Arabic-L:LING:Last Name Query

[Dilworth B. Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Mon 26 Jul 1999
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1) Subject: Last Name Query

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1)
Date: 26 Jul 1999
From: David Harris <dharris at las-inc.com>
Subject: Last Name Query

An aquaintance has requested information about his surname which is
Khoudari. His family hails from Syria originally, but had to leave in '48.
Before that time, though, they Arabacized their names as he describes in his
post below. He's wondering what the original surname may have been before it
was Arabicized to Khoudari. I doubt there's any way of knowing for sure, but
I was hoping that perhaps someone on the list might have a couple of
suggestions that he could research further.

Thanks,

David Harris
Washington, DC
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My father, named Mois, was born in Aleppo, Syria.

My father's father, named Benjamin, was also born in Aleppo, as far as I
know.

My father's mother, named Tamar Bar Nessim, was born in Jerusalem.

Both of my grandparents were living in Aleppo in 1947.   Being Jewish, they
had to flee Syria (Israel's war of independence), and I think this is when
they adopted the last name Khoudari, and changed their first names (my
father Mois to Moussa, my uncles Shlomo to Selim, Abraham to Ibrahim,
Mordechai to Mourad, etc).

I've been wanting to find out what was the former original last name, as I
am considering Americanizing my last name, and would like to do it based on
the original.

Based on my current last name, Khoudari, from your explanation, Benjamin
"Green" would appear to be the correct translation.

Is there any way that I can find out what was the original last name?

Thanking you again for your kind attention, I remain.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Khoudari

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End of Arabic-L: 26 Jul 1999