Ben Yohanan the connection between Ireland and the Canary Islands

The surname Yanes (Eanes)  was one of the most common in the Canary Islands. Also, it was one the most common surnames in different towns and villages in the north of Tenerife in the 16th century. In this century (1555) William Eanes, Moses Annias Eanes (Hebrew: Ben Yohanan , Arabic: Ibn Yahia) became the Mayor of Youghal in County Cork. He was the first person of the Jewish religion to hold such an elected position in Ireland. William Moses Annyas Eanes was the grandson of Gil Eanes of Belmonte, Portugal. Many of the first Jewish people to come to Ireland Were Marrano merchants from the Iberian peninsula. His daughter married Yacov Kassin (Shamus Ciosain) son of Yehuda Kassin (John Cassin) a Marrano merchant who had moved to Galway in Ireland. The surname Eanes Also (pronounced Yanes), is from the Hebrew Ben Yohanan and in Arabic Ben Yahia.

Icod, North of Tenerife, at this village the surname Yanes was the most common surname in the 16th century