Taina blood!!! Not like these people who only talked being Jewish an Spaniard they didn’t say iam Taina and black . Puertorriqueños somos mezclados todos , no lo nieguen !!!!! 😮😮 ok

[@teresaguerrasalazar]

I'm Hispanic with Spanish last names, but my family in Mexico never say our people came rom Spain I look American Indian, like Cher, the singer, and I have the figure and hair like Regina Ellis the afro-Brazilian singer.When I came to the US the Afroamerican girls in high school wold ask me if I was mix of Black. According to my DNA studies I'm 35% European, 34% Native American and 10% Subsaharan African.Even though I have Spanish last names my European ancestry traces me back to Northern Europe

[@georgiomesina6977]

Salazar is a Sephardic Jew surname...when there is a Z, It's Sephardic Jew ...for sure...Giorgio R. Messina...

[@rickyrivera3944]

At'least we can say that we have the best of all worlds. Let's respect that. On the other hand, I don't know how the letters ez would relate to being of Jewish blood. Let the DNA tell us if we have Jewish blood.

[@amapolitarojita07]

i came from spain roots-

[@touggie2000]

because there is no hispanic look

[@BoyChibi]

Of course. After the moors lost control, Spain had NO spaniards, so all that came to the caribbean was Moors and Gypsies. No spaniards what so ever, even the dutch were their.

[@georgiomesina6977]

That is so true!!!!. There were no Spaniard... Those that left SPAIN were all Jews, Moors, Gypsy(Egypt), Dutch Sephardic Jew, converso, crypto Jew etc,etc...because of persecution...for sure...Giorgio R.Messina....

[@BoyChibi]

Easily. Research your last name. Your last name has been passed down by someone. Also your features. You can look Afro- Rican ( Curly/ afro like hair, Dark skin, etc.) or Euro- Rican ( color eyes, white skin, etc.)

[@egipad9037]

nope. these people are descendents of sefardi.

[@ElJibaroBravo]

Of course Hispanics are from Spain. Where else would they be from? If you are Hispanic, that means that at least part of your ancestry goes back to Spain.It doesn't make any sense to deny who you are just because you don't like it.

[@BoriPR82]

I find it rediculous that they think the original Hebrews were white. yes the Jewish skin tone changed when the Jews migrated to europe. but the original Jews were darkskined.

[@BoriPR82]

David Schne hey dusche bag I am not a racist or in your words a (raciest). I am speaking facts. If you do just a little bit of research and use just a little bit of common sense you would realize that the Hebrews were from the middle. Until after world War 2 there were no whites in the middle east. I have nothing against today's white Jews but to assume that the Jews were originally white is plain rediculous.

[@johna3153]

Wow you're truly that f****** stupid!

[@barbaraglucas]

Puerto Ricans abroad are not Jews. Jews did live in Spain at one time. Jews like any other family have their own set of genes because Jews are from a lineage. It's not about a race of people. My mother was Puerto Rican descent but I don't believe my blessing comes through my mother. This would probably confuse people.

[@neldadon]

I'm Dominican born in NYC Brooklyn People need to do research on the 12 tribes Of Israel Dominican rep DNA is the siemon tribe The one who hears God's words We are the tru descents of the Israelites As well as all the other tribes in the Caribbean and south America

[@TheDAT573]

Way too many carbs. Leave that White Rice alone.

[@gamecollect101]

Actually that fabulous fat comes from the U.S way of living bro. Mcds, Chips, Fries a Red Box movie and a Pepsi to chug it all down..that's what happens when you become too americanized.

[@BoyChibi]

There*

[@Exospheredweller]

She is lying, J2 is found with more frequency in Persia and other surrounding areas like Turkey. The most common haplotype in Ashkenazi Jews is haplotype K and not J2.

[@BoyChibi]

You were obviously there. They didn't make spaniards change their fucking last names

[@JoseMartinez-xv3bf]

puerto rican Taino indians are from the tribe of Ephraim dhuuh!!!!

[@georgiomesina6977]

No, they are called Yucatan!!!... for sure..Giorgio R. Messina...

[@bubu201bayone]

this would suck if i was jew please no

[@barbaraglucas]

jonathan PR Christianity does not come from Judaism. Christianity is the teachings of Christ through the disciples who were first called Christians in Antioch. Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Jesus was not from the seed of Joseph who was married to Mary but was born to his lineage. Joseph was a Jew or Israelite as they were known first.

[@a.t.6322]

+Gene Lucas That is incorrect. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism. The Messiah is a Jewish concept. All of Jesus disciples were Jewish. Jesus was circumcised and attented synagogue and the Temple. He kept Torah. A Samaritan referred to him as a Jew and He self identified as a Jew (John 4:20-22). He lived in Israel. The first gentile congregation was started in Antioch and those gentile believers were called Christians.

[@indigo156]

bubu u are not a jew u are to stupid