The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Adrey, Derry, Deri, Dery, Derhy, Drai, Dray, Ederi, Edery, Edrehi, among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name is: dra’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (a, 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful, a part of a body, i.e. arm. In some cases, a name may be followed by a suffix such as ‘i’ or ‘y.’ The suffix has a similar meaning to the prefix. It denotes a relationship to a person, a place, etc…

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘A’ denotes usually a relationship to a family, a tribe or a place, among other possibilities.
The root ‘dra’’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘arm’ but it may also refer to a place ‘the river dra’ in Southern Morocco.’ In some cases,the letter ‘h’ accompanies the root dra’ when spelled in French, as a substitute to the sound ‘a’yin’ which does not exist in French. Many people omitted the ‘h’ and the a’yin due to French influence.

The root ‘dra’’ in not known or does not exist in Hebrew.

ADREY Maurice (Mo?se) (1899-1950). Algeria. Painter. Painted portraits of wealthy people in Algiers.
DERRY Benjamin (XXes.).Morocco. Painter. His work in France portrayed the Moroccan Melah, its rabbis and scribes.
DERHY Ren? (XXes.). Morocco. A leading fashion designer in Paris, France.
D?RI Andr? (1937-). Morocco. Pharmacist in France. Community leader.
D?RY William (XXes.). Morocco. Dental surgeon and community leader in Quebec, Canada.
D?RI Aryeh (1959-). Morocco. Rabbi. Founders of the religious party ‘Shas’. Served as minister and parliament member in Israel.
DRA? Rapha?l (XXes.). Algeria. Political science professor in France. Author of La sortie d??gypte, Le temps dans la vie politique, among other publications.
DRAY Julien (1955-). Algeria. Historian, a founder of SOS Racisme in France. Author of Lettre d?un d?put? de base ? ceux qui nous gouvernent.
DRA? Isaac (XXes.). Algeria. Rabbi. Subject to annual pilgrimage.
?D?RY G?rard (XXes.). Morocco. Musician in New York. Specializes in Judeo-Spanish music.
?D?RY Rapha?l (1937-). Morocco. Member of the Israeli parliament affiliated with the Labor Party. Mayor of Hatsor. Politician, businessman.
?D?RY Ha?m (XVIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi of the Dra’ region. Author of S?f?r hah?zyonot (the book of dreams)
?D?RY Mord?kha? (1928-). Morocco. Rabbi in Argentina. Director of the Buenos Aires seminary.
?DR?HI Moch? de Itshak (1771-1841). Morocco. Rabbi in England and Holland. Linguistics professor. Author of Ten Tribes Settled Beyond the River Sambatyon in the East on lost tribes found in Southern Morocco.

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ABOUDARHAM, AbouDraham

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

AbouDraham is represented here mostly by Moroccan and Spanish involved in commerce and finance as well as rabbinic leadership. The name was widespread in Morocco.

The name consists of a complex prefix made of two elements abou = father which implies lineage and the root ‘draham’ = an ancient Roman currency known as ‘drahma’ in Hebrew writings or ‘dirham’ in some Arab countries, including Morocco. It may refer to a person who dealt with finance and money exchange. The occupation may have been passed on from father to son. The Aboudrahams were well known in the domain of finance in Spain and in Morocco, after the expulsion. The family was known also for its rabbinical leadership.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, avi, am, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, even, ha, i, la, lel, me, m, o, wi, vi, ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful… The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French. In the Moroccan Berbers tradition, prefixes such as ‘wi’ ‘vi’ ‘i’ means usually a family relationship to X, the equivalent of Abu in Arabic, i.e., ‘the father of’, ‘son of’ a man, a tribal affiliation and so forth.In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘M ‘ is an abbreviation of the word ‘from.’

Complex prefixes such as ‘Ab e’ in the name Ab E Rgel consist of two elements Ab=father and E=the.
Complex prefixes such as ‘BarHa’ in the name BarHaNess consist of two elements Bar=son and Ha=the.

Suffixes such as ‘an’ or ‘in’ denote affiliation or a characteristic in Aramaec.
Suffixes such as ‘a’ characterize ancient Hebrew names, i.e., AviHatsir’a’
Suffixes such as oulah, oulay, ilah, ily, el, eli are used in Hebrew and Arabic to associate a name with God’ blessing.
Suffixes such as ‘i’ or ‘ri’ ‘ti’ refer to an association with a person or a location, for example: arditi= from ardou or ard.
Suffixes such as ‘illo’ ‘ano’ ‘ino’ ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence or association with an attribute.
Suffixes such as ‘yah’, ‘yahu’ ‘hu’ are used in Hebrew to denote God’s benediction, for example: aviyah, aviyahu, avihu…
Suffixws such as ‘oun’ ‘on’ ‘yout’ ‘out’ characterize adjectives in Hebrew, for example: Hayoun, hayout…

ABOUDARHAM Moch? (Elt?touani) (XVIIIes.). Morocco. One of the King Merchant (tajer asultan) appointed along with Shemouel Sunbal by sultan Sidi Moulay Abdallah to conduct foreign trade from Mogador (Essaouira) (1766).
AbouDraham Shelomo. Morocco (Tetouan) (XVI-XVII). Chief rabbi of Tetouan. Poet. Author of Piske din (rabbinical rulings) and Hazouzim (Poems).
AbouDraham David (Don, El Viejo). Treasurer of Castillia (13th century). Community leader of Toledo. Founded a synagogue in Toledo.
ABOUDARHAM David ben Yossef (1341-?). Spain (S?villia). Rabbi. Author of S?f?r Aboudarham (The book of Aboudarham), P?rouch hab?rakhot v?hat?filot (The meaning of benedictions and prayers).
ABOUDARHAM Yah?acov (XIXes.). Morocco (Sal?). Morocco. S?f?r Koh?l?t Yah?acov (Jacob’s Eccl?siasties).

References:

ABEHSSERA Chalom S?f?r youhassin (Genealogy Registers).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ABENDANA (danan, IbnDanan, BenDanan)
ABENDANA DE BRITO
ABENDANAN

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

AbenDanan is represented here by a famous family of rabbis of Moroccan origin (Fes) who moved back and forth from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. Some scattered to European countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. They demonstrate the close links and interdependence between the Spanish/Portuguese and North African Jewry. Danan is believed to be of Babylonian origin. The Danans led the ancient Jewish Moroccan diaspora, called Toshavim (Inhabitants) who distinguished themselves by maintaining Palestinian/Babylonian rituals and rabbinical rulings. The name consist of the prefix avi (aben, Ben, Ibn) which implies fatherhood or lineage, the root ‘dan’ = the tribe of Dan, one of Jacob’s children. It may be associated with judicial practice as ‘dan’ = judging in Hebrew and Danan may be an Aramaec transformation of Dan during passage in Babylonia.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, avi, am, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, ha, i, la, lel, me, m, o, wi, vi, ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful… The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French. In the Moroccan Berbers tradition, prefixes such as ‘wi’ ‘vi’ ‘i’ means usually a family relationship to X, the equivalent of Abu in Arabic, i.e., ‘the father of’, ‘son of’ a man, a tribal affiliation and so forth.In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘M ‘ is an abbreviation of the word ‘from.’

Complex prefixes such as BarHa in the name BarHaNess consist of two elements Bar=son and Ha=the.

Suffixes such as ‘an’ or ‘in’ denote affiliation or a characteristic in Aramaec.

Suffixes such as ‘a’ characterize ancient Hebrew names, i.e., AviHatsir’a’
Suffixes such as oulah, oulay, ilah, ily, el, eli are used in Hebrew and Arabic to associate a name with God’ blessing.
Suffixes such as ‘i’ or ‘ri’ ‘ti’ refer to an association with a person or a location, for example: arditi= from ardou or ard.
Suffixes such as ‘illo’ ‘ano’ ‘ino’ ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence or association with an attribute.
Suffixes such as ‘yah’, ‘yahu’ ‘hu’ are used in Hebrew to denote God’s benediction, for example: aviyah, aviyahu, avihu…
Suffixws such as ‘oun’ ‘on’ ‘yout’ ‘out’ characterize adjectives in Hebrew, for example: Hayoun, hayout…

ABENDANA Itshak Sardo (1622?-1709). Netherlands. Diamond Jewler. Operated in India and London.
ABENDANA DE BRITO Itshak Ha?m (1660-1760). Netherlands. Rabbi of de Brito. Approved the publication of May?m rabbim (Sacred Sources) of Rapha?l Meldola, the rabbi of Bayonne.
ABENDANA Itshak (1640-1710). Marrano origin. Brother of Ya?acov Abendana. Doctor. Rabbi. Hebrew teacher at Cambridge and Oxford. Translator of the Mishnah to latin. Author of Jewish Almanachs juifs targetting Christian readers.
ABENDANA Yah?acov Yossef (1630-1685). Marrano origin. Amsterdam community leader. Rabbi of the Spanish Portuguese Jewish Community in London. Author and translator. Translated the Kouzari of Rabbi Y?houdah Hal?vi, and Ma?monides’ Mishne Torah.
ABENDANAN Ch?lomo (1848-1929). Morocco (Fes). Rabbi. Kabalist. Rabbinical Judge in Fes and Rabat. Contributed to improving the conditions of life of Moroccan Jewry due to his influence of the French Protectorat. Author of Acher lichlomo (The Wisdom of Solomon) and Bik?ch Ch?lomo (Solomon’s Plea).
ABENDANAN Ch?mou?l (?-1622). Morocco (Fes). Rabbi. Notary. Author.
ABENDANAN Ch?mou?l (XVIes.). Spain. Grandson of Saadia ben Moch? Abendanan. Settled in Fes after the expulsion from Spain. Community leader. Rabbi. Acredited Yossef Caro as rabbi.
ABENDANAN Ch?mou?l (1542-1621). Spain. Grandson of Rabbi Ch?mou?l Abendanan. Rabbi. Chief rabbinical judge in F?s.
ABENDANAN Moch? (RAMBAM Elfassi) (XIVe-XVes.). Morocco (F?s). Rabbi. Author of a commentary on the Talmud.
ABENDANAN Saadia ben Moch? (?-1493). Morocco (F?s). Rabbi. Talmudist. Doctor and poet. Chief rabbi of Granada. Returned to Fes after the Expulsion from Spain (1492).Author of a Hebrew/Arab dictionary, a history of the Jews in Morocco and Spain and judgements re forced conversion.

References:

ABEHSSERA Chalom S?f?r youhassin (Genealogy Registers).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Adrey, Derry, Deri, Dery, Derhy, Drai, Dray, Ederi, Edery, Edrehi, among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name is: dra’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (a, 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful, a part of a body, i.e. arm. In some cases, a name may be followed by a suffix such as ‘i’ or ‘y.’ The suffix has a similar meaning to the prefix. It denotes a relationship to a person, a place, etc…

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘A’ denotes usually a relationship to a family, a tribe or a place, among other possibilities.
The root ‘dra’’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘arm’ but it may also refer to a place ‘the river dra’ in Southern Morocco.’ In some cases,the letter ‘h’ accompanies the root dra’ when spelled in French, as a substitute to the sound ‘a’yin’ which does not exist in French. Many people omitted the ‘h’ and the a’yin due to French influence.

The root ‘dra’’ in not known or does not exist in Hebrew.

ADREY Maurice (Mo?se) (1899-1950). Algeria. Painter. Painted portraits of wealthy people in Algiers.
DERRY Benjamin (XXes.).Morocco. Painter. His work in France portrayed the Moroccan Melah, its rabbis and scribes.
DERHY Ren? (XXes.). Morocco. A leading fashion designer in Paris, France.
D?RI Andr? (1937-). Morocco. Pharmacist in France. Community leader.
D?RY William (XXes.). Morocco. Dental surgeon and community leader in Quebec, Canada.
D?RI Aryeh (1959-). Morocco. Rabbi. Founders of the religious party ‘Shas’. Served as minister and parliament member in Israel.
DRA? Rapha?l (XXes.). Algeria. Political science professor in France. Author of La sortie d??gypte, Le temps dans la vie politique, among other publications.
DRAY Julien (1955-). Algeria. Historian, a founder of SOS Racisme in France. Author of Lettre d?un d?put? de base ? ceux qui nous gouvernent.
DRA? Isaac (XXes.). Algeria. Rabbi. Subject to annual pilgrimage.
?D?RY G?rard (XXes.). Morocco. Musician in New York. Specializes in Judeo-Spanish music.
?D?RY Rapha?l (1937-). Morocco. Member of the Israeli parliament affiliated with the Labor Party. Mayor of Hatsor. Politician, businessman.
?D?RY Ha?m (XVIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi of the Dra’ region. Author of S?f?r hah?zyonot (the book of dreams)
?D?RY Mord?kha? (1928-). Morocco. Rabbi in Argentina. Director of the Buenos Aires seminary.
?DR?HI Moch? de Itshak (1771-1841). Morocco. Rabbi in England and Holland. Linguistics professor. Author of Ten Tribes Settled Beyond the River Sambatyon in the East on lost tribes found in Southern Morocco.

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ACHRIQUI(Ashriki, Sheriki, Sherki, Sharki, Sharkey…)
CHIRQUI
CHRIQUI
CHOURAQUI

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

Chriqui is ‘oriental’ in Arabic. It refers to an origin. The name is widespread in North Africa. Its spelling varies due to French influence i.e., Chouraqui… It appears with the prefix ‘a’ from time to time.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, aboul, avi, am, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, even, ha, i, la, lel, me, m, o, wi, vi, ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful… The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French. In the Moroccan Berbers tradition, prefixes such as ‘wi’ ‘vi’ ‘i’ means usually a family relationship to X, the equivalent of Abu in Arabic, i.e., ‘the father of’, ‘son of’ a man, a tribal affiliation and so forth.In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘M ‘ is an abbreviation of the word ‘from.’

Complex prefixes such as ‘Ab e’ in the name Ab E Rgel consist of two elements Ab=father and E=the.
Complex prefixes such as ‘BarHa’ in the name BarHaNess consist of two elements Bar=son and Ha=the.

Suffixes such as ‘an’ or ‘in’ denote affiliation or a characteristic in Aramaec.
Suffixes such as ‘a’ characterize ancient Hebrew names, i.e., AviHatsir’a’
Suffixes such as oulah, oulay, ilah, ily, el, eli are used in Hebrew and Arabic to associate a name with God’ blessing.
Suffixes such as ‘i’ or ‘ri’ ‘ti’ refer to an association with a person or a location, for example: arditi= from ardou or ard.
Suffixes such as ‘illo’ ‘ano’ ‘ino’ ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence or association with an attribute.
Suffixes such as ‘yah’, ‘yahu’ ‘hu’ are used in Hebrew to denote God’s benediction, for example: aviyah, aviyahu, avihu…
Suffixes such as ‘oun’ ‘on’ ‘yout’ ‘out’ characterize adjectives in Hebrew, for example: Hayoun, hayout…

ACHRIQUI Mord?kha? (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Advisor to Sidi Moulay Abdallah, the king of Morocco.
CHIRQUI Chim?on (1860-1930). Morocco (Safi). Rabbi of Jaffa and J?rusalem. Emissary to India, Irak and North Africa.
CHRIQUI Claude (XXes.). Morocco (Casablanca). Professor of computer sciences at l??cole des Hautes ?tudes Commerciales at Montr?al University. Community leader. Chair of the Sepharadi community of Qu?bec (1977-1978).
CHRIQUI David (XIXes.). Morocco (Tanger). Journalist. Author of Ceuta Antigua y Moderna (Ceuta, Old and New).
CHIRQUI Yossef (XIXes.). Morocco. Merchant in Tanger. Interpret of the Swedish and French Consulats. Fulfilled diplomatic duties. The Ch??rit Yossef synagogue was inaugurated during the historical visit of Sir Moses Montefiore to Tangier.

CHOURAQUI ?lie (1950-). Algeria. Film and theatre director. Director of Mon premier amour; Qu?est ce qui fait courir David?; Paroles et musique; Man and fire.
CHOURAQUI Andr? Nathan (1917-). Algeria (A?n T?mouchent). Lawyer. Historian. Poet. Playright. Biographer. Translator. Author of L?amour fort comme la mort; Les hommes de la Bible; L??tat d?Isra?l; L?histoire des Juifs en Afrique du Nord; L?histoire du juda?s-me; L?Alliance Isra?lite Universelle et la renaissance juive contemporaine (1860-1960); translations of Bahya Ibn Pakoudah as well as the Bible and the Koran; as well as essays such as La pens?e juive; Ce que je crois; Vivre pour J?rusalem; Lettre ? un ami chr?tien; Lettre ? un ami arabe; J?rusalem : une m?tropole spirituelle; Proc?s ? J?rusalem; La reconnaissance : Le Saint-Si?ge et l??tat d?Isra?l; biographies on Ren? Cassin : fantassin des droits and Un visionnaire nomm? Herzl.
CHOURAQUI Bernard (1943-). Algeria (Oran). Poet. Author of Le dernier jugement, Qui est Goy? ou de Pharaon ? Hitler; Le scandale juif ou la subversion de la mort; Le complexe d?Adam ou l?inconscient proph?tique; Les ?vangiles du XXe si?cle : anthologie du monde sans mort; J?sus, le Rabbi de Nazareth.
CHOURAQUI Saadia (1604-1704). Algeria (Tlemcen). Rabbi. Poet. Mathematician. Author of Mon? mispar (Counting numbers).

References:

ABEHSSERA Chalom S?f?r youhassin (Genealogy Registers).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Ceh, Alceh,
Cheikh, Acheikh, Ben Echeikh
Seh, Siah

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be ‘ceh’ or ‘Cheikh’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, bel ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful…

The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French.

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘Abu’ means usually ‘the father of’, a man is given the prefix ‘abu’ to identify him as the father of X. ‘Abu’ may also indicate a tribal affiliation. In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘El ‘ is an abreviation of Elohim, Hebrew for God.

The root ‘ceh’’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘phlegm’ if pronounced as ‘keh.’ However it may be a transformation of ‘Cheikh’ i.e., leader or chief or ‘seha’ i.e., health.

The root ‘ch’’ in Hebrew refers usually to ‘taking’ if pronounced as ‘kh’ and possibly phlegm (kiah) but it may also be pronounced as ‘siah’ (conversation) or ‘se’ which may mean ‘lamb’ or ‘sacrificial lamb.’

ALCEH Mathilde (1923-1967). Turkey. Poet. Author of a collection of poems in Le go?land.

ALCHEKH Moch? (XVIIes.). Palestine (Safed). Rabbi. Poet. Author of many commentaries on the Bible and the poem Chah?ar? Tsion (The gates of Zion).
ALCHEKH Mo?se (1508-1600?). Turkey.Rabbi in Safed. Community leader. Author of Torat Moch? (Moses Law). Student of Rabbi Yosef Caro..

Ben Echeikh Abraham (XVIII) Morocco. Rabbi. Issued a ruling relating to fund collections in Morocco.

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Ceh, Alceh,
Cheikh, Acheikh, Ben Echeikh
Seh, Siah

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be ‘ceh’ or ‘Cheikh’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, bel ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful…

The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French.

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘Abu’ means usually ‘the father of’, a man is given the prefix ‘abu’ to identify him as the father of X. ‘Abu’ may also indicate a tribal affiliation. In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘El ‘ is an abreviation of Elohim, Hebrew for God.

The root ‘ceh’’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘phlegm’ if pronounced as ‘keh.’ However it may be a transformation of ‘Cheikh’ i.e., leader or chief or ‘seha’ i.e., health.

The root ‘ch’’ in Hebrew refers usually to ‘taking’ if pronounced as ‘kh’ and possibly phlegm (kiah) but it may also be pronounced as ‘siah’ (conversation) or ‘se’ which may mean ‘lamb’ or ‘sacrificial lamb.’

ALCEH Mathilde (1923-1967). Turkey. Poet. Author of a collection of poems in Le go?land.

ALCHEKH Moch? (XVIIes.). Palestine (Safed). Rabbi. Poet. Author of many commentaries on the Bible and the poem Chah?ar? Tsion (The gates of Zion).
ALCHEKH Mo?se (1508-1600?). Turkey.Rabbi in Safed. Community leader. Author of Torat Moch? (Moses Law). Student of Rabbi Yosef Caro..

Ben Echeikh Abraham (XVIII) Morocco. Rabbi. Issued a ruling relating to fund collections in Morocco.

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Kala’, KALA?, Cala, Calah, ALCALA?

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be kala’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, bel ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful…

The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French.

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘Abu’ means usually ‘the father of’, a man is given the prefix ‘abu’ to identify him as the father of X. ‘Abu’ may also indicate a tribal affiliation. In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘El ‘ is an abreviation of Elohim, Hebrew for God.

The root ‘kala’’ in Arabic and Hebrew refers usually to ‘weaver.’

ALCALA? Aaron (1924-). Bulgaria. Painter and teacher. Lives in Isra?l.

ALCALA? David M. (1862-1933). Yougoslavia. Journalist. Editor of the Zionist journal Jevrejski glasnik (The Jewish Speaker).
ALCALA? Salomon (1878-1929). Serbia. Head of the Jewish Community of Belgrade. Member and president of the Zionist federation in Yugoslavia.
ALCALA? David ben Moch? (1814-1882). Serbia. Hebrew Professor. Translated Pirk? Avot (Treaties of the Fathers).
ALCALA? Abraham ben Ch?mou?l (1750?-1811). Turkey. Rabbi. Judge. Yeshiva director. Author of Z?khor l?Abraham (A memorial of Abraham).
ALCALA? Bentsion (1858-1913). Morocco.Rabbi. Author of H?achir varach (Rich and Poor) among other publications.
ALCALA? Isaac (1881-1978). Bulgaria. Chief Rabbi of Serbia and Yougoslavia. Membre of the senat of Belgrade (1924-1941). Found refuge in USA during WWII.
ALCALA? Y?houdah Salomon Ha? (1798-1878). Bosnia. Rabbi of Semlin, near Belgrade. Called for a return to Israel in Ch?mah? Yisra?l (Listen, Oh Israel).

KALA? Baroukh ben Ch?lomo (XVIes.). Turkey. Rabbi of Sardokoupis. Author of M?kor Baroukh (Blessed Sources).
KALA? Ch?mou?l ben Moch? (1550-1582). Corfou. Rabbi. Author of Michpat? Ch?mou?l (Samuel’s Rules).
KALA? Mord?kha? ben Ch?lomo (XVIIes.). Turkey. Chief rabbi of Salonica. Director of the Portuguese. Author. His books were lost to a city wide fire (1625).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

Kala’, KALA?, Cala, Calah, ALCALA?

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be kala’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, bel ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful…

The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French.

In the Arab tradition, the prefix ‘Abu’ means usually ‘the father of’, a man is given the prefix ‘abu’ to identify him as the father of X. ‘Abu’ may also indicate a tribal affiliation. In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘El ‘ is an abreviation of Elohim, Hebrew for God.

The root ‘kala’’ in Arabic and Hebrew refers usually to ‘weaver.’

ALCALA? Aaron (1924-). Bulgaria. Painter and teacher. Lives in Isra?l.

ALCALA? David M. (1862-1933). Yougoslavia. Journalist. Editor of the Zionist journal Jevrejski glasnik (The Jewish Speaker).
ALCALA? Salomon (1878-1929). Serbia. Head of the Jewish Community of Belgrade. Member and president of the Zionist federation in Yugoslavia.
ALCALA? David ben Moch? (1814-1882). Serbia. Hebrew Professor. Translated Pirk? Avot (Treaties of the Fathers).
ALCALA? Abraham ben Ch?mou?l (1750?-1811). Turkey. Rabbi. Judge. Yeshiva director. Author of Z?khor l?Abraham (A memorial of Abraham).
ALCALA? Bentsion (1858-1913). Morocco.Rabbi. Author of H?achir varach (Rich and Poor) among other publications.
ALCALA? Isaac (1881-1978). Bulgaria. Chief Rabbi of Serbia and Yougoslavia. Membre of the senat of Belgrade (1924-1941). Found refuge in USA during WWII.
ALCALA? Y?houdah Salomon Ha? (1798-1878). Bosnia. Rabbi of Semlin, near Belgrade. Called for a return to Israel in Ch?mah? Yisra?l (Listen, Oh Israel).

KALA? Baroukh ben Ch?lomo (XVIes.). Turkey. Rabbi of Sardokoupis. Author of M?kor Baroukh (Blessed Sources).
KALA? Ch?mou?l ben Moch? (1550-1582). Corfou. Rabbi. Author of Michpat? Ch?mou?l (Samuel’s Rules).
KALA? Mord?kha? ben Ch?lomo (XVIIes.). Turkey. Chief rabbi of Salonica. Director of the Portuguese. Author. His books were lost to a city wide fire (1625).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

AB?CASSIS, Abucassis, Abiksis
Cassis in France
Cazes and AbenGacez in Spain.

AB?CASSIS in French spelling, may appear in different forms, i.e., Abucassis, abiksis, Cassis in France or Cazes and AbenGacez in Spain.

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 Cassis, a profession, i.e., Kassas or story teller in Arabic or chopper in Hebrew.

In the Arab tradition, the prefix Abu means usually the father of Cassis, or a tribal affiliation, i.e., a relation to the Moroccan tribe of bnei Ksis. Jews in Morocco often were assigned the name of the tribe that offered them protection.  The word ?kassas? in Arabic means storyteller. In Algeria, community leaders and rabbis were given the title ?Cassis? which may denote in Arabic ?elder.?

In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ?Avi ? denotes patrilineal ancestry, i.e., son of Cassis or a relation to a place of origin, i.e., Cassis, a region allocated to the tribe of Benjamin. Jews settled in Morocco before the arrival of the Arabs to North Western Africa and the tribe Bnei Cassis was a Jewish tribe before it adopted Islam. The tribe may have been related to the tribe of Benjamin and the region of Cassis in ancient Israel. The root ?kss? means chopper in Hebrew and may denote a trade of the people named Cassis. May also be of the tribe of Banu Alqassis in Yatrel, in Saudi Arabia.

Cassis is a town in Southern France. The title ?Cassis? may denotes also ?priest? among early Christians in North Africa.
Caces is a town in the province of Oviedo in Spain. The name Cazes is common among Jews of Spanish ancestry around the Mediteranean (see examples below).

The name is common among both Jews, Berbers and Arabs in North Africa but not as frequent among Christians in France. See for example

AB?CASSIS Rapha?l (1953-). Morocco. Painter of the stained glass at Tif?ret Isra?l in Los Angeles.
AB?CASSIS ?liette (XX^es.). France. Author of Qumran et L?or et la cendre
AB?CASSIS-OBADIAH Marie (XX^es.). Morocco. (lives in Quebec) Author of  Tanger, les miens et les autres.
AB?CASSIS Messod (XIXes.). Morocco.  Community leader in Tangier.
AB?CASSIS Salomon (XIXes.). Morocco. Community leader in London, England.
AB?CASSIS Armand (1933-). Morocco. Author, philosopher, psychologist, Bordeaux. France.
AB?CASSIS Simon (XIXe-XXes.). Morocco. Rabbi of Mogador
AB?CASSIS Y?houdah (XXes.). Morocco. Rabbi of T?touan.

CAZ?S David (1851-1913). Morocco. T?touan. Author. Historian. Established Jewish schools in Tunisia, Turkey and Argentina.
CAZ?S-BENATTAR H?l?ne (1900-?). Morocco. Tangier. Lawyer. Led the Joint assistance to WWII refugees in Morocco.

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

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ABOUZAGLO
BOUZAGLO

among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

Bouzaglo is represented here by rabbis, a filmmaker, a poet and educators of Moroccan origin, probably from the Dra’ region in Southern Morocco.

The nameconsists of a complex prefix made of two elements abou/bou = father which implies lineage and the root ‘zaglo’ = rod or perch in Arabic. It means also ‘yoke’ in Berber. It may refer to yoke making for farming. It may be an ancient Aramaec name composed of ‘zag’ = teller and ‘lo’= him, a story teller or educator.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, aboul, avi, am, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, even, ha, i, la, lel, me, m, o, wi, vi, ) 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, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation, a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful… The prefixes al, el are equivalent to ‘the’ in English or the article ‘le’ in French. In the Moroccan Berbers tradition, prefixes such as ‘wi’ ‘vi’ ‘i’ means usually a family relationship to X, the equivalent of Abu in Arabic, i.e., ‘the father of’, ‘son of’ a man, a tribal affiliation and so forth.In the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘M ‘ is an abbreviation of the word ‘from.’

Complex prefixes such as ‘Ab e’ in the name Ab E Rgel consist of two elements Ab=father and E=the.
Complex prefixes such as ‘BarHa’ in the name BarHaNess consist of two elements Bar=son and Ha=the.

Suffixes such as ‘an’ or ‘in’ denote affiliation or a characteristic in Aramaec.
Suffixes such as ‘a’ characterize ancient Hebrew names, i.e., AviHatsir’a’
Suffixes such as oulah, oulay, ilah, ily, el, eli are used in Hebrew and Arabic to associate a name with God’ blessing.
Suffixes such as ‘i’ or ‘ri’ ‘ti’ refer to an association with a person or a location, for example: arditi= from ardou or ard.
Suffixes such as ‘illo’ ‘ano’ ‘ino’ ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence or association with an attribute.
Suffixes such as ‘yah’, ‘yahu’ ‘hu’ are used in Hebrew to denote God’s benediction, for example: aviyah, aviyahu, avihu…
Suffixes such as ‘oun’ ‘on’ ‘yout’ ‘out’ characterize adjectives in Hebrew, for example: Hayoun, hayout…

ABOUZAGLO Ch?lomo (XIXes.). Palestine. Zionist activist. Educator at Alliance Isra?lite Universelle in Ha?fa and the Middle East. Founder of the Sepharadi section of the Histadrut in Haifa, Israel.
BOUZAGLO Ha?m (XXes.). Israel. Professor of literature and theatre studies. Screen writer and filmmaker: Un mariage fictif ; Le temps des cerises; the summer of Avia.
BOUZAGLO Chalom (XIXes.). Morroco. Rabbi. Kabalist in Palestine. Settled in London. Author of Mikdach m?l?kh (The King’s sanctuary), Hadrat m?l?kh (the king’s splendour); Kiss? m?l?kh (the king’s thronel); Hod m?l?kh (The king’s majesty) and K?vod m?lekh (the king’s honor).
BOUZAGLO David (1902-1975). Morocco (Zaouia). Rabbi, educator, linguist, poet, lithurgy singer, paytan in Morocco and Israel. Adapted Jewishpoetry to Andalousian musique.
BOUZAGLO Mord?kha? (XVes.). Morocco. Rabbi. Kabalist in the Dra’ region. Worked with Rabbi Ha?m Vital in Safed, Palestine. Author of Mah?yanot hokhmah (Springs of wisdom).

References:

ABEHSSERA Chalom S?f?r youhassin (Genealogy Registers).

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).

Levi, J et. al. 2000        Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.

Toledano, J. 1983        La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv

Laredo A. 1978           Les noms des juifs au Maroc (Madrid, 1978)