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The names of Moroccan Jews

Captured 2025-11-21

1

Archived Document

The names of Moroccan Jews

Description

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This webpage serves as a comprehensive genealogical resource dedicated to preserving and explaining the surnames of Moroccan Jewish families, providing detailed etymologies and linguistic origins for each name. The page is part of the Dafina.net cultural website, which appears to be a broader platform celebrating North African Jewish heritage, cuisine, and traditions. The primary purpose is to help individuals of Moroccan Jewish descent understand the historical and linguistic roots of their family names, making it an invaluable tool for genealogical research and cultural identity exploration. The content presents an alphabetical listing of over 200 Moroccan Jewish surnames, each accompanied by its meaning and linguistic origin. The etymologies reveal the rich multicultural tapestry of Moroccan Jewish history, drawing from Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, Berber, and other languages. For example, "Abehsera" means "the man with the mat," "Abergel" translates to "one-legged man" in Arabic, while "Azoulay" derives from the Spanish "azul" meaning blue. Geographic origins are frequently noted, such as "Afriat" indicating families from Mogador (modern-day Essaouira) and "Alfassi" meaning "from Fes." Professional designations are also common, like "Benattar" for spice merchants and "Gabbay" for tax collectors, reflecting the occupational diversity within historical Moroccan Jewish communities. The historical and cultural significance of this resource cannot be overstated, as it documents the linguistic legacy of a Jewish community that faced displacement during various historical periods, including the Spanish Inquisition and later migrations to France, Israel, the United States, and Canada. The multilingual nature of these surnames reflects centuries of cultural interaction in Morocco, where Jewish communities maintained their Hebrew religious identity while adopting Arabic, Berber, and Spanish linguistic elements from their surrounding environment. The page specifically notes some surnames like "Toledano" (from Toledo, Spain) that trace back to pre-Inquisition Iberian origins, highlighting the complex migration patterns of Sephardic Jews. The webpage is embedded within a larger cultural platform that includes sections on Moroccan Jewish communities in various cities (Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez, etc.) and modern diaspora locations, along with forums, genealogy resources, and cultural content. The site encourages user participation by inviting visitors to submit additional surnames not included in the current list, suggesting an ongoing effort to create a comprehensive database. The page also features the definition of "Dafina," the traditional Sabbath stew that gives the website its name, emphasizing the connection between cultural preservation and culinary traditions in maintaining Jewish Moroccan identity across generations and geographic boundaries.

Citation (APA Style)

The names of Moroccan Jews. (2025, 11 21). dafina.net. https://dafina.net/namesofmoroccanjews.htm

Technical Metadata

Domain dafina.net
File Size 395 KB
Archived 2025-11-21T23:11:50.289051
Document ID #1
Languages 5 available