How do I know for sure if my ancestors were of Jewish descent?

Question

How do I know for sure if my ancestors were of Jewish descent?

Answer 1

DNA test can tell you, but also googling the surnames can, at least, put you in the right direction.

Answer 2

The best way is to trace your ancestry starting with yourself and working back one generation at a time.  Anytime you wish to do that, there are lots of good people on this board that can give your some great tips and advice.

Names will not tell you.  DNA tests can sometimes indicate but they are not absolute proof.  

Orthodox and Conservative Judaism defines a Jew by the mother, not the father.

They state they get the nation from the mother and the tribe from the father and if they don't have a Jewish father they belong to the tribe of the nearest male relative on the mother's side of the family.  If they don't have a Jewish mother, they don't consider them Jewish.

Reform Judaism defines it differently.

I had a Jewish grandfather but have always said I would not be considered Jewish by any of the 3 branches of Judaism as my maternal grandmother was 100% American colonial but I would fail the n**i Aryan test.  Also I am not of the Jewish faith so Reform Jews do not consider me Jewish.

I had a mitochondrial DNA test done and found I am in Haplogroup K1 which 32% of the Ashkenazi Jews are in.  Also, a lot of people around the Alps are in that designation. So despite the fact that she was American Colonial she still might have been considered Jewish if she is in the direct female line coming down from a Jewish ancestor.

Answer 3

The best way is going to be do to a genealogy of your family; surnames may be a good guess, but they won't be proof unless it's something extremely obvious like Cohen or Levi.

Answer 4

do you have 2 crackers in each ear....

if so, see a dentist and he will feed you strawberry icecream to make you nose tickle.