Last Names

Last Names of Jewish Families of Babylonian Origin

 

In Babylon, it was not customary to use last names. Instead, the father’s name was used. If there were a few people with the same name in the same area, they were given nicknames, either according to the place where the father of the family originated, his occupation, a deformity he had or a distinctive trait, in order to differentiate him from others with the same name.

 

The following is a partial list of such names:

Abu Al-Torshi – Pickle seller

Abu Al-Samach – Fish seller

Abu Al-Faja – Seller of sheep or beef intestines stuffed and cooked as hamin

Atrakchi – Owner of a Arab clothing store

Irani – Of Persian descent

Baher – Sailed the ocean

Basrawi – From the city of Basra

Bakal – Owner of a grocery store

Gitiat – Seller of embroidered fabric used as a headdress

Darazi – Tailor

Hillawi – From the city of Hillah

Kavi – Endearing name for Yaakov

Moslawi – From the city of Mosul

Nuri – Shortened from Nuriel

Suedai – Very black

Somach – The cantor’s helper

Sehayek – Little Yitzchak

Attar – Seller of spices

Fattal – Owner of a spinning wheel

Zayeg – Jeweller

Zalach – Translation of Zadok

Zabag – Painter

Tzadka – From the family of Rabbi Tzadka Chotzin

Kazaz – Seller of silk

Sami – Originating from Damascus

Sharabani – From the city of Sharaban