Sfeir Explained

Sfeir (Arabic: صفير) is a Maronite Christian clan surname from Lebanon.

Although there is no consensus agreement on the origin of the name, most scholars believe the name comes from the Arabic word for the color yellow (or sulphur), suggesting that clansmen wore yellow tunics or carried a yellow banner (during the Crusades, the flag of the Kingdom of Jerusalem consisted of a grid of yellow or gold crosses on a white background). Some say that it derives from the Arabic word for ambassador or mediator. Still others indicate that it may derive from the Hebrew word for the gem stone saphhire (denoting perhaps jewelers or traders in gems). A few state that it may derive from the Arabic noun for whistling or singing, perhaps suggesting that the Sfeir may have been either archers or falconers. In any case, the clan legend is that a Crusader King granted to the Sfeir clan a portion of what is today the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon as a reward for their loyalty to his reign and bravery in battle. To this day, the motto of Keserwan is "the Christians' Castle."

People with the Sfeir surname (occasionally spelled Sfair in Latin script) include the following:

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sfeir".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.