Lebanon Tribes and Clans

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Lebanon

Tribes and Clans

Resources

Online Resources

• Al-Maktabah al-Shamilah (The Comprehensive Library) - Genealogy Category (Arabic) - catalogue of Arabic books on genealogy with detailed descriptions; books not accessible directly on website
• Genealogical Science Library (Arabic - مكتبة علوم النسب) - digital catalogue of Arabic books on family and tribal genealogies; open source books are linked and accessible
  • Email: olomanasb@gmail.com
• The Arab Tribes: Their Historical Origins and Roots (in Arabic), by Jamal Mashari al-Rafdi. Online at: Archive.org.
  • القبائل العربية: أصولها جذورها التاريخية، جمال بن مشاري الرفدي.

Background

Tribes in Lebanon play a somewhat diminished role in the social structure. While some Lebanese may proudly proclaim their membership in a given tribe, - or clan, as they are more often called there - many Lebanese families are more likely to cite their relationship to one of the ethno-religious communities that define modern Lebanon.

However, tribes and tribal identity are still relevant for many Lebanese. One major historical clan in Lebanon is the Hamadiyeh, which has two main branches: the Zaaitar and the Chamas. The Zaaitar clan can be further divided into the Meqdad, Haj Hassan, Noon, Shreif, and Jaafar, while the Chamas clan is split into the Allaw, Nassereddine, and Dandash. These tribes are concentrated in the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and Mount Lebanon regions.

Understanding tribal structures can be extremely helpful when conducting family history research in the Middle East. Even if a specific family cannot be traced, there will likely be information on the tribe with which they are affiliated, including genealogies and histories.

Information Recorded in the Records

Tribal histories and genealogies can contain a variety of data useful for family history researchers. Depending on the type and detail of tribal genealogy, typically include the names of fathers and sons but may exclude wives or daughters. Additionally, these genealogies may not include exact birth or death dates, although background information can often allow the researcher to estimate these data for individuals in the records. Even without detailed lineages, tribal histories can still be useful for researchers. These records often contain details on tribal origins, migrations and movement, and traditional beliefs and culture.

Strategy

The published works above include information useful for tracing Lebanese tribal lineages. These works include lineages, tribal history, biographies of prominent individuals, poetry, or encyclopedic entries of tribes and their sub-divisions.

As with all genealogical research, start with what you know. If you know your ancestor's tribal affiliation already, search books on that tribe. If not, search for resources on the country or region they or their tribe originate from. Within tribal lineages, search for the names of familiar individuals or places as clues to identify your exact family line.