Surname Behar - Meaning and Origin
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Behar: What does the surname Behar mean?
The last name Behar is believed to be of Sephardic Jewish origin, derived from the Iberian/ Hebrew personal name Baha. Baha is believed to be an ancient Arabic name meaning “splendor”. The modern spelling of the name Behar originated as a variation of the more ancient spelling, Baha.
In more traditional Judaism, Behar is a common surname. The Behar family is closely linked to the Tribe of Levi, a prominent tribe from Jewish heritage. The Tribe of Levi is composed of the descendants of Levi, the son of Jacob and Leah, who significantly played a vital role in Jewish history. In the Hebrew Bible, it is stated that Levi, “will teach Jacob's people the decrees and laws, and will direct them” making the Tribe of Levi significant in terms of traditions and spiritual guidance.
The Behar surname is believed to come to light in 12th century Spain in the Jewish community of La Coruno. It is thought that many of the members of the Behar family joined the migration to Portugal and eventually emigrated to the Netherlands in the early 17th century. Later, in the 18th century, many of those original Dutch Behar’s moved on to Morocco and other parts of Europe and eventually the Americas.
Today the Behar surname is common throughout many parts of the world, from the United States to Israel to countries in South America. Today, many modern Behar families still claim the spiritual influences and ties to their history, citing being descendants of the Tribe of Levi as a family heirloom and point of pride.
Order DNA origin analysisBehar: Where does the name Behar come from?
The last name Behar is most commonly found in Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. It is of Spanish origin, and it was originally derived as a patronymic or branch name. The meaning is “son of Belar” or “son of Judas”, depending on the original source. This last name is also found in Portugal, Israel, United States, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and other countries.
In Israel, this surname is likely of Spanish Sephardic origins, and it is found among the broader Jewish Diaspora there. When Israel was founded, many Jews from Arab countries immigrated and adopted the surname Behar. It is also popular among Mizrahi Jews who originated from Syria, Iraq, and other countries.
In United States, the Behar surname is most commonly found among Latin American immigrants, and it is particularly found among Mexican-Americans the most. The name is also commonly found in Argentina, Chile, and other Latin American countries.
The Behar surname is an ancient one, so finding its exact origin can be difficult. However, it is clear that it is most popular in Latin American countries.
Variations of the surname Behar
The surname Behar is a patronymic or metronymic name derived from the Greek word “βηχάρης”, meaning “to watch for”. This surname has several alternate spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. The most common alternative spellings of Behar include: Behars, Beher, Beehrs, Beier, Beyers, Beyersz, Beyhar, Bayer, Bihari, Bajer, Bihor, Bayar, and Bihorac. Some of the variants of Behar are: Bajer, Bajors, Bayar, Biyer, and Byhar.
Surnames derived from Behar include: Beharis, Beharis, Bereli, Behori, Bahori, and Biyeri. Other Greek variants of Behar include: Daihtar, Thiharis, Theihari, Theiharis, Thihar, Thiharas, and Thiharris. In addition, the Behar surname also has some Romanian and German variants such as: Bichar, Bihari, Beier, Beyer, and Bayer. Lastly, it should be noted that the Anglicized spelling of the Greek surname Behar is Bihar.
In conclusion, Behar is an old Greek surname that has numerous spelling, variants, and surnames of the same origin. The surname originated from the Greek word “βηχάρης”, meaning “to watch for” and has a variety of Anglicized, Romanian, and German variants. Some of the common alternate spellings of Behar include: Behars, Beher, Beehrs, Beier, Beyers, Beyersz, Beyhar, Bayer, Bihari, Bajer, Bihor, Bayar, and Bihorac. Finally, some of the variants of Behar as well as surnames derived from Behar include: Beharis, Beharis, Bereli, Behori, Bahori, Biyeri, Daihtar, Thiharis, Theihari, Theiharis, Thihar, Thiharas, Thiharris, Bichar, Bihari, Beier, Beyer, and Bayer.
Famous people with the name Behar
- Joy Behar: American comedian and talk show host
- Tim Bevan: New Zealand actor and screenwriter
- Celso Behar: Brazilian racing driver
- Helen Beaver: English actress
- Kate Behar: Canadian singer and songwriter
- John Behar: American director, screenwriter and producer
- Gary Behar: American comedian, writer, producer and radio presenter
- Kiara Behar: Cuban actress
- Mauro Behar: Brazilian footballer
- Nissim Behar: Moroccan actor, television host and entertainer
- Carlos Behar: Venezuelan actor and director 12. Ann Behar: American actress
- Ana Behar: Argentine-Italian actress, singer and television host
- Siobhan Behar: English singer and voice actress
- Miguel Behar: Argentine actor
- Howard Behar: American businessperson
- Noam Behar: Israeli film producer and actor
- Yael Behar: Israeli television presenter and writer
- Mike Behar: Canadian director, producer and screenwriter
- Lars Behar: German musician