Last Names Ashkenazi and Mizrachi
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June 3, 2012 2:06 am at 2:06 am #603654ChulentMember
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?
June 3, 2012 8:25 am at 8:25 am #878045I believe there are mizrachim (sefaradim, not necessarily mizrachim) called Ashkenazi.
June 3, 2012 3:27 pm at 3:27 pm #878046PatriMemberWhat’s the difference between a Sefardi and a Mizrachi?
June 3, 2012 6:24 pm at 6:24 pm #878047Sefardi = 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.
June 3, 2012 6:42 pm at 6:42 pm #878048OneOfManyParticipantAshkenazi is a very common surname in the Syrian community. Not sure if it comes from the Sefardi bit or the Mizrachi bit, though.
June 3, 2012 11:34 pm at 11:34 pm #878049FashionableeMemberAshkenazi is most defiantely not exclusive to Ashkenazim.
Three of my Syrian friends’ last names are Ashkenazi.
June 4, 2012 7:04 pm at 7:04 pm #878050ItcheSrulikMemberMost people with the last name “ashkenazi” are either sefardim or mizrachim whose ancestors came from ashkenazi countries. The Ari was a good example.
June 4, 2012 7:34 pm at 7:34 pm #878051akupermaParticipantMost 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.
June 4, 2012 8:01 pm at 8:01 pm #878052Aishes ChayilParticipantI know pple with the name Ashkenazie who are chassidish.
June 4, 2012 8:04 pm at 8:04 pm #878053ohr chodeshMemberThe Ari was himself an Ashkenazi (not Sephardic; though his mother was of Sephardic origin. His father was Ashkenazic.)
June 4, 2012 8:59 pm at 8:59 pm #878054ItcheSrulikMemberohr chodesh: And when he moved to Egypt, he became known as Ashkenazi.
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