The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

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

The root of the name may be ‘tkn’ from the Hebrew verb to repair. It may refer to reparation or a plea/prayer (like in tikun hatsot = midnight prayer).
‘
The root ‘takana’ is preceded by the prefix ‘al.’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, 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 ‘eri’ refer to an affiliation with a person or a place, for example: a descendent of ‘Mos’ or a ‘masri’ a person from Egypt.
Suffixes such as ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence. No sufix is attached to ‘takana.’

ALTAKANA Moch? (Abou Elhasan) ben Itshak (XIes.). Spain. Poet. Known as the ‘perplexed.’

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 ?

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

The root of the name may be ‘kavei’ from the Hebrew word ‘hope.’
‘ Nakoua’ may mean cleanliness in Arabic (North African Arabic dialect). ‘Kaoua’ may also mean ‘power’ or ‘authority’ in Arabic (North African Arabic dialect). It may be a Judeo-Moroccan transformation of the Hebrew word ‘koah’ (power).

The root ‘Kavei’ is preceded by the prefix ‘el,’ a common Hebrew prefix refering to god or ‘elohim’ in Hebrew. The prefixes ‘al’ or ‘an’ are articles equivalent to ‘the’ in English or ‘le’ in French.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, 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 ‘eri’ refer to an affiliation with a person or a place, for example: a descendent of ‘Mos’ or a ‘masri’ a person from Egypt.
Suffixes such as ‘ano’ ‘no’ ‘lino’ ‘nino’ are used in Spain and Italy to indicate descendence.

ALNAKAOUA Isra?l ben Yossef (?-1391). Spain. Po?t. Singer/prayer leader. Author of M?norat hama?or (The source of light). Attacked in a pogrom in Toledo. Committed suicide (1391). ELN?CAV? David (1882-1956). Turkey. Rabbi. Journalist. Editor in Bulgaria and Argentina. Founder of La Luz (the light). Member of the 12th Zionist congress in Karlsbad. Went to Latin America to enlist support for zionism and to encourage immigration to Palestine.
ELN?CAV? Nissim (XXes.).Argentina. son of David (above). Editor of La Luz.
ANKAOUA Abraham (1810-1860). Morocco. Rabbi. Chief Rabbi of Tlemcen, Mascara, Tunis and Livorno. Author of Otsrot hayim (Life treasures).
ANKAOUA Ephra?m (?-1442). Spain. Rabbi in Morocco and Algeria. Doctor. Philosopher. Linguist. Author of Chah?ar K?vod Hach?m (Gates to Divinity). An object of pilgrimage as a saint.
ANKAOUA Rapha?l (1848-1935). Morocco. Rabbi. Founder of a Rabbinical learning centre and a high rabbinic court in Rabat. Author of Pah?amon zahav (the golden bell). Became an object of pilgrimage as a saint.
ANKAOUA Yom Tov (XVIIIes.). Turkey. Rabbi. Author of commentaries on Maimonides and many rabbinical rulings.

References:

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 ?

ALEMAN,
AJIMAN
ALMANSI, (see also MANSANO)
MAMAN MAMANE
MANI
MANOR
WIZEMAN, (Weitzman, Vizeman)

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

The root of the name may be ‘mn’ or ‘zmn’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, i, 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.’

The root ‘zmn’ in Moroccan Berber may refer to the tribe Ait Izman. Jews affiliated or protected by Ait Izmen may have used their tribal affiliation to identify themselves.

The root ‘mn’ in Hebrew refers to ‘mana’ a food provided to the Hebrews during their wandering in the Sinai desert after their departure from Egypt.
The root ‘zmn’ in Hebrew refers usually to ‘time’ and the name may refer to time calculation. This function was reserved to rabbis with great authority thus reducing the likelihood the name refers to the occupation in question, but it is not unlikely.

Another possibility is that the name may refer to an origin, i.e., from ‘aman’ (Jordan) or ‘meaman’ (Spain) or ‘aleman’ (Germany) or ‘zman’ (a Berber tribe in Southern Morocco), ‘mans’ (France).

The names Wiseman (smart man) or Weitzman (white man), common among European Jews, share similarities with some of the names above. European Jews did settle in North Africa from time to time but the likelihood of a relationship between the European version and the Mediterranean names is not likely but not excluded.

The name Manor is a recent Hebrew adaptation (although Dan Manor’s family name was Lugassy before the change to Manor).

AL?MAN Mat?o (1547?-1615). Spain. Marrano.lived in Mexico. Doctor. Author of Guzm?n de Alfarache.

AJIMAN Y?chaia (XVIIIe-XIXes.).Turkey. Community leader. Founded a transition home in Jaffa for pilgrims and immigrants to Jerusalem/Palestine.

ALMANSI Joseph (1801-1860). Italy. Poet.
ALMANSI Dante (?-1948). Italy. Judge. Jewish community leader in Italy duting WWII.
ALMANSI Emilio (1869-1948). Italy. Physicist. Mathematician.Contributed to the developement of the theory of elasticity.

MANOR Dan (XXes.). Morocco. Professor. Author of Kabalah vemoussar b?maroco (Mysticism and ethics in Morocco).

MAMAN Aaron (1947-). Morocco. Linguistics Professor in Jerusalem. Co-author of Les juifs d?Afrique du Nord en Isra?l de rabbi Ha?m Benattar ? nos jours. MAMANE Abraham (1915-1992). Morocco. Rabbi. Author of several ritual slaughter codes.
MAMANE Moch? (?-1783). Morocco. Rabbi. Merchant. Court counsellor and banker. Philantrope.
MAMANE Rapha?l (1810-1882). Morocco. Rabbi. Chief of the rabbical court in Safed. Author of Marp? lan?f?ch (Healing the soul).
MAMANE Yossef (Elmograbi) (1725-1823). Morocco. Rabbi. Established Jewish education in Boukhara. Founder of the Zionist organization Hibat Tsion. Led immigration from Boukhara to Jerusalem and the construction of the Boukhara quarter in Jerusalem.
MAMANE Yossef (XIXes.). Morocco. Originaire du Maroc (Sefrou). Rabbin, il est l?auteur de Ch?t? yadot (Deux mesures) qui comprend Yad rama (Main ?tendue) un ensemble de responsa et Yad harachim (La main des pauvres), des hom?lies.

MANI ?liyahou ben Sliman (1818-1899). Iraq. Rabbi. Founder of a Yeshiva in H?bron Author of Zikhronot Eliyahou (Memories of Eliahu).

WIZEMANE Shemouel (XVIII) Morocco. Chief rabbi of Mogador (Essaouira).

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 ?

ALLOUCHE
LALOUCHE
LELLOUCHE, Lelouch

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

The root of the name may be ‘louch’ in Arabic.
Al, La, Lel ‘louch’ may be an Arab name refering to an unknown meaning.

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 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…

ALLOUCHE F?lix Nissim Saidou (1910-1978). Tunisia. Journalist. Editor of Jewish and Zionist papers.
ALLOUCHE Jean-Luc (XXes.). Algeria. Journalist in France. Author of Jours innocents (Innocent days) and Juifs d?Alg?rie (Jews of Algeria).
ALLOUCHE Guy (1939-). Algeria. Politician representing the socialist party in the French senate.
ALLOUCHE Sidi Bahi (XIXes.). Algeria. Judge in Constantine.
ALLOUCHE-BENAYOUN Jo?lle (XXes.). Algeria. Sociologist in France. Author of Juifs d?Alg?rie d?hier et d?aujourd?hui (Algerian Jews, yesterday and today). LALOUCHE Gaby (XXes.). Algeria. Mayor and politician in Dimona, Israel.
LELLOUCHE Jules (XXes.). Tunisia. Painter of reputation between WWI and WWII.
LELLOUCHE Ofer (1947-). Tunisia. Painter.
Lelouch Claude (1937-). France. Algerian descent. Prolific film maker and producer. Known for the film Un homme et une femme (A man and a woman).
LELLOUCHE Pierre (1951-). Tunisia. Political scientist. Journalist. Author of Le mill?naire de l?apocalypse (the millenium of the apocalypse)

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 ?

Allon
Alloun

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

The root of the name may be ‘alon’ in Hebrew or ‘loun’ in Arabic.

Allon may be a Hebrew name, refering to a type of tree: oak. Typical prefixes attached to a root name do not apply in this case.
Alloun may be an Arabic deformation of the Hebrew name Alon or Allon. However, Al ‘loun’ may be an Arab name refering to ‘paint’ or ‘color’ refering possibly to a person who made, sold or dealt with coloring.

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, i, 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.’

ALLON G?rard (1949-). Morocco. Painter. Photographer. Made hologrammes on Genesis.

ALLOUN Abraham (XVIIes.).Morocco.Rabbi. Author of S?f?r d?r?kh (The book of the path) settled in Palestine.

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 ?

ALLIANCE

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

Alliance is represented by one entry. The name has been, in all likelihood, adopted by the Iranian engineer in England. It is a contemporary English name. It refers to association or coalition. Many Jews in the Mediterranean were schooled in educational institutions established by the Alliance Israelite Univeselle (A.I.U.). It is not known if the person in question adopted the name in relation to A.I.U. The name is rare among Mediterranean Jews.

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 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…

ALLIANCE David (1932-). Iran. Businessman. Engineer. Highly ranked in engineering companies in Britain.

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 ?

ALHADEF
ALHADAHEF (Al Hadif)

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

Alhadef is represented by two entries from Spain and Greece. The name is in all likelihood a name of Spanish/Moorish origin on the basis of its composition. It consist of the typical Arab two prefixes ‘al’ = the and the root ‘hadef’ = ????? in Arabic. The name is rare among Mediterranean Jews. The Alhadef family originated in all likelihood from Spain, immigrating to Greece after the Expulsion from Spain in 1492.

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 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…

ALHADEF Bohor (XIXes.). Greece. Entrepreneur in Rhodes. Founder of a leading bank in the Middle East.
ALHADAHEF Itshak (XVes.). Spain. Rabbi. Mathematician. Author.

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 ?

ALGRANTE
Granati, Garanati
GRANADA

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

The root of the name may be ‘granada’ or ‘grant’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, i, 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.’

The root ‘grant’ may be in the English language and may refers to a person of some accomplishment i.e., the great one. Some Spanish/Portuguese and Moroccan Jews did settle in England but it is more likely that the name is related to a place of origin or a type of stone. It is in all likelihood a deformation of Granada.
The root ‘granada’ refers to a location or origin, i.e., the city of Granada in Spain.
The root ‘granite’ in Hebrew refers usually to a type of stone.

ALGRANTE Esther Morguez (XXes.).Turkey. Poet. Journalist. Community leader. Author of 9 Eloul : Po?sias on the Holaucost.
GRANADA Abraham ben Itshak (XIIIe-XIVes.?). Spain. Rabbi. Author of B?rit ha?mounah (The Alliance of Belief)

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 ?

ALGAZI
Ergaz
GUEDJ
GUEZ
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be ‘gz’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, e, er, i, 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.’

The root ‘gz’ in North African dialects may refer to a place named ‘gaz’ or ‘gez’.

The root ‘gzz’ in Hebrew refers to ‘shear’ or ‘sheep shearing’ and possibly ‘pass’ or ‘go by.’

ALGAZI Itshak ben Ch?lomo (1882-1964).Turkey. Poet. Singer and composer in Uruguay. Authored Chir? Yisra?l b??r?ts hak?dem (The songs of Israel in the Orient).
ALGAZI L?on Y?houdah (1890-1971). Roumenia. Composer. Conductor. Music professor. Broadcaster with the Voice of Israel.
ALGAZI Abraham ben Moch? (1560?-1640?). Turkey. Rabbi.
ALGAZI Ch?lomo (1610-1683). Turkey. Rabbi. Opposed the false messaiah Chabb?ta? Tsvi. Author of L?h?m s?tarim (Secret Bread).
ALGAZI Ch?lomo ben Abraham (1673-1726). Palestine. Chief rabbi in Egypt. Author. His books disappeared.
ALGAZI Itshak ben Abraham (XVIIes.). Greece. Rabbi. Originaire de Gr?ce. Author of Dor?ch tov (On the path of goodness path).
ALGAZI Nissim Yah?acov ben Ha?m Ch?lomo (XVIIIes.). Turkey. Rabbi. Author of commentaries in Safed, Israel.

GUEDJ Edgard (XXes.). Algeria. Administrator and educator. Contributed to the development of the youth movement in Morocco.
GUEDJ Gaston (XXes.). Tunisia. Author of Nos martyrs sous la botte nazie (Marthyrs under Nazi boots)1943.
GUEDJ Max (XXes.). Algeria. Poet and Fiction author Le voyage en Barbarie (Travelling in Berber Land).
GUEDJ ?liahou Ha? (1830-?). Tunisia. Rabbi. Educator. Rabbi. Poet. Author of Ma?ass? hacha?achou?im (A tale of joy).

GUEZ Mathilda (1918-1990). Tunisia.Member of the Israeli parliament as a Labor representative.
GUEZ Paul (1898-1972). Tunisia. Officer in the France army during WWI and WWII. Author of Six mois sous la botte nazie (Six months under the booth).

ERGAZ Yossef (1685-1730). Italy. Rabbi. Opposed N?h?miah Hia Hayoun, a follower of Shabetai Zvi.

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 Maro

The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

ALEMAN,
AJIMAN
ALMANSI, (see also MANSANO)
MAMAN MAMANE
MANI
MANOR
WIZEMAN, (Weitzman, Vizeman)

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

The root of the name may be ‘mn’ or ‘zmn’

Prefixes attached to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, avi, ben, bin, abou, a, aj, al, bel, i, 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.’

The root ‘zmn’ in Moroccan Berber may refer to the tribe Ait Izman. Jews affiliated or protected by Ait Izmen may have used their tribal affiliation to identify themselves.

The root ‘mn’ in Hebrew refers to ‘mana’ a food provided to the Hebrews during their wandering in the Sinai desert after their departure from Egypt.
The root ‘zmn’ in Hebrew refers usually to ‘time’ and the name may refer to time calculation. This function was reserved to rabbis with great authority thus reducing the likelihood the name refers to the occupation in question, but it is not unlikely.

Another possibility is that the name may refer to an origin, i.e., from ‘aman’ (Jordan) or ‘meaman’ (Spain) or ‘aleman’ (Germany) or ‘zman’ (a Berber tribe in Southern Morocco), ‘mans’ (France).

The names Wiseman (smart man) or Weitzman (white man), common among European Jews, share similarities with some of the names above. European Jews did settle in North Africa from time to time but the likelihood of a relationship between the European version and the Mediterranean names is not likely but not excluded.

The name Manor is a recent Hebrew adaptation (although Dan Manor’s family name was Lugassy before the change to Manor).

AL?MAN Mat?o (1547?-1615). Spain. Marrano.lived in Mexico. Doctor. Author of Guzm?n de Alfarache.

AJIMAN Y?chaia (XVIIIe-XIXes.).Turkey. Community leader. Founded a transition home in Jaffa for pilgrims and immigrants to Jerusalem/Palestine.

ALMANSI Joseph (1801-1860). Italy. Poet.
ALMANSI Dante (?-1948). Italy. Judge. Jewish community leader in Italy duting WWII.
ALMANSI Emilio (1869-1948). Italy. Physicist. Mathematician.Contributed to the developement of the theory of elasticity.

MANOR Dan (XXes.). Morocco. Professor. Author of Kabalah vemoussar b?maroco (Mysticism and ethics in Morocco).

MAMAN Aaron (1947-). Morocco. Linguistics Professor in Jerusalem. Co-author of Les juifs d?Afrique du Nord en Isra?l de rabbi Ha?m Benattar ? nos jours. MAMANE Abraham (1915-1992). Morocco. Rabbi. Author of several ritual slaughter codes.
MAMANE Moch? (?-1783). Morocco. Rabbi. Merchant. Court counsellor and banker. Philantrope.
MAMANE Rapha?l (1810-1882). Morocco. Rabbi. Chief of the rabbical court in Safed. Author of Marp? lan?f?ch (Healing the soul).
MAMANE Yossef (Elmograbi) (1725-1823). Morocco. Rabbi. Established Jewish education in Boukhara. Founder of the Zionist organization Hibat Tsion. Led immigration from Boukhara to Jerusalem and the construction of the Boukhara quarter in Jerusalem.
MAMANE Yossef (XIXes.). Morocco. Originaire du Maroc (Sefrou). Rabbin, il est l?auteur de Ch?t? yadot (Deux mesures) qui comprend Yad rama (Main ?tendue) un ensemble de responsa et Yad harachim (La main des pauvres), des hom?lies.

MANI ?liyahou ben Sliman (1818-1899). Iraq. Rabbi. Founder of a Yeshiva in H?bron Author of Zikhronot Eliyahou (Memories of Eliahu).

WIZEMANE Shemouel (XVIII) Morocco. Chief rabbi of Mogador (Essaouira).

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)