This is a question for the group regarding the various "nicknames" and other attachments I have seen while researching my family. I have found some descriptives that I can understand, ie: o rico, o pequeno. Sometimes words appear that I know are occupations; ie: pescador, lavrador, etc. However- does anyone know what "O Couto" is? or - "O Pera"? Also- someone in my line is "O gallego". I could not find that in a Portuguese dictionary. (Unfortunately I can only seem to find Brazilian Portuguese dictionaries!) I know in Spanish a "Gallego" can be a slang term for a Spaniard, or it can mean specifically a Galician or Castilian, or that it can sometimes be used in a derisive manner, depending on context. Any ideas? BTW- since I have once again seen references to Sephardic ancestry, that certain family names (Pereira,Sampaio) MAY indicate it- how does one REALLY know? I mean- these people are long dead. But what makes people so sure that their ancestors were indeed jewish? Now- I have found some people in my line who were Pardo- which I understand means mulatto and Moura- moorish. So it would appear that I have black and moorish ancestors. But the point in question- is there something in the various records that defines jewish heritage? If people are simply basing belief on family surnames- well that is liking saying everyone whose last name ends in -stein is jewish because a lot of German jews used names ending in -stein. I love this forum! It is great for exchanging ideas and information. MAry da Silva Frost

Galego - someone from Galiza (spain) Couto-It is a last name too but I am not sure what they mean when they call it to someone. Luis KW might Pêra- means pear, they guy might have had a pear orchard, or he might have had a beard just on the chin area. Luis Beal tiamaria <tiamaria@frostdesign.com> wrote: This is a question for the group regarding the various "nicknames" and other attachments I have seen while researching my family. I have found some descriptives that I can understand, ie: o rico, o pequeno. Sometimes words appear that I know are occupations; ie: pescador, lavrador, etc. However- does anyone know what "O Couto" is? or - "O Pera"? Also- someone in my line is "O gallego". I could not find that in a Portuguese dictionary. (Unfortunately I can only seem to find Brazilian Portuguese dictionaries!) I know in Spanish a "Gallego" can be a slang term for a Spaniard, or it can mean specifically a Galician or Castilian, or that it can sometimes be used in a derisive manner, depending on context. Any ideas? BTW- since I have once again seen references to Sephardic ancestry, that certain family names (Pereira,Sampaio) MAY indicate it- how does one REALLY know? I mean- these people are long dead. But what makes people so sure that their ancestors were indeed jewish? Now- I have found some people in my line who were Pardo- which I understand means mulatto and Moura- moorish. So it would appear that I have black and moorish ancestors. But the point in question- is there something in the various records that defines jewish heritage? If people are simply basing belief on family surnames- well that is liking saying everyone whose last name ends in -stein is jewish because a lot of German jews used names ending in -stein. I love this forum! It is great for exchanging ideas and information. MAry da Silva Frost ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx "Not to know what happened before we were born is to remain perpetually a child. For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors." Cicero, Roman orator __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com