Palestinian families

A Palestinian family is a large community of extended family members with a lineage that can be traced to ancestors who resided in Palestine. Socially, these families are divided according Segmentary lines, and socio-spatial associations as city dwellers, villagers and nomads. The elites, traditionally known as the notables (known in Arabic as a'yan, wujaha', zu'ama), headed these families, and specialized in specific occupations. For example, urban elites traditionally made of city-dwelling merchants (tujjar), clerics ('ulema), ashraf, military officers, and governmental functionaries, the rural notability was composed of rural sheikhs, village or clan mukhtars.

There are numerous prominent Palestinian families who have contributed to the society, politics and economy of historical Palestine. Usage of the term Palestinian tribe is relatively uncommon and has differed depending on context.

Lineage traditions

In Palestinian rural society and in many urban areas, a married woman joins her husband's family and her children are considered part of his lineage, forming the father's clan, while in case of divorce, the wife typically returns to her family but the children stay with the husband's family name.

List of families

Palestinian last names usually are named after the oldest grandfather, an adjective of the family or the place where the family is from. More modern groups however are verifiable and include Arafat, Alhussan, the Abu Al-Hanoud, the Abu hejleh family, the Abu Akleh family, the Kanaan family, the Awad family, the Shehadeh family, the Taha family, the Zaaroub family, the Atrash family, the Botros family, the Daraghmeh family, the Mana'a family, the Zidan family, the Hassouna family, the Jouda family, the Darwish family, the Dweikat family, the Barakat family, the Natsheh family, the Aljabari family, the Khader family, the Khadra family , Salha , the Jacir family, the saba family, the Adwan family, the diab family, the Khalife family, the abu el hawa family, the haddad family, the Abu-Warda family, the Nashashibi family, the Shakhsheer family, the Masri family, zannaniri family, the Deeb family, sakkakini family, the Tamimi family, Shrem family, the Najjar family, the Odeh family, Shaheen family, Al-Khalil family, Radwan dynasty, Al-Zeitawi family, Abu Ghosh clan, Doghmush clan, Douaihy family, Hilles clan, Jarrar family, Negev Bedouins, the Jayyusi family, Al-Ghunaim, the Al-Risheq family and The Renno Family.

Prominent Palestinian families sometimes assigned specific roles to members of their community. For example, Khalidi and Alami clan members held senior administrative positions in society. One of the oldest and biggest families in Palestine is the Barghouti family with over 2.65 million family members with the majority spread over seven countries. The Barghouti family claims to have ancestral roots in Spain. Palestinian families are often geographically localized. For example, in the Tulkarm Subdistrict of Mandatory Palestine, it included elite families like Jayyusis (from Tulkarm, Kur, Qalansuwa and Jaljuliya), Hajj Ibrahims (Tulkarm), Hamdallas (‘Anabta), Shantis (Qalqiliya), Abu Hijlas (Deir Istiya) and others.

Christian families

The Christian Palestinians are a significant community of Palestine, while the majority of them have immigrated to Latin America and other western countries, many of the most socioeconomically influential families in Palestine have been Christian.

The majority of Christian Palestinians share the same last names as Muslim Palestinians, some of the most common Palestinian Christian family names include Khoury, Haddad, Shehada.

Arafat family

The Arafat family is a notable Palestinian family with historic roots in the cities of Gaza and Nablus, and later presence in Amman, Jordan following the 1948 Nakba. The family is traditionally Sunni Muslim and has been associated with religious scholarship, civic leadership, and trade.

The family name “Arafat” is believed to derive from an ancestor’s given name in the 18th century, evolving from an earlier designation, ‘‘al-Shahid’’. The Arafats are considered a branch of the al-Qudwa family, itself a lineage connected to the broader al-Husseini clan. In Gaza, the family held respected positions, including religious and community leadership roles, and were active in commerce. Some members were known to be based in Khan Yunis and Gaza City, and several are buried in the region.

By the 19th century, branches of the family had established themselves in Nablus, with records and oral traditions tracing their presence there to at least the early 1800s during the Ottoman era. In both cities, the Arafat family became integrated into the local elite and contributed to public life.

Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, parts of the family migrated to Amman, along with many other displaced Palestinians. In exile, the family maintained strong intergenerational ties and preserved its cultural and social identity.

The Arafat family is best known internationally through Yasser Arafat, former chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, but the family’s historical significance in Palestinian society predates and extends beyond modern political developments. Like other prominent families such as the El-Issa family of Jaffa, known for their pioneering role in Palestinian journalism, the Arafats contributed to civic and communal life across multiple regions of historic Palestine.

El-Issa family

The El-Issa family, from Jaffa, are one of the most well known families due to their numerous contributions to Palestinian journalism in the 20th century. Their first publication known as Al-Asma'i magazine dates back to 1908, and the most known one the Falastin newspaper, established in 1911.

Al-Fuqaha family

The Al-Fuqaha family, from Tulkarm, is well-known for their contributions to Palestinian literature and poetry. The family’s most notable figure is the poet Abd al-Rahim Mahmoud, whose works became iconic for their themes of resistance and national pride. Abd al-Rahim’s poetry, including the famous poem The Martyr, continues to resonate deeply in Palestinian culture. The Al-Fuqaha family holds a respected place in Palestinian history for their role in preserving the literary and cultural heritage of the region.

Abu-Ezam family

Another prominent well-to-do Greek Orthodox family, the Abu-Ezam family, were of the wealthiest business families in Ramla. The Abu-Ezam family owned and operated multiple businesses that ranged from the manufacturing of halva, a sweet confection popular in the Levant, to construction materials.

Salha family

The Salha family is a Palestinian family originally from the town of al-Majdal (present-day Ashkelon). The family has played a significant role in Palestinian political activism, education, and community development, particularly in the Palestinian diaspora following the 1948 Nakba.

History

Historically based in al-Majdal, the Salha family was displaced during the 1948 Palestinian exodus. Many members relocated to neighboring countries such as Syria and Jordan, where they continued their involvement in Palestinian nationalist and social causes. The family is noted for its contributions to education and institution-building for the Palestinian community.

Notable member: Ihsan Tawfiq Salha

Ihsan Tawfiq Salha (1940–2015), known as Abu Tawfiq , was a prominent Palestinian political leader, educator, and activist. Born in al-Majdal, he joined the Fatah movement in 1965 and remained a committed member until his death.

He served as Secretary of the Fatah Movement Council in Syria and was a member of the movement’s financial council in the late 1960s. Salha also represented the State of Palestine in various Arab and Islamic organizations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

As an educator, Salha was the Director General of the Educational City for the Sons of Palestinian Martyrs and Fighters. He founded the Association of Sons of Palestinian Martyrs and Fighters and established the Palestine Technical and Vocational Institute to support the education of Palestinian families affected by conflict.

Salha dedicated over fifty years to the Palestinian cause, working to build institutions and promote national unity. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 75. The Fatah movement recognized him as a model of sacrifice, resilience, and dedication to Palestinian liberation.

Jarrar family

See also: Jarrar family

The Jarrar family (Arabic: جرار) is a prominent Palestinian family. Migrating from Balqa, Transjordan to Marj Ibn Amer in 1670, they rose to economic prominence in Sanjak Jenin by the 19th century. They controlled key agricultural production in the region and fortified their political power with a stronghold in Sanur. With conflicts with Acre's governors and the Tuqan family, their influence waned after the destruction of their stronghold in 1830. Tawfiq al-Jarrar remained influential in Haifa's political and economic circles.

Makhamra family

See also: Makhamra family

The Makhamra family, prominent in Yatta and neighboring localities in the southern Hebron Hills, claims descent from a Jewish tribe expelled from Khaybar, in the Arabian Peninsula. According to their tradition, their ancestor, Muheimar, a Jew, conquered the village centuries ago. There are also reports of the clan maintaining Jewish customs, including lighting candles during Hanukkah and abstaining from camel meat, which is prevalent in the area. While some scholars accept their account of expulsion from Khaybar, others propose they are remnants of an ancient Jewish population in the area. According to one theory, the name Makhamra means "winemakers" in Palestinian Arabic, a profession forbidden in Islam.

Meo family

The Meo family are known for their shop at Bab al-Khalil.

Political and Legal Leadership

Subhi Sa‘id al-Khadra (1895–1954), a lawyer and political activist from Safed, was among the most prominent family members. Educated in Beirut and Istanbul, he served in the Ottoman army during World War I before joining the Arab Revolt. He was a founding member of the Istiqlal Party and played a key role in the 1936–1939 Arab revolt against British Mandate rule.

Cultural and Educational Contributions

Salma Khadra Jayyusi (1925–2023), daughter of Subhi al-Khadra, gained international recognition as a poet, translator, and anthologist, significantly promoting Arabic literature worldwide through initiatives such as the Project of Translation from Arabic (PROTA).

Salwa Abu Khadra (1929–2024), born in Jaffa, was a pioneer in Palestinian education and women’s political leadership. After the 1948 Nakba, she worked in Damascus and Kuwait to establish early childhood education programs and served in leadership roles within Fatah, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the General Union of Palestinian Women.

Academia and Public Administration

Bashir Mohamed Al-Khadra (born 1939) is a Palestinian academic and public administration expert based in Jordan. He has served as a professor at the University of Jordan and as president of multiple universities, including Applied Sciences University in Jordan and Al Bayan University in Abu Dhabi. He was awarded the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in 2007 for his contributions to the discourse on state development.

Religious and Cultural Heritage

The Khadra family name is also associated with religious sites, including the historic Al-Khadra Mosque in Nablus and the now-destroyed Abu Khadra Mosque in Gaza.

Displacement and Diaspora

Following the 1948 Nakba, many members of the Khadra family were displaced from their homes in cities like Jaffa, Gaza, and Al-Ramleh. They resettled in Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, and elsewhere, maintaining their cultural identity and continuing to contribute to Palestinian society and the diaspora.

Notable Members

• Subhi Sa‘id al-Khadra (1895–1954) – Lawyer, Arab nationalist, and political leader. • Salma Khadra Jayyusi (1925–2023) – Poet, translator, and literary anthologist. • Salwa Abu Khadra (1929–2024) – Educator and political leader in women’s advancement. • Bashir Mohamed Al-Khadra (born 1939) – Academic and university president.

Online magazine This Week in Palestine is published by Sani Meo.

Gaza

From 1917 to 1948, Britain ruled Palestine and co-opted Gazan families, appointing members of the families to local office. Several mukhtars (family headmen) interviewed in 2007 attributed their position to the initial appointment by the British. In Gaza, there are still dozens of influential families that function as clans. These families derive their influence from overseeing businesses and have the allegiance of hundreds to thousands of relatives.

Individual households which form families and extended clans made up 75 percent of Gaza’s population in 2007. The remaining 25 percent of the population were Bedouin and are classified differently.

Hassouna family

The Hassouna family is a noble and wealthy Palestinian family with deep historical roots in the village of Hiribya that was depopulated in 1948 and is now the site of Zikim—with its family seat in the Rimal neighborhood of the Gaza Strip, becoming influential residents and one of the wealthiest families in Gaza. The family has played a significant role in Gaza, with many of its members recognized for their contributions to the social and civic landscape of Gaza, particularly in healthcare . The Hassouna family has also seen several of its members killed during the Gaza war, including Sidra Hassouna, who was related to the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, receiving major attention on social media. On 10 May 2024, Harvard College protesters on Harvard Yard additionally renamed multiple dormitories, including Holworthy Hall to "Hassouna Hall", to honor the Hassouna family.

While some members of the family have remained in Gaza, other branches of the Hassouna family have established themselves internationally, residing in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and various other Arab nations.

See also

• Al-Husayni family