Syrian and Sephardic
Surnames
Surnames derived from several Syrian Jewish databases are an important information source. They tell us the adopted surname and the meanings of those names. The list below may not list every name and we will consider adding names not listed. If your family name is listed without a meaning of derivation, and you would like to submit the meaning to us, please email sarina@roffe.com.
Before using this list we recommend looking at Jeff Malka’s page on sephardicgen.org entitled Sephardic Jewish Names and Genealogy. There are also many useful links to surname lists on the page Sephardic Surnames.
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
| Abadi | Arabic | To the Service of the Eternal |
| Aboud | Arabic | G-ds Servant |
| Abramovitz | Biblical | Abraham |
| Aboulafia; Abulafia | Arabic | Doctor, Pharmacist; Possessor of strength/health or well being (afia) |
| Abu | Father | |
| Ades | Biblical | Adam |
| Adjmi | Free Man | |
| Aini | Spring; Source | |
| Akalia | Mythical Name | |
| Akil | ||
| Akiva | Jewish Rabbi during the Roman occupation | |
| Alabo | Praise | |
| Alfassi | Arabic | Falconer, also locality in spain |
| Alfia | Arabic | Big Wine Bottle |
| Altaras | Embroiderer | |
| Amiga | Spain | Friend |
| Amon | Arabic | A Good Person |
| Anawi | Arabic | A Humble Person |
| Ancona | Italy | Alcona, Italy |
| Ankia | ||
| Antachi | ||
| Antar | ||
| Antebi | Turkey | Ain Teb, Turkey |
| Antoki | ||
| Anzaroot | ||
| Arav | Hebrew | Arab |
| Arditi | Burnt | |
| Arkanji | ||
| Ashear | To Cleanse | |
| Ashkenazi | Hebrew | German |
| Assoulin | Arabic | Rocks |
| Atar, Attar | Arabic | Spice Merchant |
| Attia | Arabic | Gift, Donation |
| Azar | Hebrew | G-d Helps |
| Azizo | Blue | |
| Azoulay | Berber/ Spanish | Blue eyes |
| Azrak | Arabic | Remembering G-d |
| Baghdadi | Arabic | From Baghdad |
| Bahur | Hebrew | A Guy, Boy |
| Barkat | Hebrew | Blessing |
| Barmuk | ||
| Barnatan | Hebrew | Son of Nathan |
| Bassano | Italy | Bassano, Italy |
| Bawabeh | ||
| Beda | White | |
| Beeri; Bari | ||
| Bendayan | Hebrew | Son of a Rabbinical Judge |
| Benhaim | Hebrew | Son of Life |
| Bensoussan | Persian | name of ancient Persian capital |
| Besalel | Hebrew | In God’s Shadow |
| Betesh | Persian | Unique |
| Bijou | Jewel; Gray | |
| Bivas | Spain | From “Viva” meaning life |
| Bracha; Baraka | Hebrew | Blessing |
| Bukai | ||
| Cabasso | Spanish | Big Head |
| Cattan | Hebrew | Small, Short |
| Chita | Hebrew | Wheat |
| Chehebar | ||
| Chemtob | ||
| Chira | ||
| Choueka; Shweky | ||
| Cohen | Hebrew | Priest |
| Dabah | The Lock of a Door | |
| Dahab | Gold | |
| David | Biblical | King David |
| Dayan; Dahan | Hebrew | Judge; of King David descent |
| De Picciotto | Italy | Henchman of the Mafia |
| Deknish | ||
| Dewan | Royal Court | |
| Diarbakli | ||
| Dushey | Turkey | Man of Virtue |
| Dweck | Syria | Vessel Maker (“Douek”= Egyptian) |
| Eid | Lebanon | From the origin of the “Habib” family |
| Elazar | Biblical | Son of Aharon |
| Elbaz | Arabic | Falconer; locality in Spain |
| Eliyahi | Biblical | Elijah the Prophet |
| Elli Hacohen | Biblical | Elli the Great Priest |
| Elmaleh | Arabic | The good or salty |
| Esses | ||
| Ezon | ||
| Faina | Portugal | Toil, Labor |
| Falack | ||
| Farage | Arabic | Healer |
| Faur | ||
| Farashi | ||
| Farhi | Arabic | From “Farha,” meaning Joy |
| Faruk | ||
| Fenan | ||
| Franco | Portuguese; Spanish; Italian | Honest; Freed (from taxes or bondage) |
| Gabay; Gabbai | Hebrew | Warden of a Synagogue; In Talmudic era were alms collectors, in Spain:tax collectors |
| Gaddah | ||
| Gadi | Biblical | From the tribe of Gad |
| Ganani | ||
| Gaon | Hebrew | A Jewish Scholar |
| Garmakli | ||
| Gateno | France | Gatines, France |
| Ghazalie | Gazelle | |
| Gindi | ||
| Grazi | Spain | Thanks (to God) |
| Habib, Habibo. Habuba | Arabic | Beloved |
| Hacohen | the priest | |
| Haddad | Arabic | Blacksmith |
| Hafif | ||
| Hakim | Arabic | Physician or sage |
| Halabi | Arabic | from Halab |
| Halally | ||
| Halevi | Hebrew | From the tribe of Levi |
| Halif | Arabic, Hebrew | Caliph; Slave Exchange |
| Hallaly | Tribe Beni-Hallal | |
| Hamui | Arabic | From Ait Hamou, Morracco ; Father- in- Law |
| Hanono, Hanan | Hebrew | Merciful; characteristic of G-d |
| Harari | Hebrew | Mountaneer; used to describe residents of Montpelier, France |
| Haver | Hebrew | Friend |
| Hawaja | ||
| Hazan | Hebrew | Cantor |
| Hedaya | ||
| Hefetz | ||
| Hehaver | ||
| Hemsani | ||
| Hidary | ||
| Hillel | Hebrew | Jewish Religious Leader |
| Horen | ||
| Hulif | ||
| Husney | ||
| Jabili | ||
| Jamus | ||
| Jemal | ||
| Kabbani | ||
| Kabudi | ||
| Kahavoff | ||
| Kalabi | ||
| Kalif | Arabic | Successor |
| Kantarowitz | ||
| Kanza | ||
| Kanza | ||
| Kashani | ||
| Kassin | ||
| Katan; Cattan | Hebrew | Small, short |
| Kawas | ||
| Kazez | ||
| Khalousi, Khalousa | ||
| Khasky | ||
| Khawaja | Turkey | Lord |
| Khibzu | ||
| Kibrit | Match | |
| Kikia | ||
| Korda | ||
| Koss | ||
| Kuchri | ||
| Kurdi | From Kurdish Lineage (Iran) | |
| Kurz | ||
| Labaton | Spanish | Small wolf |
| Laboz | ||
| Laham | Scandinavia | Place of or by the barn |
| Lahmi | Biblical | Bethlehem; “Full of food” (bread) |
| Laniado | Spanish | Hairy |
| Levi, Levy | Biblical | From the tribe of Levi; Priest |
| Lheb | Hebrew | Heart |
| Lisbona | Portugal | The city of Lisbon, Portugal |
| Lopes; Lopes | Spanish | Wolf’s son |
| Lugassi | Arabic | From town of Lugas in Oviedo, Spain |
| Maaravi | Hebrew | Occidental, Western |
| Madeb | ||
| Mahalelel | ||
| Maleh | Hebrew | Angel; Salt dealer |
| Malkishuva | ||
| Mamiye | ||
| Manidiba | ||
| Manobla | ||
| Mansour | Arabic | From Mansura, Egypt; Winner |
| Marcus | Spain | Plural of “Marco” (measuring weight) |
| Mari | Spain | “Marinero,” sailor |
| Marsia | ||
| Mashta | ||
| Maslaton | ||
| Matalon | Toulon, France | |
| Matzliah | Hebrew | Fortunate |
| MeElli | ||
| MeElli Hacohen | Biblical | From Eli the Priest |
| Mehana | ||
| Meliho | ||
| Menaged | Aleppo | Opposed to Chassidim |
| Menashe | Biblical | Joseph’s son, tribe of Israel |
| Midamesek | Hebrew | From Damascus |
| Mishan; Mishania | ||
| Missry, Misrie, Masri, Massry; Mosseri, Masria | Hebrew | Egyptian |
| Mizrahi | Hebrew | Eastern (Jews of Eastern Mediterranean) |
| Mizreb | Berber | White |
| Mograbi | ||
| Mohadeb | ||
| Molho | Hebrew | From the Hebrew word “Melekh,” king |
| Moreno | Spain | Brown |
| Morsia | ||
| Moussafi | ||
| Mussan | Arabic | From “Musa,” or Moses, meaning “Drawn from the water” |
| Naftali | Biblical | From the tribe of Naftali |
| Nagame | ||
| Nagar, Najar | Spain | |
| Nahum | Hebrew | Comforted, Benevolent |
| Nakash | ||
| Naono | Spanish | Naon, Spain |
| Nasi | Hebrew | From “Nassich” – Prince |
| Nassir | Arabic | Savior, Victory |
| Nehmad, Neuhmade | Hebrew | Benevolent |
| Nissim | Hebrew | Miracles |
| Orfali | Turkey | Ourfa, Turkey |
| Ovadia | Hebrew | Servant of God |
| Pardos | Portugal, Spain | Brown; From Pardo in Spain |
| Paredes, Paradece | Hebrew | Orchard |
| Perez | Biblical | Grandson of Jacob |
| Picciotto | Italy | Young Man |
| Pinhas | Biblical | Priest from Sefer Bamidbar |
| Pinto | Spain | A spot; name of a town near Madrid |
| Raful | Hebrew | G-d cures |
| Rahamin | Hebrew | From “Rahamim”- mercy, compassion |
| Rawak | ||
| Reuben | Biblical | Son of Jacob |
| Ribi, Rabih | Hebrew | Rabbi |
| Roffe | Hebrew | Physicial, Healer |
| Roza | Spain | Rose |
| Saada | Arabic | Good Fortune |
| Saal | One who works in a manor house | |
| Sabagi | ||
| Sabat | Hebrew | From Shabbetai (Turkish Rabbi who claimed to be Messiah) |
| Sabbagh | Arabic | Painter |
| Sademo | ||
| Safdeye; Safdieh | ||
| Safra | Arabic | Yellow, Safron |
| Saka | ||
| Salomon | Biblical | King Solomon |
| Salem | Berber (Biblical) | King Solomon |
| Sardar | ||
| Sardell | ||
| Sasson, Sassoon | Hebrew | Joy, Merriment |
| Sayegh | Arabic | Jew |
| Schemalo | ||
| Seadia | Hebrew | God has helped |
| Segri | ||
| Seruya, Serouya | Biblical; Spanish | David’s Sister; From Serrulla’ Huesca, Spain |
| Shabbot | Hebrew | Sabbath |
| Shabetai | Turkish rabbi who claimed to be Messiah | |
| Shacalo | ||
| Shakra | ||
| Shalom | Hebrew | Peace |
| Shamah | Arabic | Shame, Damascus |
| Shamash | Hebrew | Caretaker of synagogue |
| Shamie | Arabic | Shame, Damascus |
| Shamosh | Hebrew | Attendant of synagogue |
| Sharabati | ||
| Shaul | Biblical; Arabic | Biblical King; The desired |
| Shayo | Biblical | The prophet Isaiah |
| Shehada | ||
| Shimshon | Biblical | One of the judges of the Jews |
| Shomer | Hebrew | Vigilante |
| Shrem | ||
| Shriti | ||
| Silvera | Italy | Arbusto bush |
| Sisro | Biblical | Guard in the Book of Judges |
| Sitt | ||
| Smeke | ||
| Stambouli | ||
| Sultan | Arabic | Ruler |
| Sushi | ||
| Sutton | ||
| Swed; Soued | ||
| Tabah | Arabic; Hebrew | Taba, Egypt; A cook |
| Tabash, Tabache, Tabush | ||
| Tawil | Arabic | Tall |
| Tayah | Biblical | Tobias |
| Tebele | ||
| Terzi | Arabic | Egyptian tailor |
| Teubal | ||
| Totah | Arabic; German | From Tuta, mullberry tree; free man |
| Yakar | Arabic /Hebrew | Precious |
| Yassefe | Biblical | Son of Jacob |
| Yarhi | France | From Lunel, France |
| Yedid | Hebrew | Friend |
| Yenni | Hebrew; Turkish | My Wine; New, Young |
| Yihye | Hebrew | He will live |
| Zafrani | Persian | Saffron seller |
| Zaki | Arabic | Pure, Chaste |
| Zalta | ||
| Zayat; Zalayat | Arabic | Olive |
| Zeytounie; Zeytunie | Spain | Olive Tree |
| Zonana |