Teresa of Ávila

Birth Name: Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada

Date of Birth: 28 March, 1515

Place of Birth: Ávila, Crown of Castile (today Spain)

Date of Death: 4 October, 1582

Place of Death: Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain

Ethnicity: Sephardi Jewish, Spanish

Teresa of Ávila was a Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, author, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer.

Teresa was the daughter of Alonso Sánchez de Cepeda, a successful wool merchant, and Beatríz Dávila de Ahumada.

Teresa’s paternal grandfather was Juan Sánchez de Toledo Cepeda (the son of Alonso Sánchez de Toledo Cepeda and Teresa Sánchez del Águila). Juan was born in Ávila. He was a marrano, a Jewish man who was forcibly converted to Christianity. Alonso was the son of Martín Vázquez de Cepeda and Catalina Dávila Toledo.

Teresa’s paternal grandmother was Inés de Cepeda Santa Catalina (the daughter of Hernando de Santa Catalina and Elvira Alvarez de Cepeda). Inés was born in Tordesillas, Crown of Castile. She was also a marrano.

Teresa’s maternal grandfather was Juan de Ahumada Dávila (the son of Juan Blásquez Dávila de Cordovilla and María Beatriz Álvarez Ahumada). Teresa’s grandfather Juan was born in Avila. Teresa’s great-grandfather Juan was Mayor of Alcalde. He was the son of Fernán Núñez Blásquez and Juana González Dávila.

Teresa’s maternal grandmother was Teresa Oviedo de las Cuevas (the daughter of Rodrigo de Oviedo and María de las Cuevas). Teresa’s grandmother Teresa was born in Olmedo.

Source: Genealogy of Teresa of Ávila – https://www.geni.com