David Isaac 1770-1854, Llanllawdog, Carmarthenshire

[AdrianGriff]

My great-great grandmother is Sarah Isaac Thomas 1840-1877 b Hafod, Llanegwad, Carms and she in turn descended from Daniel Isaac 1796-1849 of Llanfynedd who descended from David Isaac 1770-1854 b. Llanllawdog.
There is a family belief that these folks were Jewish.
Can anyone shed any light on this family: were they Jewish and is there any record of this family further back than David Isaac 1770?
Thank you so much.

[ColC]

The name Isaacs is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Isaac. The surname Isaacs referred to the son of Isaac, which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames.

I cannot answer the question on their faith but the site below might help?

https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/carmarthen.htm

Colin

[AdrianGriff]

Thank you so much for the information and the link to JewishGen. I had already tried JewishGen but unfortunately it hasn't been much help.

I'll carry on searching!

[osprey]

so is this your Sarah?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCL8-G5K

Baptism at Brechfa 6 Aug 1840 for Sarah Jeremy daughter of Daniel Isaac, labourer, and Mary of Hafod, Llanegwad.

Marriage to Benjamin Thomas dec qtr 1859

Burial in Brechfa 30 April 1849 of Daniel Isaac 55 of Hafod on Ty Llwyd farm, Llanegwad

Marriage 24 Feb 1826 in Llanfynydd of Daniel Isaac of Llanegwad & Mary Jones otp, witnesses John Evans Tyllwyd and David Isaac Brechfa

There is a baptism 1 Jan 1795 in Llanegwad for Daniel son of Isaac Joseph & Mary which could be Daniel Isaac if the family were using the patronymic naming system. It could also explain the Mary Joseph in the household for the 1841 census.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7Q5-Y54

Burial 2 May 1835 in Brechfa of Isaac Joseph 68 of Hafod Llanegwad

Marriage 17 Oct 1794 in Llanegwad of Isaac Joseph, yeoman, & Mary David

If you look at FreeBmd, there are over 100 Isaac bmds in Carmarthenshire from 1837 to 1901, it's not uncommon as surname in the area and very unlikely to be Jewish given how far back it goes. The oldest Jewish community in Wales was in Swansea
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/56831/Origins

[AdrianGriff]

Thank you so much for all this very useful information.
Yes, this is my relative Sarah. This agrees with some of the information I already have.

The information in the 2nd half of your posting: "There is a baptism 1 Jan 1795 .. etc" I don't have and I will chase this up.

Thank you!