Surname Azar - Meaning and Origin

Azar: What does the surname Azar mean?

Azar is a surname of varied origins, found in multiple cultures across the globe, each carrying its own meaning and interpretation. In Persian, Azar signifies "fire" or "nine" (denoting the ninth month of the Persian calendar). In Arabic, Azar means "caution" or "cunning". In Hebrew, it is derived from the verb "to help". The last name could have also been adopted by people living near a prominent feature like a uniquely colored house or structure, as Azar translates to "blue" in Basque language. The surname is prevalent among Jewish, Persian, Indian, Spanish, and Lebanese communities. It is also found as a first name in various cultures. As with any surname, the meaning can change based on regional influences and the path the name has taken through family history.

Azar: Where does the name Azar come from?

The surname Azar has multiple origins. The first one is from the Persian language, where it signifies "fire". This surname was typically given to individuals who worked with fire such as blacksmiths and cooks. Secondly, it is also believed to have ascended from the Hebrew given name 'Azariah', which means 'whom God has helped'. There's also a Biblical origin where Ezra, an Old Testament prophet, had a Greek variant of his name as Azar.

Today, the surname is commonly found in Iran, signifying its Persian roots. You can also find the Azar surname in Arabic speaking nations where it means 'visit' or 'help'. It's prevalent in countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. In addition to this, the Azar surname has also spread across the globe due to diaspora and migration, appearing in populations in North and South America, Europe, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Azar

The surname Azar has several variants that take into account different cultural and linguistic influences. Some of these include Azari, Azaryan, Azaryants, and Azarian that are commonly found in countries such as Iran, Armenia and Turkey. Some Armenian surnames may also have a suffix "-ian" at the end, making it Azarian.

The surname might be spelled differently as well, such as Azzar or Azer, particularly in languages and cultures that incorporate different alphabets or scripts, like Arabic or Persian. In Spanish speaking countries it could be spelled as Asar.

Azar is also sometimes used as a given name rather than a surname in some Middle Eastern cultures.

It's also worth noting that depending on migration and localization, some people might have changed or adapted the name to fit local naming patterns, such as Azarro or Azzaro in Italian-speaking countries.

Regardless of its spelling or form, the surname typically traces back to the same root, believed to be from the Persian name for fire or from the Hebrew word for 'help'.

Famous people with the name Azar

• Elias Azar: Award-winning filmmaker based in New York, best known for his feature film "The Price of Paradise".
• Albert Azar: International ice skating champion, Hall of Fame inductee and currently the head coach of Team Lebanon's ice skating team.
• Sandra Azar: Turkish musician and world music specialist, nominated for four Latin Grammy awards for her solo album “Sofia”.
• Ryan Azar: Professional race car driver, part of the Team RPR-Azar Racing Team and currently the reigning champion of the GTE class at the 2017 Formula DRIFT World Championship.
• Cristina Azar: Poet and author of the poetry collection “The Language of the Fireflies”.
• Fatima Azar: Islamic scholar and former professor at the American University of Beirut, specializing in Islamic philosophy and women in Islam.
• Kamal Azar: Palestinian poet and journalist, recipient of the 2016 Palestine History Prize in Literature for his novel “The Fragrant City”.
• Ara Azar: International singer-songwriter with Armenian roots, she has released four studio albums and nineteen singles.
• Tania Azar: Argentinian actress and model, best known for her roles in “Coco Chanel” and “Un Natural”, and for playing the lead character of Sofia in “In the Name of Guilt”.
• Bashar Azar: Syrian television presenter and producer, currently presenting the popular show “The Realities of Tomorrow”.

Other surnames

Azadeh