Hi All,Happy Chanukah, and thank you for accepting my request to join.I am investigating a branch of my mother’s family tree. The surname is Israel or Cohen, and they appear to have belonged to the Bevis Marks in London. My great grandmother’s parents (Lewis Judah Israel and Miriam Hart) married in 1886, his parents (Solomon Israel and Miriam Phillips) married in 1844 and his parents (Abraham Israel and Sarah Cohen) married in 1815, all in the Bevis Marks. The earlier two were buried in the nouvo cemetery, the latter in the east ham cemetery. Sarah Cohen, Miriam Phillips and Miriam Hart appear to have been from Ashkenazi families.My great-grandmother (Miriam Cohen) told my mother that her family were Portuguese and Dutch. However, she was very reticent to talk about her Jewish heritage, and my mother was only 13 when she died, so our knowledge is limited. Clearly the association with the Bevis Marks would appear to back-up some of my great-grandmother’s story, but the name doesn’t sound Portuguese... I understand that the name Israel was sometimes used for converts, but in combination with being Cohenim?I would love to hear from anyone with a connection to the Israel/Cohen family, or anyone with any suggestions…One further note. The only possibly lead I have on taking Abraham Israel’s family back any further is (I think) a somewhat unlikely one. But I include it here in case anyone happens to know anything relevant. I found the following in Genealogia Hebraica: Portugal e Gibraltar, Volume III Gabiy – Serfaty (P124)“Aaron Joel Israel. Casou na “Spanish & Portuguese synagogue” Heneage Lane, Bevis Marks, em Londres, 2 Sivan 5529 (1769) com Rachel Soares de Aguilar fa de Jacob Soares de Aguilar. Quetuba da BIBL N50. 11-1017Abigail Israel que segueAbraham Israel. Casou na “Spanish & Portuguese synagogue” Heneage Lane, Bevis Marks, em Londres, 21 Heshran 5576 (1815) com Sarah Cohen fa de Phineas Mordecay Cohen, tt0 Cohen Nota 3. Quetuba da BIBL. N50 11-1532”And (P653)“Sarah Cohen fa de Phineas Mordecay Cohen. Casou na “Spanish & Portuguese synagogue” Heneage Lane, Bevis Marks, em Londres, a 21 Heshvan 5576 (1815) com Abraham Israel fo de Abigail Israel, tt0 Israel S27 N2 Sub N3 Quetuba de BIBL. N50. 11-1532”Above references the following 2 entries in the Bevis Marks Records III:“1532. Abraham Israel (son of Abigail de Aaron Joel) and Sarah de Phineas Mordecay Cohen. 21 Heshvan 5576”“1017. Aron Israel and Rachel de Jacob Soares de Aguilar. 2 Sivan 5529.”Although the dates make this link feasible, I'm not sure whether the authors of Genealogia Hebraica may have had more information to go on, or whether they have made an error (e.g. in taking Abigail's married name as the same as her maiden name) or if Aaron's name is spelt differently and given as forename-middle name in the later entry... Is there any significance to Abraham being given as the son of his mother, not father? According to Jewishgen.com Abigail married a Judah Israel. This marriage is not in the Bevis Marks Records, or in any of the others I've checked, although I realise they may not have chosen to marry in a synagogue.I’d really appreciate any suggestions… All the Best,Beattie