Chip

[Arpa]

CHiP

Off the old block?

 

Some time ago Anaheet had asked "what is xash", then she had seen the recipe.

She could also have asked Ahmat *****chi the one time favorite hero of the Pentagon and now a a scoundrel. His suranme is based on "*****" the word some of our neighbors use for xash/khash, in fact is part of the full name of "kelle *****"(head and feet). His surname just as Adnan Chalabi's (another Iraqi in the news) are not native Arabic based on the fact that there is neither CH or P in the Arabic script. The Persians had to modify them by adding dots under the J and B to fit their pronunciations. By all indications both ***** and chalab/cheleb are of Turkish Ottoman origin. Are these guys really Iraqi Arabs or are they Turks?

Chalabi is also a very popular name in Syria. They are usually well placed aristocratic families. I used to know a girl whose surname was Chalabi, oddly enough, even though she professed to be Muslim she spoke fluent Armenian, her mother was Armenian, as if that was not enough her aunt, her mother's sister had also married a Muslim Syrian, a well placed person (aristocrat) in his own right, the children of that marriage, three boys also spoke fluent Armenian.

 

Btw. Does any one know? How do the Arabic news spell those names since there is no CH or P, they would look like Bashashi and Shalabi respectively.

 

There are many Armenians who have similar surnames as Chalabian or *****chian. The latter is easy, it means maker/seller of xash/khash. The former comes from the Turkish word chalab/cheleb, it has some connotation of aristocracy. Here is what one source says about the subject.

 

Chelebiutyun: From the Turkish cheleb=god hence chalebi=godlike, divine. In this case a title of aristocracy somewaht like knighthood. During Ottoman times the title and the honor was commonly bestowed on contributors to the society, more often than not financial and monetary. Many (Armenian) money changers and quasi bankers were granted the title for their financial support and lending money to the government.

 

Those with Chalabian/Chelebian surnames are probably descendants of the Knights of the Ottomans.

 

Sadly enough, had all those Chalabians who may have lent money known what that money would eventually be used for and how!!!

[bellthecat]

The former comes from the Turkish word chalab/cheleb, it has some connotation of aristocracy. Here is what one source says about the subject.

 

Chelebiutyun: From the Turkish cheleb=god hence chalebi=godlike, divine. In this case a title of aristocracy somewaht like knighthood. During Ottoman times the title and the honor was commonly bestowed on contributors to the society, more often than not financial and monetary. Many (Armenian) money changers and quasi bankers were granted the title for their financial support and lending money to the government.

 

Those with Chalabian/Chelebian surnames are probably descendants of the Knights of the Ottomans.

 

Sadly enough, had all those Chalabians who may have lent money known what that money would eventually be used for and how!!!

As in the famous Ottoman writer and traveller Evliya Celebi?

[Arpa]

As in the famous Ottoman writer and traveller Evliya Celebi?

I have come across some Turkish surmanes of Celebi, I'm sure there are many.

My miniscule Turkish dictionary defines celebi as educated, gentleman.

[Gor-Gor]

My cousin in Syria is named Peggy.

 

The poor girl -- her name becomes Biki in Arabic. No P, no "eh" sound, and no G.