HAYON Origin of surname
HAYON, HAYUN, HAYOUN, BENHAYON, BENAYON
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name.
The Jewish names in this group are based on the Hebrew word Hai, which means "alive/living" and is a variant of the male personal name Hayyim. The suffix "-on/-un" indicates "very". Hence Hayon literally means "very much alive". Hayyim appears in the Bible as a word and not as a name, but is a popular Jewish male name, which appears in different forms - Hai, Hiyya, Yihye, and the feminine Haya. In the Middle Ages, it became a popular practice among Ashkenazi Jews to add Hayyim to a personal name either during circumcision or, in the event of sickness or danger, later on in life. This was done to ensure health and long life. Among Sephardi Jews, Hai/Chai ("alive") is still a popular additional name while Yihye ("he will live") was widespread among Yemenite Jews. In the course of Jewish wanderings, the name Hayyim was influenced by local pronunciation - becoming, for example, Aim or Haym in Spain, Heim or Hayems in Germany and Alsace, Chajjim in Turkey, Hagin in England, Hayon, Ouhayon and many others in Arabic-speaking countries. It was translated into Latin as Vives, Vita, Vidal, and into Arabic as Yaish and Ayash. Under German and Yiddish influence Vives became Feives, Feis, Feivush and even Feischel.
In the 19th century, Hayoun is recorded as a Jewish family name in a 'ketubbah' from Tunis dated April 10, 1811, of Jacob, son of Nessim Hayoun, and his wife Rachel, daughter of Moise Ha-Levy Ashkenazi.
Distinguished bearers of names in this group include the 14th century Portuguese scholar, Abraham Ben Nissim Hayyun, whose descendants migrated to Turkey after the Inquisitions in Spain and Portugal in the 15th century; the Egyptian-born rabbi and kabbalist, Nehemiah Hiya Hayyun (1655-1730), and the 18th century Turkish-born rabbi Gedalia Hayyon who helped found the 'Beth El' synagogue in Jerusalem for the followers of the Ari.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name.
The Jewish names in this group are based on the Hebrew word Hai, which means "alive/living" and is a variant of the male personal name Hayyim. The suffix "-on/-un" indicates "very". Hence Hayon literally means "very much alive". Hayyim appears in the Bible as a word and not as a name, but is a popular Jewish male name, which appears in different forms - Hai, Hiyya, Yihye, and the feminine Haya. In the Middle Ages, it became a popular practice among Ashkenazi Jews to add Hayyim to a personal name either during circumcision or, in the event of sickness or danger, later on in life. This was done to ensure health and long life. Among Sephardi Jews, Hai/Chai ("alive") is still a popular additional name while Yihye ("he will live") was widespread among Yemenite Jews. In the course of Jewish wanderings, the name Hayyim was influenced by local pronunciation - becoming, for example, Aim or Haym in Spain, Heim or Hayems in Germany and Alsace, Chajjim in Turkey, Hagin in England, Hayon, Ouhayon and many others in Arabic-speaking countries. It was translated into Latin as Vives, Vita, Vidal, and into Arabic as Yaish and Ayash. Under German and Yiddish influence Vives became Feives, Feis, Feivush and even Feischel.
In the 19th century, Hayoun is recorded as a Jewish family name in a 'ketubbah' from Tunis dated April 10, 1811, of Jacob, son of Nessim Hayoun, and his wife Rachel, daughter of Moise Ha-Levy Ashkenazi.
Distinguished bearers of names in this group include the 14th century Portuguese scholar, Abraham Ben Nissim Hayyun, whose descendants migrated to Turkey after the Inquisitions in Spain and Portugal in the 15th century; the Egyptian-born rabbi and kabbalist, Nehemiah Hiya Hayyun (1655-1730), and the 18th century Turkish-born rabbi Gedalia Hayyon who helped found the 'Beth El' synagogue in Jerusalem for the followers of the Ari.