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1. Chulent
   Joseph

   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?

   Posted 11 months ago #

2. The Chassidishe Gatesheader
   Member

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

   Posted 11 months ago #

3. Patri
   Joseph

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

   Posted 11 months ago #

4. The Chassidishe Gatesheader
   Member

   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.

   Posted 11 months ago #

5. OneOfMany
   The Impressively Arbitrary Nymphadora the Purple ^_^

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

   Posted 11 months ago #

6. Fashionablee
   Member

   Ashkenazi is most defiantely not exclusive to Ashkenazim.

   Three of my Syrian friends' last names are Ashkenazi.

   Posted 11 months ago #

7. ItcheSrulik
   Formerly college sheigetz. Now ger.

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

   Posted 11 months ago #

8. akuperma
   Member

   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.

   Posted 11 months ago #

9. Aishes Chayil
   Member

   I know pple with the name Ashkenazie who are chassidish.

   Posted 11 months ago #

10. ohr chodesh
    Ain Chadash Tachas HaShemesh - Joseph

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

    Posted 11 months ago #

11. ItcheSrulik
    Formerly college sheigetz. Now ger.

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

    Posted 11 months ago #

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