ATTIAS Origin of surname

ATTIAS

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, in this case of biblical origin.

Attias is a variant of Attya, an Arabic male personal name, which means "gift/present of God". In some cases, Attia is a translation of the biblical Hebrew male personal name Natanel (Hebrew for "gifted by God"). The name is spread among families originated in the Mediterranean area, however in the 20th century it is also common in northern Europe and the USA. Athias is documented in the 16th century in Eretz Israel and Italy; Attia in the 18th century in northern Syria; Attias in 1792 in America; and Atias, also in America, in 1793. In the 17th century, Attias is recorded as a Jewish family name with Jacob Attias from Tunis, in documents of the French consulate dated January 21, 1615, regarding loans and exportation of grain; in the 18th century the name is recorded as a Jewish family name on the 'ketubbah' dated March 27, 1793, of Rebecca, daughter of Daniel Attias from Tunis, and her husband Raphael, son of Juda Boccara. A late 18th century bearer of the family name Attias was the 'Shammas' ("beadle") of the congregation Mikveh Israel, Savannah, USA, Isaac Attias.