A Genealogist’s Nightmare

We go into some detail on how Middle Eastern names are derived on the family website which is highly variable. Then consider that formal surnames did not exist among Muslims in the Ottoman Empire and most of Syria until a law was passed in 1934.

It is little wonder then that much of what we know of our family history is passed down orally. All the more reason to document it as best we can before that memory is lost. Happy spelunking!