Surname Khayat - Meaning and Origin
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Khayat: What does the surname Khayat mean?
The surname Khayat is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "khayyat", meaning tailor or dressmaker. The surname is common among Lebanese and other Arab populations in the Middle East.
In Arabic, the name Khayat also means "fortune", in reference to the importance of clothes-making as a trade and a source of wealth. It has various spelling variants in other languages, including Hayat, Khayatt, Khayyat and Khayet.
People with the surname Khayat have often worked as professional tailors, dressmakers, embroiderers and similar professions, due to the meaning of the name. In some Arab countries, tailors have kept their family line ongoing by passing on the business and the name to their sons.
As the name suggests, the Middle Eastern tailors usually made clothing for royalty and wealthy citizens. The trade of tailoring was very important and was even known as a symbol of nobility due to the exclusive custom garments made for dukes and princes. In fact, some stories say that tailors of the Khayat family saved Sultan Baabour’s life by helping him escape during a revolt in 1516.
Today, the name Khayat is still popular in Arabic-speaking countries, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. Although people with this surname are still mainly found in the Middle East, many Arabs moved to other countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the name being spread all around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisKhayat: Where does the name Khayat come from?
The last name Khayat is a common and historic name in the Levant region of the Middle East. It is mainly associated with modern day Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan. However, the origin of the name is contested, as some theorists suggest it could even have roots in the Ancient Assyrian Empire.
The name Khayat is still common today in the countries of the Levant region, though its presence is even more widespread. For instance, the name has been adopted by people and families of other faiths and backgrounds, notably in the diaspora communities of the United States, Canada, Australia, and even parts of Europe.
Outside the Middle East, cities with notable concentrations of the name include Buenos Aires in Argentina, Geneva in Switzerland, and São Paulo in Brazil.
In the United States, the name Khayat is most common in the state of New York. It occurs at a frequency higher than the national average, and is particularly prevalent in New York City and its surrounding areas. In addition, significant Khayat populations can be found in cities like St. Louis, Missouri, San Jose, California, and Houston, Texas.
The Khayat family is still very much alive and well in the modern world. Family history, traditions, and culture continue to be passed from one generation to the next, making the Khayat name an enduring symbol of the Levant.
Variations of the surname Khayat
The surname Khayat, also spelled as Khait, Khyat, Khayatt, Khayyat, Khayote and Khayyatt, is an ancient Semitic surname of Arabic origin. It is derived from an ancient Arabic word "khit", meaning "family". People bearing the surname Khayat have a long and varied history.
Khayat is popularly known as the family name of the OAS Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. In ancient times, it was primarily used by Arab and Jewish citizens of Damascus, Jerusalem, and Baghdad. The Khayat surname originated and pronounces differently in Arabic-speaking countries and the Middle East. Some spelling variants of the Khayat surname includes Khit, Khayatt, Khayote, Khayyat, and Khayyatt.
The variations of Khayat are used by several extended family members whose lineage was established in the Middle East during and after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The surname is also found in countries like Algeria, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine, where it is usually spelled without the 'h'. Arab Christians living in the Middle East have traditionally adopted a spelling variation of the name Khayat, replacing the letter "h" with the English alphabet letter "k".
Today, the Khayat surname is encountered in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, such as Tunisia, Libya, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, and Yemen, among other places. It is also common to find people bearing the surname Khayat in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. in some countries, such as the United States, the surname has been anglicized as Hayat.
Famous people with the name Khayat
- Najwa Khayat: She is a Lebanese-American singer-songwriter.
- Hussain Khayat: He is a media personality and polticial activist in Iraq.
- Youssef Khayat: He is a Syrian singer-songwriter, best known for his music that mixes traditional Arabic genres, such as dabke and muwashahat, with modern styles.
- Moudi Khayat: He is a Syrian businessman and philanthropist known for his work in Syrian governance, media, and charity efforts.
- Tim Khayat: He is an American sports broadcaster for ESPN.
- The journalist Hayat Khayat: She is a Syrian journalist and television host, best known for her investigative reports about the Syrian crisis.
- Janan Khayat: She was a prominent Palestinian poet.
- Sana Khayat: She is a Syrian-born violinist who has performed with many orchestras in Europe and the United States.
- Abdulaziz Khayat: He is a Saudi-American businessman and philanthropist.
- Sam Khayat: He is a Syrian-Lebanese singer-songwriter and composer who creates music in many genres.