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32nd IAJGS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on JEWISH GENEALOGY - Paris from 15th till 18th July 2012 - Genealogy, Onomastic and migration in Morocco: the case of the Jewish community of Mogador / Essaouira (Morocco)

Captured 2025-11-22

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32nd IAJGS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on JEWISH GENEALOGY - Paris from 15th till 18th July 2012 - Genealogy, Onomastic and migration in Morocco: the case of the Jewish community of Mogador / Essaouira (Morocco)

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This webpage documents a conference presentation from the 32nd International Conference on Jewish Genealogy held in Paris in 2012, specifically focusing on a scholarly talk titled "Genealogy, Onomastic and migration in Morocco: the case of the Jewish community of Mogador / Essaouira (Morocco)." The presentation, delivered by Sidney Corcos, examined the complex patterns of Jewish surnames and migration in Morocco through the specific lens of the coastal city of Mogador (modern-day Essaouira), providing insights into how naming conventions reflect historical movements and demographic changes over centuries. The research reveals fascinating details about Morocco's Jewish heritage, noting that hundreds of Jewish communities were scattered throughout the kingdom over more than 2,000 years of turbulent history marked by the rise and fall of various civilizations and kingdoms. Corcos's study identified over 1,400 distinct Jewish family names in Morocco, demonstrating remarkable diversity in geographical and linguistic origins shaped by various historical events. The presentation specifically traced the surnames of Mogador's Jewish community members from the city's founding in 1764 until the community's effective dissolution following the creation of Israel, showing how isolated communities developed crystallized naming patterns specific to their regions, villages, or towns. The academic value of this work lies in its interdisciplinary approach, combining onomastic analysis (the study of names) with demographic and social history to trace migration patterns and community development. The research methodology involved collating surnames from various historical sources, making it valuable not only for understanding naming conventions but also for tracking population movements and social changes within this specific Moroccan Jewish community. This type of study is particularly significant given that many of these communities have since disappeared or drastically diminished, making such documentation crucial for preserving cultural and genealogical heritage. The conference archive page also demonstrates the broader context of Jewish genealogical research by listing numerous related presentations covering Sephardic communities across North Africa, Europe, and beyond. This suggests that Corcos's work on Mogador was part of a larger scholarly effort to document and understand the complex patterns of Jewish diaspora communities, their naming traditions, and migration histories—making it an important resource for genealogists, historians, and anyone interested in Moroccan Jewish heritage or Sephardic studies more broadly.

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32nd IAJGS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE on JEWISH GENEALOGY - Paris from 15th till 18th July 2012 - Genealogy, Onomastic and migration in Morocco: the case of the Jewish community of Mogador / Essaouira (Morocco). (2025, 11 22). www.iajgs.org. https://www.iajgs.org/conferencearchive/2012Paris/events/genealogy-onomastic-and-migration-in-morocco-the-case-of-the-jewish-community-of-mogador-essaouira-morocco.html

Technical Metadata

Domain www.iajgs.org
File Size 160 KB
Archived 2025-11-22T14:29:43.422182
Document ID #84
Languages 5 available