The Charlap family ancestors were Royal Court Jews of Portugal: prominent rabbis, great scholars and prosperous businessmen. Starting from 1520s ibn Yahya family members being "New Christians" travelled as merchants to Gdansk, Belostok, Slonim under old Iberian name: Dionis/Dinis. The Dinis family branch located in Hamburg, Amsterdam and openly returned to Judaism in early 1600s. They were the financial agents to the Dukes of Gottorp (Schleswig Holstein) and to the Danish crown. In 1700s the Dinis descendants became known under Donchin (Donchiya, Don Yahya) surname assumed of Don Yahya ibn Yahya (Yaish) memory. The Charlap name (Hebrew acronym in honor of first Chiya=Yahya) was used by Elazar ibn Iacchia (b. ca 1590) who most likely came together with Delmedigo, Gracian families from Italy to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania directly to the Radziwill Count as physicians and courtiers.