I would like to know where did the last name Solis originate. Some say that is a Sephardic Jew last name. Others say the contrary. I would to know of more Solis's in the U.S preferely in Los Angeles or California. Then, the rest of the U.S and the World. My Father is from Mexico City and Grandfather's name was Rafael Solis who died in Mexico about 6 yrs.ago and lived in Chicago IL. for many years.

Thank you!

As far as I have been able to find out the surname Solis was given to the sole survivor of a family tragedy. Thus the name Solis (with many variations in spelling} is not specific to one European ethnic group. My great-great grandmother was Maria Antonio Solis (or Soliz) and she married my great great grandfather Jose Maria Castano in New Orleans in the late 1850's and went to live with him in Lampazos, N.L.. Maria Antonio's father was Pedro Solis and he was from Gabano. The only Gabano I have found is in Quebec. This would explain the family legend that Maria Antonio spoke French and very poor Spanish. There were apparently more Solises in Lampazos because after Maria Antonio's death Jose Maria married Anastasia Solis.
I would like to hear from others with ancestors from the Solises of Quebec or Mexico or Texas (where most of the family moved after the Mexican Revolution}.

I found out that the Solis surname is actually a Sephardic Jew last name. What's "Sephardic?" Is a Spanish Jew which they lived primarily in Southern Spain (Sevilla and Toledo). When the Israelites or Jews were scared everywhere some went to Spain and settled there for many generations. These Sephardics were very Spanish influenced and actually lost that "White" jewish look. Rather, they looked and adopted Spanish gestures and culture. But, kept their Jewish cultures in secret or else the Spaniards would discriminate. Somehow the word got out! These wonderful people were being discriminated agaisnt for being of that nature.
During the era of the New World "Americas" many of them left Spain to the new world, many of them to Latin America primarily Mexico, where they still practiced their jewish traditions in the "closet". One of the first Solis in the Americas was
Isaach Solis who was a Sephardic. Remember Sephardic was a name given by the Spaniards which means "Pig" in Hebrew "Sepharhdum", Why? cause for Jews eating pork is a sin, so the Spaniards called them what the Jews hated the most.
I think some how those traditions are lost now. Well, in my family it is we are born again Christians (what a change...)

If anyone has more information, Please e-mail me!

My family is from Mexico. My grandfather's name is Fidel (Felix) Solis. He now lives in Texas but I do not know anything about my family history.

Dear Candace:

There are millions of Solises from all over Mexico. You must know at least which area your father is from to do any tracing.
Good luck.

JanetK

The story that is told by my family (and I have no idea if it's true or not) is that the name Solis was given by Queen Isabella in Spain in 1491. The family motto (which I'm sure a number of you have seen) is "con sol istes y solistes, y en la batalla, vincistes". The story, as my grandfather and father tell it, is that there was a battle against the Moors in northern Spain. The family fought the battle in the hours between sunrise and sunset and were victorious in the battle. The powers that be were so impressed that they bestowed the name, motto, and I assume a title on us.

My family came to Southern Texas in 1753 under a Spanish Land Grant and that is the story that has been handed down from that point in time forward. I'm told that I'm a 16th Generation Solis and a 11th Generation Texan.

My great-great grandmother was named Philomene Solis. She was probably born around 1832. She married Oscar Estopinal.Does anyone know ANYTHING about her, especially where she was born. Thank you.

Martha, I'm not sure if you've already gotten information on your Solis or not. But I am just finding out that i am also related to the Solis' through the marriage of Maria Manuela Solis to Francis Newman. I have been getting information from a cousin and I don't really know too much about the Solis' except what I've been reading from other family members and on the message boards.I have not seen your Philomene but that doesn't mean she isn't somewhere in this family. It was a large family and one of the Solis daughters Raphael Therese Solis married Joseph Estopinal. You might want to start there and see if there were children with that name. They were in new Orleans, she was born in 1799 and he was born in 1782 I think. Go to the Solis family tree and see if she is here. Try records from St. Bernards Parish or Plaquemines Parish

Martha I found a Marie Philomene Solis married to Guillaume Ohare Estopinal. Not sure this is the one you want because she was born in 1840. Her parents were Joseph Felicien Solis and Marie De Las Angeles Hernadez. By the way there is a lot of information on the Estopinal family posted by Fernando Estopinal on the Estopinal message board. Very interesting history. They apparently are from the Canary Islands originally. Even if this is not your family member you might be able to start there and she might be further down the line.Good luck

The story of the Solis Family. You were right somewhat about Queen Isabella in Spain in 1491. I lived near Madrid, Spain for 4 years. There is a town near Madrid, named Solis town, I drove by it on late afternoon and wanted to go back, but didn't get a chance to visit. The terrorist kept us back on the Air Base. But Madrid, I did get a chance to have the family crest made for me of Solis, the symbol is the Bright Sun and Swords/battles. My family is also from South Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Generations of Solis, with accent on the i, Generations of Spaniards, Mexicans, Texans/Irish-Texans in San Antonio, TX, old San Antonio/West Side/San Antonio, TX.

Sincerely Sally,

Celia Solis-Wheeler

csw