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 ?

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 ?

ABRAHAM
ABRAHAMINI (Abrahami, Avrahaminian, BenAbraham)
ABRAHAO (see also Abravanel)

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

Abraham is the name of the father of monotheism. The name is common among Jews, Christians and Moslems. It is an ancient Hebrew name composed of two elements ab = father which implies lineage and the root ‘raham’ = mercy or womb.

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…

ABRAHAM de SARAGOSSE (IXes.). Spain. Merchant. Dealt with the Francs and settled in their kingdom.
ABRAHAM ELBARCHILON (XIIIes.). Spain. Tax collector on behalf of King Sanche IV of Castillia.
ABRAHAM le Victorieux (XVes.). Algeria. Community leader. Facilitated a refuge in Tlemcen for Jews expelled from Spain.
ABRAHAM Mony (XXes.). Argentina. A Zionist community leader who played an important role in immigration to Israel.
ABRAHAM Y?hezkiel (1958-). Isra?l (Tel Aviv). Of Iraki origin. Economist. Parliament member representating the Labor party.
ABRAHAMINI Joseph (XVIIes.). Italy. Accused of ritual murder in V?rone. Released after claiming the act is forbidden in Jewish law.
ABRAHAO Coje (XVIes.). Portugal. Diplomat. Contributed to the developement of Portuguese colonies in India. Signed a peace treaty with the Shah of Iran.

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 ?

AZIZA (ElAziz, BenAziza, Az, Oz, Oziel)

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

Aziza is represented here by an Algerian author and a Tunisian Historian. Both living in France. The name is common in North Africa. It means ‘beloved’ in North African Arabic. The name denotes a characteristic of a person, i.e., the beloved one. The names ‘Aziza’ and ‘Aziz’ are used as a female and male first names in Arab countries.

The root of the name ‘Az’ has a meaning in Hebrew: ‘strong’ or ‘strength.’ Aziza may be an Aramean transformation of the Hebrew name. The names: A’z, O’z, O’ziel are modern Hebrew version used in contemporary Israel.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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.’

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…

AZIZA Germaine (XXes.). Algeria. Author of Les chambres closes (Sealed Rooms). Lives in France.
AZIZA Claude (XXes.). Tunisia (Tunis).Historian. Lives in France. Author of Tertulien et le juda?sme (Tertulien and Judaism).

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 (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ATHIAS
ATIAS
ATTIAS
ATTIA (BenAtia)

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

A’tia means gift in Arabic. The name is common in North Africa and around the Mediteranean.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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.’

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.

ATHIAS Immanuel (XVIIes.). Netherlands. Brother of Joseph Athias. Publisher of Judaica.
ATHIAS Joseph (?-1700). Netherlands. Brother of Immanuel Athias. Publisher of Judaica. Originaire des Pays-Bas.
ATIAS Mord?kha? (XXes.). Bosnia. Chair of the Sepharadi Community of Sarajevo. He introduced proportional elections and progressive taxes in his community.
ATTIAS M?nahem (1864-1942). Morocco (Tanger). Journalist. Multi-lingual. Editor of l?Eco Mauritani founded by Isaac Lar?do.
ATHIAS Itshak (XVIIes.). Portugal. Rabbi of Hambourg and Venise. Editor of Tesoro de Preceptos (The precepts).
ATHIAS Moch? Isra?l (?-1665). Spain. Rabbi. Spiritual leader of the sepharadi community of London.
ATHIAS Yom Tov (XVIes.). Spain. Contributed to the Bible traslation into Spanish in Ferrare (Italy).
ATTIA ?zra (1881-1970). Syria (Alepo). Rabbi. Director of the Porat Yossef Yeshiva Academy. Author of a commentary on K?toubbot (Marriage contracts).
ATTIA Itshak (XVIIe-XVIIIes.). Morocco. Rabbi. Author of M?sharet Moch? (Moses’ Assistant).
ATTIAS David Isra?l (XVIIIes.). Portugal. Rabbi. Known for his approval of May?m rabim (Rich Sources) of Rapha?l Meldola, rabbi of Bayonne.
ATTIAS M?nahem (XVIIIes.). Morocco. Chief rabbi of T?touan. Author of Ner Ma?aravi (Western light).

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 (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ASSAL (Assaly, Assli)
ASSOULINE
BENASSOULI(BenAssouline)

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

Assal means honey in Arabic. Assoulin in Berber means ‘rock.’ The name may also refer to a tribal affiliation with the tribe Ait Tizguin Oua-Assouline. The name is common in Morocco in the Assouline form and the Assaly form elsewhere in North Africa and the Middle East.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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.’

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.

ASSAL Yah?acov (XXes.) Tunisia. Television producer in Israel.
ASSOULINE Pierre (1953-). Morocco (Casablanca). Journalist. Director of the edition Lire. Author of biographies such as Gaston Gallimard.
ASSOULINE Makhlouf (XXes.). Morocco. Maroc). Colonel in the Moroccan army. Finance director of the municipality of Casablanca. Director of the Ittihad schools.
ASSOULINE Benjamin (1918-1993). Alg?ria (Constantine). Rabbi. Arrested by the Nazis in 1940. Escaped to Lyon. Rabbi in Lyon and the collective settlement B?t Ouziel in Israel.
ASSOULINE L?vi (1828-1903). Morocco (Marrakech). Rabbi of Constantine. Author of S?f?r Zibh? ?lokim (Ritual Slaughter).
ASSOULINE Moch? (XVIes.). Morocco. Rabbi in F?s and Taroudant. Author of S?f?r d?rachot (Sermons).

BENASSOULI-Nahon Jonas (1888-1962). Morocco (Tanger). Engineer. Community leader in Spain. Vice president of the Spanish Red Cross.

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 (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ASSER (Asher)
BEN ACHER
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

Asser is in all likelihood a deformation of the Hebrew name/word Asher = happiness. Asher is one of the children of the patriarch Jacob and one of the tribes of Israel. It is a popular Hebrew name in Modern Israel too. It appears as a first name as well as a family name, in many cases with the prefix Ben, i.e., Ben Asher.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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.’

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…

ASSER Mos?s Salomon (XIXes.). Netherlands. Lawyer. Social activist who pushed for the integration of Jews in the Dutch society. Advisor of King Guillaume I.

BEN ACHER Abraham (XVIIIes.). Palestine. Rabbi. Fund raiser for the old settlements in Jerusalem and Palestine. He also determined criteria for fund allocation in Palestine.

BEN ACHER Yah?acov (1260-1340?). Spain. Rabbi. Judge. Kabalist. Author of Arbah?a tourim (Four columns), a moral and legal commentary on the Torah.

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 (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?
ARROUAS
HARROUCH HARRUS (Harosh, Arosh, Harris)
BENARROCH BenAroch BenArosh BenHaroch BenArus
AROUSI (A’rousi)

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

Harosh means the head or the leader in the Hebrew language. The name is common in North Africa and went through typical transformation due to linguistic influences throughout the region. Haroush is an Arabic transformation, Harrus is a French transformation and Harris is an English transformation (mostly in Egypt).

Arrouas is the plural of head in North African Arabic. It may also refer to the occupation of roaster in the Arabic language. Some suggest that the name Arrouas is related to the name Arroyo. Arroyo is a province/county of Madrid, Spain.

A’rousi, may have a completely different meaning and is in all likelihood based on a different root. The name A’rousi is found in Tunisia and Yemen and means ‘my groom.’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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.’

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.

ARROUAS Albert (XXes.). Alg?ria (B?ne). Lived in Tunis. Journalist. Author of Le Livre d?or (The Golden Book).
ARROUAS Yossef (1847-1925). Morroco (Rabat). Leader of the Sepharadi community in Palestine. Author of Hod Yossef (Joseph splendour).

HARROUCH Michel (1948-). Morocco (Casablanca). Th??tre professor. Radio animator. Painter.
HARRUS Elias (1919-). Morocco (Beni Mellal). Educator. Director of Alliance schools in Marrakech and the Atlas region. et de l?extr?me sud du Maroc. Exhibited rare photographs of Jews in remote Atlas communities at the Diaspora Museum in Israel.

BENARROCH Isaac (XIXes.) V?n?zu?la. Intellectual. Author of El Indiano, el cadi y la luna (The Indian, the Cadi and the Moon).
BENAROCH Rapha?l (1921-1994). Morocco (Rabat). Lawyer. Author of Succession Law in Morocco. Chair of O.S.E. (Oeuvre de Secours pour l?Enfance). Led the establishment of the Union of North African World Jewry in Nice, France.
BENAROCH Roger (1934-). Morocco (Mekn?s). Professor of mangement at l??cole sup?rieure de commerce de Paris. Community leader. Founder and leader of the Movement of Liberal Jews in France.
BENARROCH Ch?lomo (?-1880). Morocco (Mekn?s). King Merchant. Owner of the Bahtit synagogue in Meknes.
BENARROCH Joseph (1942-). Morocco (Mekn?s). Counsellor in finance in Qu?bec (Montr?al). Chair of the S?pharade francophone association and the Canadian s?pharade federation.
BENARROCH Lucien (1941-). Morocco (Mekn?s). Textile engineer in Quebec. Chair of the Communaut? S?pharade du Qu?bec (1985-1987).
BENARROCH Yamin A. (1882-1949). Morocco (T?touan). Philanthropist. Chair of the Jewish community of M?lilla. Founder of a synagogue in J?rusalem and a y?chivah in Tib?rias.
BENHARROSH Gilbert (1938-1998). Morocco (Rabat). Agronomist in Quebec. Led projects in Canada au Burkina Fasso.
BENARROCH PARIENT? ?lias (XIXe-XXes.). V?n?zu?la. Doctor. Specialist in tropical diseases.
BENARUS Adolpho (1863-1958). Portugal. Painter. Author. Taught english at Lisbon university. Community leader.

AROUSI Abraham (1878-1934). Y?men (Kaubakan). Folklorist. Poet. Author of an anthology of Yemenite folktales and poems.

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 (Madrid, 1978)

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

AMIEL
BEN AMI

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

AMIEL and BEN AMI are represented by entries from Morocco. The name is indeed prevalent in Morocco in the form of Ben Ami but not as much in the Amiel transformation. The name consists of the prefix ‘ben’ = son of , the root ‘am’ = people and the suffix ‘i’ = my, conveying affiliation to the people of Israel. ‘Amiel’
consists of the root ‘am’ = people and a complex suffix made of ‘i’ = my and ‘el’ = god, to convey association or benediction of God.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, aboul, avi, am, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, af, aff, 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, iel 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…

AMIEL Andr? (1928-). Morocco (El Jadida). Community leader in Montr?al, Quebec. First president of The Sepharade Francophone Association (1966-1967).

BEN AMI Ch?lomo (XXes.). Morocco (Tanger). Historian. Specialist of Spain. Diplomat. First Ambassador of Isra?l in Spain. Member of the Israeli parliament and minister (interior and foreign affairs) representing the Labor party. Fascism from above: The dictatorship of Primo Rivera in Spain; The origins of the second republic in Spain; La revoluci?n desde arriba : Espa?a 1936-1979. Member of the team negociating peace with the Palestinians.
BEN AMI Issakhar (1933-). Morocco (Casablanca). Professor of folklore at the Hebrew University in J?rusalem. Author of Cultes des saints et p?lerinages jud?o-musulmans au Maroc; Le juda?sme marocain : ?tudes ethnoculturelles; La v?n?ration des saints parmi les Juifs du Maroc.

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 ?

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