The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews
Marc Eliany ?
Atar, Attar, Abenatar, Abiatar, Benattar
Prefixes such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou) denotes usually a relation to a person, i.e., the father of or the son of? X, a place, i.e., a person from X, a profession, i.e., Atar or spice maker, spice seller, perfume maker, perfume seller.
In the Arab tradition, the prefix Abu means usually the father of, or a tribal affiliation, i.e., a relation to the tribe of Atar. The word ?atar? in Arabic means spice maker, spice seller, perfume maker, perfume seller.
?
In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ?Avi ? denotes patrilineal ancestry, i.e., father of Atar or ben Atar = son of Atar. The word ?atar? in Hebrew and Aramean means ?place.?
Jews in North Africa often were spice traders or spice makers. It is likely that ?atar? does denote the Arabic meaning but one cannot exclude the possibility that the name is an ancient Hebrew or Aramean name transformed into Arabic.
ABENATAR David M?lo (?-1625). Spain. Poet.
ABIATAR Ibn Crescas Hacohen (1450-1479). Spain. Doctor of Jean II, King of Aragon.
BENATTAR C?sar (XXes.). Tunisia. Authored ?Le bled en lumi?re?
BENATTAR Moch? (?-1725). Morocco. Banker, jeweler, diplomat.
BENATTAR Ralph (1945-). Morocco. Businessman in Qu?bec (Montr?al).
BENATTAR Chem Tov (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi, merchant, king?s counsellor.
BENATTAR David (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi, poet, lithurgy leader/singer.
BENATTAR David (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi, poet.
BENATTAR Ha?m Ben Moch? (Or HAHA?M) (1691?-1743?). Morocco. Rabbi, author of ?Or hahay?m? (the light of life). Celebrated saint.
BENATTAR Ma?mon (1867-1958). Morocco. Rabbi, educator in Egypt.
BENATTAR Mord?kha? (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi. Celebrated saint Originaire du Maroc.
BENATTAR Rapha?l (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi, poet of ?Chir Mi kamokha? (who compares to You).
BENATTAR Y?houdah (1725-1812). Morocco. Rabbi. Judge. Authored ?Zikhron livn? Yisra?l? (A memorial to the children of Israel).
BENATTAR Y?houdah ben Yah?acov (1655-1733). Morocco. Rabbi. Judge. Authored ?Din? get v?halitsah? (Divorce laws).
References:
Azoulay, Hayim Yossef Shem Hagdolim (the names of the great)
AZOULAY Ha?m Yossef David (Hida) (1724-1807) Ch?m hagu?dolim va?ad lahakhamim (The names of the Great Council of Sages).
Toledano, J. 1983 La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv
Levi, J et. al. 2000 Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.
Laredo A. 1978 Les noms des juifs au Maroc