The history of Spain is marked by the fusion of different cultures, peoples, and races that have inhabited the Iberian Peninsula for millennia. For eight centuries, the peninsula was home to Arabs. This can still be seen in many surnames in Andalucia.
You can also see Arabic influences in the eating habits and architecture. The Alhambra in Granada and the Mezquita in Córdoba are world famous. In Seville, the Alcázar and the Giralda are fine examples of architectural feats.
In Málaga, too, the Muslims have left an important mark on both the cultural and architectural fields. Examples include the capital’s Alcazaba, built in the 11th century, and the archaeological remains of the Arab quarter of Attabanim. The latter was discovered during the work on the metro on Avenida de Andalucía.
Language and names
In addition, the Arabic influence is reflected in many of the words used today. For example, azulejo or ojalá. But also in surnames, which were used to indicate that a person belonged to a family and a specific place.
Descendants in Andalucia
Common names in Andalucia are descended from the Arabs. They are names of the descendants of Spanish Muslims who were forced to convert to Catholicism or go into exile.
In the province of Málaga, the most common surname is García. Of the 1,000 inhabitants of Málaga, 56 have this name. Often they are not aware of the Arab origins. The same goes for Pérez, a name that 30 out of every 1,000 inhabitants of Málaga have.
According to data from theMyHeritage Blog these names of Arabic origin still occur:
Surnames starting with an A
Abdo, Abedrapo, Abencerraje, Abengoa, Avengoa, Abraham, Abril, Abufhele, Abufom, Abuhadba, Abusada, Adauy, Aguad, Aguilar, Akel, Alam, Alamar, Alamo, Alaue, Albarracín, Alcalá, Alcaide, Alcantará, Alcazar, Alcaraz, Alcocer, Alguacil, Albaja, Aliatar, Alicante, Almaden, Almeida, Almodóvar, Ali, Amed, Ananias, Aranda, Ascalante, Atala, Atwan and Auad.
In Spain, many surnames start with ‘Al’. This has Arabic origins. Some of the ones mentioned above are: Alcazar (‘Al Qasr’, meaning the fortress), Almeida (‘the plateau’), Alcaide (‘the one in command’), Alcalá (Al Qualat, small castle), Alcocer (Al Qasaba, meaning citadel) and Abencerraje (Aban As-Sarrag, meaning son of a saddler).
Surnames starting with a B
Bandrés, Barahona, Barjuán, Barroso, Benarrocha, Benarroch, Benavides, Benegas, Benjumea, Benjumeda, Bermejo, Bichara, Bitar, Bono, Buendia
Surnames starting with a C
Cabrero, Cattan, Castillo, Cebrian, Chacur, Chalhub, Chauriye, Chible, Chijany, Cid, Chocair, Cobaise, Cordobes and Cortés
Surnames starting with a D
Dagach, Dahdal, the Sorbas, Derberián, Dib, Dip and Duk
Surnames starting with an E or an F
Elías, El de Ubeda, Eitit, Facuse, Fajuri, Farran, Feres, Fualuan
Surnames starting with a G
García, Galvez, Gazul, Gazules, Giacaman, Gidi, Granadino, Guerra
Surnames starting with an H
Haddad, Hamad, Hamdan, Hana, Herrera, Hasbun, Hawila, Hazbun, Hechem. Heleyley, Hirmas
Surnames starting with an I or a J
Ides, Jadue, Jaen, Jalifa, Jalilie, Jattar, Jorrat, Jose, Juriye and Jury
Surnames starting with a K or L
Kattan. Kurbag, Lahsen, Laibe, Lama, Lara, Latif, Leibe, Lucas
Surnames starting with an M
Majluf, Manoli, Manzur, Maraver, Martínez, Melej, Méndez, Mendoza, Miguel, Mohanna, Mohor, Molina, Morales, Morón, Muley, Murube, Muhy, Musalem
Surnames starting with an N
Nafel, Nazal, Nazer, Nebot, Nevot, Nicolas, Nustas
Surnames starting with a P
Paez, Palacios, Palomeque, Pascual, Perez, Picó, Pinto, Pomar. Ponce. Paluan
Surnames starting with an R
Rabah, Rahal. Rasi, Repeina. Rizik, Roelas, Rumie
Surnames starting with an S
Saade, Saadi, Sabag, Sabaj, Sabbag, Sabella, Sady, Sahlie, Saieh, Salama, Salame, Salas, Salem, Salipa, Salomon, Salvador, Sammur, Samur, Saporia, Seda, Seleibe, Sellan, Sfeir, Sordo, Solís, Sufan
Surnames starting with a T
Tala, Tagie, Talhuk, Tame, Tamuz, Telchie, Torres
Surnames starting with a V or Y
Velaxco, Valenciano, Venegas, Yagnam, Yamal, Yamblat, Yarur, Yeber Yoma
Surnames starting with a Z
Zaid, Zalaquett, Zaror, Zegri, Zerene, Zgeib, Ziade
