Last Names Ashkenazi and Mizrachi

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  • #603654
    Chulent
    Member

    Is the surname “Ashkenazi” exclusively utilized by Ashkenazim and the surname “Mizrachi” exclusively used by Mizrachim? And do either of them carry any notable significance?

    #878045

    I believe there are mizrachim (sefaradim, not necessarily mizrachim) called Ashkenazi.

    #878046
    Patri
    Member

    What’s the difference between a Sefardi and a Mizrachi?

    #878047

    Sefardi = those descended from Spain/Portugal.

    Mizrachi = those descended from Iraq, Egypt etc.

    Many use the terms interchangeably, but there is a difference.

    Read the Wikipedia article about “Syrian Jews” – Syria is one place where the difference between them was very important.

    #878048
    OneOfMany
    Participant

    Ashkenazi is a very common surname in the Syrian community. Not sure if it comes from the Sefardi bit or the Mizrachi bit, though.

    #878049
    Fashionablee
    Member

    Ashkenazi is most defiantely not exclusive to Ashkenazim.

    Three of my Syrian friends’ last names are Ashkenazi.

    #878050
    ItcheSrulik
    Member

    Most people with the last name “ashkenazi” are either sefardim or mizrachim whose ancestors came from ashkenazi countries. The Ari was a good example.

    #878051
    akuperma
    Participant

    Most likely, either name would indicate someone who moved from one region to another (which was quite common). If you lived in Brooklyn, and moved to Chicago, everyone in Chicago would know you as “the Brooklyner”. A person with a geographic name of origin would indicate the person came from the place and settled in a place where such an indicator would be of use in identifying them.

    You should also know that “Ashkenazi” sometimes refers specificially to Germany, so a yekke who moved to Eastern Europe might be known as “Ashkenazi”. Based on such evidence as family records, gene flow, etc., many people moved between regions.

    #878052
    Aishes Chayil
    Participant

    I know pple with the name Ashkenazie who are chassidish.

    #878053
    ohr chodesh
    Member

    The Ari was himself an Ashkenazi (not Sephardic; though his mother was of Sephardic origin. His father was Ashkenazic.)

    #878054
    ItcheSrulik
    Member

    ohr chodesh: And when he moved to Egypt, he became known as Ashkenazi.

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