Rabbi Abraham Harouche

From The Museum of the Jewish People <http://dbs.bh.org.il/familyname/harouche>:

[And see https://dbs.anumuseum.org.il/skn/en/c6/e235248/Family_Name/HAROCH?f...]

HAROUCHE, KHAROUCH, HIROUCH

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name derives from Jewish communal functionaries, or titles.

Harouch(e), Kharouch and Hirouch are variants of the Hebrew Harosh, that is "the head". They are also associated with Arab forms of Car(r)us, the Latin translation of the Hebrew Habib, which means "dear/beloved/cherished". In biblical usage, Rosh designated the chief of a family or clan; later it became the title of the head of a yeshiva, community or administrative unit. Equivalents in other languages comprise a wide range of spelling variants of Rosh as well as the Arabic Sheikh/Cheikh, the Berber Amg(h)ar, and the German Haupt and Hauptmann. Similar terms from which Jewish family names were derived include the Hebrew Zaken/Zaquen ("elder"); Nasi (tribal chief, Jewish community leader). Some families called Cheikh could have links with places called Cheikh/Sheikh in the Arabic speaking countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Other names with close meanings are Ha-Nagid (Hebrew for "governor") and Ibn Nagdela (Arabic for "son of the great"), recorded in 11th century Spain, Ha-Zaquen (Hebrew for "the elder") is found in 11th century France. Ben Rosh, Verrox, Abenros, El Ros, Avenrros, Avenrresch, Aben Ros (all containing the Hebrew Rosh, which means head), and Ben Alshekh ("son of the Sheikh") are recorded as Jewish family names in 13th century Spain; Avenros is documented in the 14th century, Alshekh and Aros in the 15th century, Nasi, Benzaken, Harrosh and Benharouch in the 16th century, Ben Zaquen and Ben Harrosh in the 17th century, and Ben Eshek, Carrus, Harrous and Benarroch in the 18th century.

Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Harouch include the 20th century Israeli politician and administrator, Amram Harouch.

-- Mark Melmed, March 2016

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 12 2018, 23:28:26 UTC