Yahasra

Search Moroccan Jewish Cemeteries

A good name is better than fine oil - Kohelet 7:1 - קהלת ז:א

Document Archive

Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Mahgreb, Gibraltar, and Malta

Captured 2025-11-21

4

Archived Document

Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Mahgreb, Gibraltar, and Malta

Description

AI Enhanced

This webpage presents "A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Maghreb, Gibraltar, and Malta" by Dr. Alexander Beider, a comprehensive 714-page scholarly work that represents a groundbreaking shift in the author's research focus. After dedicating 30 years to studying Ashkenazic names and vernacular languages in Eastern Europe, Dr. Beider has turned his expertise to the Mediterranean region, producing what appears to be the most comprehensive study of Jewish surnames from North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), Gibraltar, and Malta ever published. The dictionary catalogs nearly 2,000 independent root surnames from which over 10,000 variant surnames are derived, drawing from approximately 300 bibliographic sources to establish the most rigorous analysis of Sephardic and other Jewish surnames in this region to date. The book's methodology reflects sophisticated genealogical and linguistic scholarship, with each surname entry containing three distinct sections: Main (identifying spelling variants in both Latin and Hebrew characters, geographical usage, earliest references, and sources), Origin (determining whether bearers share monogenetic or polygenetic ancestry and providing etymological analysis), and Variants (showing regional name variations). The work goes far beyond simple name cataloging by examining the complex history of Jewish migration patterns throughout the Mediterranean, including movements from the Iberian Peninsula during and after the expulsion periods, migrations from Italy and the Ottoman Empire, and internal population movements within North Africa itself. The detailed table of contents reveals the book's academic rigor, featuring extensive analysis of surname variants across multiple languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and others), phonetic and morphological variations, and the linguistic evolution of names through different historical periods. Dr. Beider examines how surnames adapted to local naming systems, the influence of Arabic and Berber languages, and the persistence of earlier Iberian and Italian surnames among Jewish communities. The work addresses the complex relationship between Jewish and non-Jewish naming practices, including surnames shared with or borrowed from Muslim populations, providing crucial insights into the cultural integration and distinctiveness of Jewish communities across the Maghreb region. This $99 hardcover publication serves as an essential reference for genealogists, historians, and scholars studying Sephardic Jewish history and Mediterranean Jewish communities. Its comprehensive approach to surname analysis—combining historical documentation, linguistic etymology, and migration patterns—establishes it as a foundational text for understanding Jewish demographic and cultural history in North Africa and adjacent regions. The book's systematic methodology and exhaustive source compilation make it particularly valuable for researchers tracing Sephardic family histories and understanding the broader patterns of Jewish settlement and adaptation in the post-medieval Mediterranean world.

Citation (APA Style)

Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Mahgreb, Gibraltar, and Malta. (2025, 11 21). www.avotaynu.com. https://www.avotaynu.com/books/Maghreb.html

Technical Metadata

Domain www.avotaynu.com
File Size 451 KB
Archived 2025-11-21T23:17:55.706608
Document ID #4
Languages 5 available