The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews

Marc Eliany ?

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

Sayag means jeweler in Arabic. The name is common among Jews in Moslem countries since Islam prohibited its followers from handling precious metals.

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.

ASSAYAG Motty (1943-). Morocco. Artist. Graduate of the Bezalel art academy in Israel. Known for his graphic illustrations of posters and books.
ASSAYAG Pinhas (XIXe-XXes.). Morocco (Tanger). Community leader. Journalist. Contributed to papers in Madrid.
ASSAYAG Amram (XXes.). Morocco. Rabbi in Toronto. Spiritual director of the Toronto Torah Center.
BenAssayag Issac (XIX) Industrialist. Founder of tobbacco manufacturing in Tanger (Sananes&BenAssayag).
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 ?

Albala, Albalag, Albalagh
Albalia, Bally, Bali
Alba, Albou, Albo (see albuquerque) , Albino, Albeda
Beliah, Elbiliah
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be balagh, bali, liah or biliah, alb

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 ‘balagh’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘shoemaker.’ The prefix as well as the letters ‘g’ and ‘h’ may have been omitted due to foreign languages influence.
The root ‘bali’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘old’ or ‘ancient.’ The prefix may have been omitted due to foreign languages influence.
The root ‘alb’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘heart.’ Alba means ‘her heart’ and Albou or Albo mean ‘his heart.’
The root ‘beda’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘white.’ Albeda means ‘the white.’ It may lend credence to the suggestion that Albo refers to Albinos in Spanish/Protuguese (see below) and to the Hebrew reference to ‘Laban’ or white (see below).

Albo may be a diminutive of Albinos in Spanish and Portuguese, indicating to a physical characteristics as well as to Spanish/Portuguese origin.
Albo may be a translation to Portuguese of the Hebrew word ‘Laban’ i.e., white or a Biblical ancestor related to Abraham, Laban the Aramean.

Beliah and Elbiliah may be deformations of the Hebrew names Leah and Bilhah.

ALBALA DE LEVY Ana (XXes.). Chili. Poet.
ALBALA David (1886-1942). Serbia. Doctor. Zionist community leader.
ALBALAG Itshak (XIIIes.). Spain. Philosopher. translated Al-Ghaz?l?, Makasid alfalasifa into Hebrew (Opinions des philosophes).

ALBALIA Baroukh ben Itshak (1077-1126). Spain. Rabbi. Judge. Versed in Greek and Arab Philosophy. Director of the Cordoba Yeshiva.
ALBALIA Itshak ben Baroukh (1035-1094). Spain. Rabbi. Astrologue. Mathematician. Communuty leader. Advisor to King Al Moutamid of S?ville. Author of Mahb?r?t sod hah?ibour (the Book of Additions).

BALLY Ment?s (XIXes.). Turkey. Community leader. Head of the Sepharadi community of Bucarest.

BELIAH Ha?m bar Abraham (1832-1919). Algeria. Rabbi.

ALBA Nissim (Miki) (XXes.). Macedonia. Colonel. Fought against the Nazi occupation in Bulgaria.
ALBOU Roger (XXes.). Algeria. Member of the Algerian resistance.
ALBO Dan (1956-). Morocco. Political scientist. Poet. Writer. Painter. Lives and works in Israel.
ALBO Yossef (1383-1444). Spanish. Rabbi. Philosopher. Doctor. Author of et m?decin, S?f?r hah?ikarim (The Book of Principles).

ALB?DA Moch? Ben Yah?acov (1500-1583?). Spain. Philosopher. Rabbi in Grece and Albania. Author of commentaries on the Bible and Ma?monides.

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 ?

ABENA?S (Naeh, BarHaNess, Baal HaNess, Baranes, Ness, aNass, Nouss)

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

Abenaes is represented here by a Portugues Marrano knight. The name is rare in our inventory. The name may be read in a variety of ways. It typifies possible transformations due foreign influences on Jewish names. The name consist of the prefix avi (abe) which implies fatherhood or lineage and the root ‘naes’ = miracle in Hebrew. It may be associated with the Hebrew name ‘BarHaNess’ =miracle maker, i.e., Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess). It may mean naeh = ‘nice’ or ‘good looking.’ One may read the name as ‘aben’ = son of and ‘aes’ or ‘ish’ in Hebrew. The name has several meanings in Arabic: Nass = person, Nouss = Half, Barani or Baranes = foreigner(s).

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 ‘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…

ABENA?S Ch?lomo (Alvaro Mend?s) (1520?-1603). Portugal (Tavira). The Duke of Mytilene. Marrano who returned to Judaism in Istanbul. Diplomat. International businessman. Took over the position of Yossef Nasi as advisor to the Trukish Emperor. Supported the establishment of a Jewish autonomy in Palestine. Tiberias benefited from his support.. Knighted by the Queen of England as well as by the Turkish Emperor.

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 ?

Albala, Albalag, Albalagh
Albalia, Bally, Bali
Alba, Albou, Albo (see albuquerque) , Albino, Albeda
Beliah, Elbiliah
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.

The root of the name may be balagh, bali, liah or biliah, alb

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 ‘balagh’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘shoemaker.’ The prefix as well as the letters ‘g’ and ‘h’ may have been omitted due to foreign languages influence.
The root ‘bali’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘old’ or ‘ancient.’ The prefix may have been omitted due to foreign languages influence.
The root ‘alb’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘heart.’ Alba means ‘her heart’ and Albou or Albo mean ‘his heart.’
The root ‘beda’ in Arabic refers usually to ‘white.’ Albeda means ‘the white.’ It may lend credence to the suggestion that Albo refers to Albinos in Spanish/Protuguese (see below) and to the Hebrew reference to ‘Laban’ or white (see below).

Albo may be a diminutive of Albinos in Spanish and Portuguese, indicating to a physical characteristics as well as to Spanish/Portuguese origin.
Albo may be a translation to Portuguese of the Hebrew word ‘Laban’ i.e., white or a Biblical ancestor related to Abraham, Laban the Aramean.

Beliah and Elbiliah may be deformations of the Hebrew names Leah and Bilhah.

ALBALA DE LEVY Ana (XXes.). Chili. Poet.
ALBALA David (1886-1942). Serbia. Doctor. Zionist community leader.
ALBALAG Itshak (XIIIes.). Spain. Philosopher. translated Al-Ghaz?l?, Makasid alfalasifa into Hebrew (Opinions des philosophes).

ALBALIA Baroukh ben Itshak (1077-1126). Spain. Rabbi. Judge. Versed in Greek and Arab Philosophy. Director of the Cordoba Yeshiva.
ALBALIA Itshak ben Baroukh (1035-1094). Spain. Rabbi. Astrologue. Mathematician. Communuty leader. Advisor to King Al Moutamid of S?ville. Author of Mahb?r?t sod hah?ibour (the Book of Additions).

BALLY Ment?s (XIXes.). Turkey. Community leader. Head of the Sepharadi community of Bucarest.

BELIAH Ha?m bar Abraham (1832-1919). Algeria. Rabbi.

ALBA Nissim (Miki) (XXes.). Macedonia. Colonel. Fought against the Nazi occupation in Bulgaria.
ALBOU Roger (XXes.). Algeria. Member of the Algerian resistance.
ALBO Dan (1956-). Morocco. Political scientist. Poet. Writer. Painter. Lives and works in Israel.
ALBO Yossef (1383-1444). Spanish. Rabbi. Philosopher. Doctor. Author of et m?decin, S?f?r hah?ikarim (The Book of Principles).

ALB?DA Moch? Ben Yah?acov (1500-1583?). Spain. Philosopher. Rabbi in Grece and Albania. Author of commentaries on the Bible and Ma?monides.

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 ?

ALBAHARI

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

Al Bahari is represented by one entry from Bosnia. It is in all likelihood a name of Spanish/Moorish origin on the basis of its composition. It consist of the typical Arab prefix ‘al’ and the root ‘bahar’ = sea and the suffix ‘i’. The name refers to the occupation of a sea-goer or sailor. Jews were involved in maritime activities around the time of the Expulsion from Spain. Some played an important role in international/maritime trading. Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal in 1497 found refuge in the Turkish Empire, among other places. An important Jewish community lived in Bosnia/Yogoslavia from the time the region was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. The name may have a Hebrew meaning, i.e., bahir = light, fair, blond.

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…

ALBAHARI Nissim (XXes.). Bosnia. Hero of WWII resistance in Yougoslavia.

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)