Surname Abbas - Meaning and Origin

Abbas: What does the surname Abbas mean?

The last name Abbas is used by both Muslims and Christians, although its origin is from a Muslim background. It could be derived from an Arabic personal name, al-ʿAbbās, which means 'the lion'; it is also an Arabic form of the Hebrew name Abba. In the Western world, Abbas is often seen as a male name, although it can also be given as a surname.

In Arabic, the term Abbas is an honorific title, which denotes a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad, and was specifically used to refer to the uncle of the Prophet, al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. The name Abbas is also common among Christians, especially among Arabs who have been living in the Middle East since ancient times, such as those from Palestine and Syria.

Moreover, Abbas is also an Islamic title that refers to descendants of al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, who were known for their bravery and loyalty. This title is given to male descendants who share the same ancestral line, and is often used in an honorary sense.

The last name Abbas could also be of a different origin, such as from Persian. It is derived from an old word meaning 'swift' or 'fast', and is sometimes used as a first or middle name among Persians.

All in all, the last name Abbas implies a strong, brave, and loyal ancestry. It has been used by Muslims and Christians of varying backgrounds for centuries as a sign of respect. This could be through a connection to the illustrious al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, or by using it as a sign of admiration for the descendants he has spawned over the centuries.

Abbas: Where does the name Abbas come from?

The surname Abbas is a very popular Middle Eastern name. It is most commonly found throughout the Arabian Peninsula in countries such as Qatar, Lebanon, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It is also common amongst Muslim populations in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. In some parts of Africa, such as Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the name is very popular.

The biggest concentration of Abbas's is in the gulf countries of Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Oman. It is the 12th most common family name in the Kuwaiti population.

The name is also popular in the west, with many Abbas's having migrated to the United States, Canada, Australia and some European countries such as France, Scotland and Germany.

The name Abbas carries a great deal of significance in Muslim culture and is a frequent name found in Islamic history. The name is derived from the Arabic verb ‘abasa عبس which means ‘to look frowningly’ or ‘to become angry’. The name is referenced numerous times in the Quran, most notably in Chapter 11 Verse 82.

The most famous person bearing this name is likely Ali Abbas, Ali, the son of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Abbas was a fierce warrior for Islam and is remembered for his strength, courage and unwavering loyalty to his faith. Abbas is also the Abbasid Dynasty, who ruled an Islamic Caliphate from 750 AD to 1258 AD.

Variations of the surname Abbas

The surname Abbas is an Arabic masculine given name, derived from the Arabic word “abas”, which communicates respect. It has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The single-letter variant, "A," is the most common variant of the surname Abbas. The other variant spellings include Abass, Abou-Bakr, Abu Bakr, Abbad, Basha, Obadiah, Obeid, Abbasi, Abbaspour, Abbood, Bennasar, Aberi and Ibn Abbas.

The surname Abbas also has different spellings in different languages. For instance, the Spanish spelling is "Abas" and the Italian spelling is "Abbassi." Other languages also have different spellings, including, Wabbas, Abbès, Abbaz, Abaz, Abasov, Abbasoglu, Abbasov, and Abbaszadeh.

Other surnames and variants associated with the surname Abbas are Abbott, Abendana, Abetta, Ablitt, Aboussafy, Abstras, Absy, Achahboun, Afshar, Akbar and Asllan.

The different spellings and surnames of Abbas represent different regions around the world, from the Middle East to Africa to Europe. Each variant has slightly different accent marks, dialetical nuances and pronunciation, but can be traced to the same source.

Famous people with the name Abbas

• Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, is the President of the Palestinian National Authority and leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
• Ismail Abbas, a musician from the Middle East known for his melodic guitar playing.
• Abbas Ghaemi, a famous Iranian actor and movie director.
• Abdulbaset Ali Mohmed Abbas, a Syrian actor and singer who has been active since 1996.
• Abbas Kiarostami, an Iranian film director, screenwriter, photographer, and film editor who won numerous awards during his lifetime.
• Abbas Mirza, a Persian prince and military leader during the Qajar Dynasty in Persia.
• Abbas Comel, an Iraqi singer and composer who has been active since the 1960s.
• Abbas Hilmi Bey, an Egyptian Prince who was born in 1874 and had a long and varied career including a short time in government.
• Hassan Abbas, a Pakistani historian who is a professor at Harvard University and a scholar on Islamic history.
• Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, a paternal uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who is considered one of the heroes of early Islam and was the son of Abd al-Muttalib.

Other surnames

Abbasi