Surname Said - Meaning and Origin
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Said: What does the surname Said mean?
The surname Said is derived from the Arabic meaning ‘happy’ or ‘fortunate’. It is most commonly found in Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Said surname can take many different forms in different dialects and languages, including Sa'id, Sayyid, Saeed, Saad and Saeedi.
Historically, the Said surname is strongly associated with the descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, who were known as Sayyids, or "Lord". As a mark of respect, many families of descent from the Prophet began to use this surname in its various forms. This has also resulted in the surname being associated with nobility, or someone of high social standing.
In some cases, the Said surname is also found among non-Syrians with an African or Indian lineage. It could be the result of an ancestor adopting the name in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of the family, or it could be related to Indian Sepahis soldiers, who adopted the name in India in the 19th century.
No matter its derivation, the Said surname carries a sense of pride, nobility and honor, and is seen as a sign of good luck and fortune. As such, it has been a popular name for centuries, and has spread to many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSaid: Where does the name Said come from?
The last name Said is common throughout the Arab world and is likely to be found in many Middle Eastern and Northern African countries. It is also a popular name in countries with large populations of Arab and Mizrahi Jews because Said has long been used as a given name among Jewish families. In the UK, Said is a well-known surname among people of Pakistani origin. Similarly, in the US, Said is popular among Yemeni-American, Palestinian-American, Middle Eastern and North and East African immigrants.
The origin of the surname Said is from the Islamic pre-name Said, meaning "happy". It was once an honorific bestowed upon a wise person or leader, and later came to be used as a given name. It was adopted into some Jewish families, and in time these families came to use Said as a family name. As a result, the surname Said was adopted from both Muslim and Jewish communities, and spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
In more recent years, the surname Said has become an increasingly popular name in many countries around the world, owing to increased numbers of immigration to Europe and the US from the Arab world. As countries with large populations of Arab and North African immigrants, the UK and US both have large numbers of people bearing the surname Said.
Variations of the surname Said
The surname Said is a popular surnames in the Middle East, especially in Arab countries like the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It can be spelled in a few different ways such as Sayed, Saad, Sayyed and Saeed. It is also sometimes shortened to Sai or Say.
The surname is derived from the Arabic word ‘sayed’, meaning one who is blessed and is a title of honour given to someone of noble descent. In the Middle East, the surname is usually considered to be of noble birth.
In some cultures, the surname is represented by a badge or emblem, as a sign of nobility. In countries such as India, the surname is also popularly used.
In various cultures, the surname has been adapted to its local language. While in the Middle East it is sometimes referred to as Sayed or Sayyed, in India it is commonly referred to as Siddiqui, Siddiqi, Sidique or Sidqi. The surname has also been found in Afghanistan as Saeedi.
In other languages, the surname has been adapted to an even wider range of spellings. Amongst these are Sad, Sayid, Saidi in Indonesia, Sadiy in Pakistan , Zayd in Egypt, Saidov in Russia, Saidy in Cameroon, Saïd, Sayd orSaido in Algeria, and Saiño in the Philippines.
In the United States, the surname has been largely anglicized to Sayed or Syed and often the spelling is further condensed to 'Syd'.
Overall, the surname Said can be found in many different countries and cultures throughout the world, due to its meaning, but with some adaptation to the local language or accent.
Famous people with the name Said
- Edward Said: Edward Said was a renowned professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and the University of Michigan, and is regarded as one of the founders of postcolonial studies. He was the author of numerous books, including Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism.
- Omar Said: Omar Said is a businessman, investor and philanthropist from Oman. As CEO of al Saidi Investment Company, he is one of the leading investors in the Middle East.
- Salim Said: Salim Said is an Indonesian businessman and philanthropist, best known for his work as the Owner and Chairman of the Salim Group, one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates.
- Amin Said: Amin Said is a German-Libyan novelist and journalist. He is best known for his 2004 novel The King of the Jasmine Islands, which was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.
- Safia Said: Safia Said is a Yemeni writer, poet and playwright. She is best known for her work on Yemeni culture and identity.
- Najat Said: Najat Said is an Egyptian-American actress and filmmaker, best known for her critically acclaimed 2018 independent feature film Amal.
- Shamsiah Said: Shamsiah Said is an influential figure in Malaysian literature. Her works revolve around the topics of identity, race, and colonialism, and she has received a number of accolades for her contributions to Malaysian literature.
- Nassir Said: Nassir Said is a prominent Iraqi politican and lawyer, best known for his involvement in Iraq's constitutional process. He was a member of the Iraqi National Assembly from 2003-2006.
- Taalaibek Said: Taalaibek Said is an Uzbek politician and former Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment in President Aliyev's Cabinet. He has also served as Head of the Tashkent City Administration and Mayor of Tashkent.