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Many of the most common surnames in Spain and Latin America have Arabic roots. Is yours one of them? Find out here.
The history of Spain is captivating due to the variety of cultures and peoples that have populated it over the centuries, and the Arab influence with its surnames in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America left a deep mark on the countries that were its colonies in the past.
The Moriscos, descendants of Spanish Muslims, were forced to convert to Catholicism or face expulsion after the Reconquista.
Their contribution to cultural and linguistic wealth has been significant, and their surnames continue to be a key element in the social fabric both in Spain and in many Latin American countries.
According to the MyHeritage blog , after the Reconquista, the Catholic Monarchs forced Jews and Muslims to convert to Christianity. If they resisted, they would have to leave Spain.
Under this threat , “many adapted their surnames or acquired new ones, using Castilian surnames, place names, flora, physical features or even a reduction of their Arabic surname , depending on the tolerance that existed in that area,” the blog reports.
Surnames that indicate that your lineage is Arab
Below is a list of surnames of Arabic origin that are currently in use, according to data collected by the blog.
B : Bandres, Barahona, Barjuan, Barroso, Benarrocha, Benarroch, Benavides, Benegas, Benjumea, Benjumeda, Bermejo, Bichara, Bitar, Bono, Buendia
C : Cabrero, Cattan, Castillo, Cebrian, Chacur, Chalhub, Chauriye, Chible, Chijany, Cid, Chocair, Cobaise, Cordobes, Cortés
D: Dagach, Dahdal, De Sorbas, Derberian, Dib, Dip, Duk
E : Elias, the one from Ubeda, Eitit
F : Facuse, Fajuri, Farran, Feres, Fualuan
G : García, Galvez, Gazul, Gazules, Giacaman, Gidi, Granadino, Guerra
H : Haddad, Hamad, Hamdan, Hana, Herrera, Hasbun, Hawila, Hazbun, Hechem, Heleyley, Herrera, Hirmas
I: Ideas
J : Jadue, Jaen, Jalifa, Jalilie, Jattar, Jorrat, Jose, Juriye, Jury
K : Kattan, Kurbag
L : Lahsen, Laibe, Lama, Lara, Latif, Leibe, Lucas
M : Majluf, Manoli, Manzur, Maraver, Martinez, Melej, Mendez, Mendoza, Miguel, Mohanna, Mohor, Molina, Morales, Moron, Muley, Murube, Muhy, Musalem
N : Nafel, Nazal, Nazer, Nebot, Nevot, Nicolas, Nustas
P : Paez, Palacios, Palomeque, Pascual, Perez, Pico, Pinto, Pomar, Ponce, Paluan
A : Rabah, Rahal, Rasi, Repeina, Rizik, Roelas, Rumie
S : Saade, Saadi, Sabag, Sabaj, Sabbag, Sabella, Sady, Sahlie, Saieh, Salama, Salame, Salas, Salem, Salipa, Salomon, Salvador, Sammur, Samur, Saporia, Seda, Seleibe, Sellan, Sfeir, Sordo, Solis, Sufan
T: Tala, Tagie, Talhuk, Tame, Tamuz, Telchie, Torres
V : Velaxco, Valenciano, Venegas
And : Yagnam, Yamal, Yamblat, Yarur, Yeber, Yoma
Z : Zaid, Zalaquett, Zaror, Zegri, Zerene, Zgeib, Ziade.