Surname Atar - Meaning and Origin
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Atar: What does the surname Atar mean?
The last name Atar is believed to originate from the Arabic noun ‘atar’, meaning crown or garland. This connection to royalty and honour is symbolic of the ambitious and influential nature of those who carry this name. Its use as a surname implies a connection to a prestigious family line, historically referring to those of great power and influence.
Atar is widely attributed to people of Middle Eastern and Spanish-speaking lineage, although it is not exclusive. This is reflective of the population movements during the colonial period, which saw many Mediterranean families migrate to the Americas, taking their culture and traditions with them. In recent decades, many have made their way to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Atar name has been associated with both political and business success, as well as with religious and educational achievement. Examples include the Moroccan-born Andalusian writer Abd el-Kader Atar and Mexican-born philanthropist Basim Atar. Famous American basketball player Carmelo Atar is also part of the Atar family, although his father was born in Puerto Rico and his mother is of African-American descent.
The Atar surname holds a special significance in many cultures and countries worldwide. It is a reminder of the power of legacy, the importance of family and the immense personal achievements of individuals over many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisAtar: Where does the name Atar come from?
The last name Atar is common in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, especially Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Atar family is believed to have descended from Jews who settled in Morocco during the 8th century, and today many Moroccan Jews still claim the Atar name.
It is also common in the countries of Turkey, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. There are some surnames of Atar in India, mainly among Jewish people living there. Generally, the Atar family has spread across many countries of the world, especially those which were once part of the Ottoman Empire.
The Atar family is included among the Jews of Iraq and its diaspora group, numbering around 1000 members. Many members of the family have since left Iraq, as a result of state-sponsored or political persecution as well as general socio-economic difficulties.
The Atar family is also present in different parts of the United States, mainly as a result of immigration and resettlement. In 2000, the last name ‘Atar’ was listed among the top thousand most common surnames in the United States. People with the last name Atar can now be found in different cities throughout the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
Variations of the surname Atar
The surname Atar is a patronymic surname, derived from an ancestor's given name. Most commonly found amongst Sephardic Jewish families, the surname Atar can trace its roots to the Hebrew word 'atar', meaning crown. Variations of this surname include Atar, Atarras, Ataras and Atarri. Additionally, surnames of the same origin but with slightly different spellings often exist, such as Attar, Oter, Otar, Otarra and Uter.
Other versions of the Atar surname have developed over time, including Astar, Astor, Astur, Astaray, Asturi, Donastor and Donastur. It is also common for Spanish and Portuguese versions of the surname to be seen in different spellings, such as Atarra, Otarra and Otarrio. In Sweden, a variant of the Atar surname is Atter.
Variations of the Atar surname can also be seen in other countries, particularly throughout Eastern Europe. These include the surnames Attar, Otar, Otar and Atrari, which are frequently seen in Russia and Ukraine. In Poland, the surname Tatar is derived from the Atar surname, and translates to Tartar in English.
Further variants include the Turkish Dean Atar, and the Frenchmen Ataran and Allatar, which may indicate a localised spelling of the Atar surname. Currently, the Atar surname is thought to have originated in Spain, after the Sephardic exiles were expelled from the country in the 15th century.
Regardless of the variant, the Atar surname is an ancient and distinguished one, and is strongly tied to the history of the Sephardic Jews.
Famous people with the name Atar
- Lars Atar, Norwegian politician
- Oleg Atar, Azerbaijani choreographer
- Leonor Atar, a photographer who currently lives and works in Madrid
- Mounir Atar, an Algerian footballer
- Majid Atar, Iranian singer and tar player
- Mesut Atar, a German footballer
- Thomas Atar, a Canadian film director
- Ane Atar, a Norwegian Liberal Party politician
- Davorin Atar, a Croatian basketball coach
- Ahmad Atar, an Iranian taekwondo practitioner