Maranos

Maranos

is one of the names used to designate the new Christians of Spain, i.e. those Jews (q.v.) who, during the religious persecutions under Romish rule, publicly avowed conversion to Christianity and yet privately confessed the religion of their fathers, as e.g. the family of Maimonides (q.v.). The name owes its origin to the fact that not only Jews, but also Moors (q.v.) made a feigned profession of conversion to the Christian faith. SEE INQUISITION; (See Spain).