Surname Al-Ismail - Meaning and Origin
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Al-Ismail: What does the surname Al-Ismail mean?
Al-Ismail is a classic Arabic surname and is also used by many Muslims living in non-Arab countries. It is derived from Ismail, who is the Arabic version of the Biblical Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. The literal translation of the name Al-Ismail is "servant of Ismail/Ishmael".
The name Ishmael was given to Abraham's son when God declared he was blessed. Accordingly, the name Al-Ismail is associated with God's blessing upon the family of Ishmael. The name also symbolizes loyalty, which is because Ishmael remained in divine service and listened to his father Abraham's authority. As a result, anyone with the last name Al-Ismail is seen as one who is loyal and faithful.
Al-Ismail is an honorable name that signifies belonging, heritage, and faith. It links family to their Arab roots. Today, the family name Al-Ismail is still commonly found among the Arab world and is also used by those who have a link to the Islamic faith. As such, it is symbolic of faith, loyalty, belonging and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisAl-Ismail: Where does the name Al-Ismail come from?
The last name Al-Ismail is most commonly found in the Arab world, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. It originates from the Arabic name ‘al-Isma’il,’ which is derived from the surname ‘Isma’il’ (commonly spelled as Ishmael, Esau, or Ismael). The name is traditionally associated with the contemporary patriarch Ishmael, son of Abraham, but is used by some in reference to Ishmael’s sons in the Quran.
The most common countries today where Al-Ismail is most often used are Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the Al-Ismail name can now be found in much of the rest of the Arab world as well as neighboring countries of the Middle East, such as Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
The name is also seen in other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, due to members of the Arab diaspora who have emigrated. Al-Ismail can additionally be found in the United States and Canada, although among those whose ancestors have required migrating from Middle Eastern countries to the Americas.
In each location, the meaning of the name is the same — an associating to the father of Ishmael, the son of Abraham — but the cultural connotations of the name may vary between countries and regions. In Morocco, for example, the name is traditional among those of Arabic-Berber ancestry.
Variations of the surname Al-Ismail
The surname Al-Ismail is derived from the Arabic given name 'Ismail'. This name is often spelled as 'Ishmael', 'Ismael', 'Ishmaeil', or 'Ismaeil'. It is also sometimes transliterated as Ishmail or Ishmial.
The surnames derived from Al-Ismail are not limited to a single spelling. In some cultures and languages, variants of Al-Ismail, such as Al-Ismael, Al-Ismaeil, Al-Esmaiel, and Al-Ishmael, may be used. The spelling may also be modified to fit the phonetics of a given language or culture, such as al-Esmail in some South Asian countries. Additionally, the surname has been adapted to different languages, such as Ismael in Spanish and Portuguese or Ismail in Turkish.
At times, surnames may vary due to regional conventions. For example, Al-Ismail may also appear in the form of Al-Ismael in some Middle Eastern countries. In some cultures, the surname may be altered to denote a specific locality, such as Al-Ismaili in Iraq, Kuwait, and Libya.
In the United States, the spelling of the surname may also differ due to influence from earlier immigration. Al-Ismail could become Allaahsmayl, Esmail, Ismal, Ismail or Ismael.
Additionally, changes in spelling may occur due to errors in record keeping or even intentional changes made to hide a family’s roots. Thus, variant spellings of Al-Ismail include Al-Ismali, Al-Ismaili, El-Ismail, Ismal, Ismeller, Ismelle, and Esmayl.
Famous people with the name Al-Ismail
- Riyadh Al-Ismail: a Kuwaiti Actor and Model. He is most famous for his starring role in the 2010 feature film “Ajami” which won the Caméra d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, special jury awards from the Dubai International Film Festival.
- Noora Al-Ismail: a Bahraini professional athlete who has represented Bahrain in various international competitions, including appearing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, and the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu.
- Ali Al-Ismail: a Jordanian footballer who is famous for his role in the Jordanian League. He is currently playing for Al-Wehdat team in the Jordanian league.
- Abdullah Al-Ismail: a Saudi Arabian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Al-Raed in the Saudi Professional League. He has also played for various other teams in the Saudi League, such as Al-Faisaly and Al-Nassr.
- Abbas Al-Ismail: a Kuwaiti footballer who plays as a defender for Kuwaiti Premier League side Kazma. He has won several awards, including the ‘Man of the Match’ at the 2015 WAFF Championship and 2016 AFC Cup.
- Mohammed Al-Ismail: a Yemeni footballer who plays for the Yemeni Premier League side Al-Tilal. He is most famous for being one of the top scorers in the league, with a total of 38 goals in the 2013-14 season.
- Talal Al-Ismail: a Bahraini footballer who currently plays for the Bahraini Premier League club Al Hala. He is known for his speed and agility, which has earned him the nickname “The Falcon”.
- Hanan Al-Ismail: a Saudi Arabian athlete who specialises in the high jump. She represented Saudi Arabia in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and won the bronze medal in the 2015 Arab Athletics Championships, as well as a gold medal in the Arab Championships in 2011.