Suriname Jewish Records

History
The history of the Jewish Community of Suriname dates back to the 1600's. The first Jews arrived in the late 1630's from Holland and Italy. The largest group of new arrivals actually occurs in the 1650's. These Jews for the most part were the descendants of those driven out of Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. They settled in Brazil where they built good lives on large plantations. As the Portuguese got more power in Brazil, they moved on, eventually they arrived Suriname.

Records at the Family History Library
The birth, marriage and death records of the Portuguese and German Jewish Congregations are available on microfilm through the Family History Library. Many of these records are three generational as the mother's father's name is given.

Authors Aviva Ben-Ur and Rachel Frankel, have compiled the epitaphs from the headstones of the jewish people, in theor book Remnant Stones; The Jewish Cemeteries of Suriname.

Collections
The records of many Jews of Suriname have now been indexed and added to the Knowles Collection. These records are linked as families and availble free of charged to be searched. Records are constantly added.