CULTURE Harari family names that are somali

[Midas]

I think part of why they went towards an urbanized-ethno mode is because of how their other admixture of incoming south-Ethiopic-Sidamic people had fewer agnatic tribal comittments and were initiated into the establishments of Somalis that created the ground for cosmopolitanism. We also have to factor in that clans function differently in different contexts. We can't also not account for the Abissinyan influence during the late pre-colonial period a specific type of city identity urban living after 1887 that homogenized much of current Ethiopia.

Can you talk more about this. Ate you saying that ethiopia was homogenized due to urban living. If so Is there any reason we haven't seen this in somalia yet?

 

[The alchemist]

Can you talk more about this. Ate you saying that ethiopia was homogenized due to urban living. If so Is there any reason we haven't seen this in somalia yet?

Yes, for sure. These consequences bore fruit from the top-down feudal centralizations that later turned into this thing called "Ethiopia" that reached further into distinct peoples, homogenizing them.

Abyssinia had no structural control over Somali lands. That is why you see big behavioral-cultural markers differences between Ethiopians and Somalis. You will not know the difference between a Cushitic Ethiopian in central Ethiopia and any central Habash person unless they tell you what they are and/or speak their language.

You can see the same thing in Kenya. Generally, Kenyans are very homogenous in their behavior irrespective of ethnic groups because of the post-colonial structural and institutional influence.

There was a structural homogenizing culture that came during the colonialist expansion of Ethiopia that today defines much of the collective norms of these days that often go beyond ethnic and tribal lines. Calling it "urban" may not be correct since what I mean is basically a cultural social and cultural horizon built upon national conceptions and imperialism.

 

[Xariir]

I believe Harar is like many cities in Somalia. That had a religious origin, where people were encouraged to let go of tribal attachments and unite on the studying and teaching of Islam and Sufi orders. In the South of Somalia in Gedo, Bardheere is an example of this. In the North there’s a place in Sheekh where this exists too. Also Warsheekh near Mogadishu, The Dervishes of Sayyid Muhammad Abdullah Hassan were also said to do this. It’s beautiful in my opinion that there so much of these attempts existed across the Somali peninsula.

May Allah have mercy on our righteous ancestors. Aameen. They deserve more attention than Low-IQ qabilists.

 

[Guure⁸]

I was reading through Harari family names. Unlike somalis they get their family name based on a pious ancestor and everyone. For example the Imam family are descendants of Imam Ahmed Gurey. Here are some family names I found to be very somali:

Barkhadle (very common somali name used till today and is one of the older somali names)

Barre (older somalis used this name often like former dictator of somalia Siyad Barre),

Borama (a city in northern somalia)

Duale (another somali name it means the one who makes dua),

fudi gelle (it's the gelle part specifically not fudi which means in gey sinan. So their family name means geel )

Garad (both hararis and somalis use garad)

Liban (this is also somali meaning blessed)

Muqdish(sounds like muqdisho/mogadishu)

Sarkal (means lieutenant in somali)

Ugaz (the somali ugas elders)

War gar (means receive message)

Warfa (many somali clans are named warfa)

Yare (means small in somali)

Note that this is around a good 25%-35% of the harari family names. I would be interested in getting DNA samples from all families to see if they're related to somalis. And to add in many of the family names sounded oromo so I believe they might also have oromo admixture.

Garad is a Somali word btw it means intelligence

 

[OmarZiad]

The Harari people are descendants of the ancient Harla people and are not somali—or more accurately, they are the closest living population to the Harla, with whom they share deep historical, cultural, linguistic, and genetic ties. The Harari language, customs, and traditions are virtually identical to those of the Harla.


Just like the Somali people are composed of many tribes with various lineages and levels of admixture, this diversity does not negate their identity as Somalis. Most Somalis trace their ancestry to one of four major clans: Darod, Dir, Hawiye, or Isaaq.


In the case of the Harari, family names can have a variety of origins. Some are derived from the names of revered religious figures (awliyaa), while others trace back to Arab tribes (mostly from Saudi Arabia or Yemen), the original Harla tribes, Turkish families, Somali families, and even Greek, Asian (Indian,Pakistani,Afghan) ancestry. Some may even have oromo ancestry.

Examples of Harari Family Names​

Named After Pious Figures:​

These family names often originate from ancestors who were caretakers of the shrines (tombs) of saints and scholars. These families not only maintained the tombs but also taught religion at those sacred sites.

• Abadiro – From Aw Shaykh Abadir of Harar
• Sofi – From Aw Sofi Yahya of Harar
• Hamdogn – From Aw Said Ali Hamdogn of Harar
• Omar Ziad – From Aw Omar Ziad of Harar
• Imam – From Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi
• Haashim – From Aw Shaykh Hashim
• Nasroy – From Faqi Nasroy
• Nur – From Amir Nur
• Barkhadle – From Aw Barkhadle
• Qurabe Limay – From Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, his descendant is buried there

There are more families with names of pious people. I cannot list them all.

These names were given in recognition of families who devoted themselves to preserving the tombs and legacies of these figures. These tombs did not only house the tomb of the pious person, but were also "institutions" for knowledge. For example, the family who maintained Aw Abadir's tomb and taught religion there they became known as Abadiro, same go with the others.
It’s important to note that this naming doesn’t mean these are the only descendants of the saints. Others may also share the lineage but migrated elsewhere. For instance, Shaykh family is also believed to descend from Aw Abadir, but had relocated to Somali regions, eventually being known by the family name Shaykh due to their religious work. They were originally harla/harari people but many later got assimilated into Somali communities and became the somali tribe called "Sheikhaal". Darod was also originaly harla but also got assimilated by somalis and became the somali tribe called "Darod". The Sheikhaal and Darod somali tribes are the only somali tribes you can say have a "connection" or "distant cousins" to the harari/harla people. Also, it is well known that both the Sheikhaal and Darod have intermarried with Harari Amirs. I have heard the Gerri and Bartire somali tribes have intermarried with the Amirs of Harar. This helped build connections between the Harla and the Somalis. Just to clarify, Imam Ahmad al-Ghazi was a full harla/harari man while it was mentioned that Amir Nur mother was harla/harari while his father was from the Marehan Darod (some harari say different). This is to show that it is even possible that some Darod or Sheikhaal men married harari/harla woman in the past.

Even with Aw Barkhadle tomb in somalia. It was originally taken care of by the Harla/Harari family - Barkhadle, but later got taken over by somalis after the assimilation. The harari family called Barkahadle descend from him. I even heard heard from a harari who visited Aw Barkhadle that the caretaker even attested to the Harla people being the original caretakers. I believe the current caretaker's are from the Dir tribe (If I remember correctly).

Other Harari Family Names and Their Origins​

• Baharun, BaAlawi, BaWazir, Sukar, Zaidi – Yemeni lineage
• Arab Hassan, Arab Ali, Sharif, Sheikh, Khatib, Khalaf – Arab lineage
• Shami - Syrian lineage
• Afandi and Ahmad Turk – Turkish origin
• Jidawi – Hijazi (Saudi) lineage
• Abogn, Gidaya, Gatur – Original Harla lineage, with Abogn believed to trace back to Yemen
• Gridle – Greek ancestry
• Abdi Bor – Somali lineage (Bartire clan)
• Kennwaq – Somali lineage (Habr Awal clan)
• Warfa – Somali lineage (Ogaden clan) from what I heard, needs confirming
• Jan – Afghan lineage

There are an estimated 250 to 300 Harari family names in total—too many to list in full. These are about 10-12% of the harari families I listed. Also, I do not know where every family lineages go to. This is the families I learned about. It is possible some may have family names due to occupations they did or even what they were known for. Keep in mind that the original Harla people—and later the city of Harar—served as a hub for Islamic scholarship, trade, and settlement. People from across the Muslim world and the Horn of Africa traveled there to seek knowledge, engage in commerce, or make it their home. As a result, Harar became a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. This is why Hararis today may have diverse lineages and physical appearances—some may have darker skin tones, others may appear mixed, and some may resemble Arabs. Despite these differences, Hararis share a common cultural and historical heritage and genetics that ultimately traces back to the Harla civilization.

A Note on the Word “Garad”​

The term Garad is not exclusively Somali; it is also found in the Harari language and among other East African ethnic groups.

 

[Guure⁸]

The Harari people are descendants of the ancient Harla people and are not somali—or more accurately, they are the closest living population to the Harla, with whom they share deep historical, cultural, linguistic, and genetic ties. The Harari language, customs, and traditions are virtually identical to those of the Harla.


Just like the Somali people are composed of many tribes with various lineages and levels of admixture, this diversity does not negate their identity as Somalis. Most Somalis trace their ancestry to one of four major clans: Darod, Dir, Hawiye, or Isaaq.


In the case of the Harari, family names can have a variety of origins. Some are derived from the names of revered religious figures (awliyaa), while others trace back to Arab tribes (mostly from Saudi Arabia or Yemen), the original Harla tribes, Turkish families, Somali families, and even Greek, Asian (Indian,Pakistani,Afghan) ancestry. Some may even have oromo ancestry.

Examples of Harari Family Names​

Named After Pious Figures:​

These family names often originate from ancestors who were caretakers of the shrines (tombs) of saints and scholars. These families not only maintained the tombs but also taught religion at those sacred sites.

• Abadiro – From Aw Shaykh Abadir of Harar
• Sofi – From Aw Sofi Yahya of Harar
• Hamdogn – From Aw Said Ali Hamdogn of Harar
• Omar Ziad – From Aw Omar Ziad of Harar
• Imam – From Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi
• Haashim – From Aw Shaykh Hashim
• Nasroy – From Faqi Nasroy
• Nur – From Amir Nur
• Barkhadle – From Aw Barkhadle
• Qurabe Limay – From Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, his descendant is buried there

There are more families with names of pious people. I cannot list them all.

Other Harari Family Names and Their Origins​

• Baharun, BaAlawi, BaWazir, Sukar, Zaidi – Yemeni lineage
• Arab Hassan, Arab Ali, Sharif, Sheikh, Khatib, Khalaf – Arab lineage
• Shami - Syrian lineage
• Afandi and Ahmad Turk – Turkish origin
• Jidawi – Hijazi (Saudi) lineage
• Abogn, Gidaya, Gatur – Original Harla lineage, with Abogn believed to trace back to Yemen
• Gridle – Greek ancestry
• Abdi Bor – Somali lineage (Bartire clan)
• Kennwaq – Somali lineage (Habr Awal clan)
• Warfa – Somali lineage (Ogaden clan) from what I heard, needs confirming
• Jan – Afghan lineage

There are an estimated 250 to 300 Harari family names in total—too many to list in full. These are about 10-12% of the harari families I listed. Also, I do not know where every family lineages go to. This is the families I learned about. It is possible some may have family names due to occupations they did or even what they were known for. Keep in mind that the original Harla people—and later the city of Harar—served as a hub for Islamic scholarship, trade, and settlement. People from across the Muslim world and the Horn of Africa traveled there to seek knowledge, engage in commerce, or make it their home. As a result, Harar became a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities. This is why Hararis today may have diverse lineages and physical appearances—some may have darker skin tones, others may appear mixed, and some may resemble Arabs. Despite these differences, Hararis share a common cultural and historical heritage and genetics that ultimately traces back to the Harla civilization.

A Note on the Word “Garad”​

The term Garad is not exclusively Somali; it is also found in the Harari language and among other East African ethnic groups.

Tell me what garaad means in harari language or any other language? + aw barakhadle was a somali

 

[OmarZiad]

Tell me what garaad means in harari language or any other language? + aw barakhadle was a somali

The term Garad means chief or tribal leader in both the Harari and Silte languages.


As for Aw Barkhadle, he was an Arab—some sources suggest he was from Yemen, while others claim Moroccan origins. He was a Sharif, meaning a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and was not ethnically Harari or Somali.


Similarly to Aw Abadir, who was also an Arab from the Hijaz region. Aw Barkhadle migrated to the Horn of Africa with the goal of spreading Islam. Sheikh Abadir settled in the Harar region and became associated with the Harla people, helping to unite them under Islam. Aw Barkhadle followed a similar path and come to the regions of harar or harla territories and after that traveling through areas such as the Maldives—and according to some accounts, even Sri Lanka—before eventually settling in present-day northern Somalia.


In northern somalia, Aw Barkhadle married a Harla woman, and his descendants are said to still reside in Harar and the surrounding areas with the family name Barkhadle. Historically, the Harla people inhabited parts of northern Somalia before the Somali migration to the region. Over time, the Somali people assimilated some Harla people who decend from Aw Abadir and Aw Barkhadle.


One Somali clan, the Wardiq, claims descent from Aw Barkhadle and claim harla origins. Though now part of the Issa clan , the Wardiq have a different lineage and do not share the same lineage as the rest of the Issa.

Hence, we cannot say Aw Barkhadle was a somali.

 

[OmarZiad]

The term Garad means chief or tribal leader in both the Harari and Silte languages.


As for Aw Barkhadle, he was an Arab—some sources suggest he was from Yemen, while others claim Moroccan origins. He was a Sharif, meaning a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and was not ethnically Harari or Somali.


Similarly to Aw Abadir, who was also an Arab from the Hijaz region. Aw Barkhadle migrated to the Horn of Africa with the goal of spreading Islam. Sheikh Abadir settled in the Harar region and became associated with the Harla people, helping to unite them under Islam. Aw Barkhadle followed a similar path and come to the regions of harar or harla territories and after that traveling through areas such as the Maldives—and according to some accounts, even Sri Lanka—before eventually settling in present-day northern Somalia.


In northern somalia, Aw Barkhadle married a Harla woman, and his descendants are said to still reside in Harar and the surrounding areas with the family name Barkhadle. Historically, the Harla people inhabited parts of northern Somalia before the Somali migration to the region. Over time, the Somali people assimilated some Harla people who decend from Aw Abadir and Aw Barkhadle.


One Somali clan, the Wardiq, claims descent from Aw Barkhadle and claim harla origins. Though now part of the Issa clan , the Wardiq have a different lineage and do not share the same lineage as the rest of the Issa.

Hence, we cannot say Aw Barkhadle was a somali.

A lot of people get confused about Aw Barkhadle because he’s buried in Somalia, so they assume he was Somali.


Some Somalis even claim that certain righteous figures weren’t Arab at all, calling that idea a “myth,” and instead say those figures were Somali and linked to their clans.


But we’ve got to remember that Muslims traveled all over the world to spread Islam. For example, some Yemenis went all the way to Indonesia, and today there are Indonesians who look fully Asian, but actually have Yemeni decent. Over time, some Malaysians also absorbed Indonesians into their communities and now hardly recognize that their ancestors were originally Indonesian. Then, for example, a Malaysian might move to Indonesia and re-assimilate with the Indonesian people their ancestors came from. It happens a lot.

 

[Step a side]

A lot of people get confused about Aw Barkhadle because he’s buried in Somalia, so they assume he was Somali.


Some Somalis even claim that certain righteous figures weren’t Arab at all, calling that idea a “myth,” and instead say those figures were Somali and linked to their clans.


But we’ve got to remember that Muslims traveled all over the world to spread Islam. For example, some Yemenis went all the way to Indonesia, and today there are Indonesians who look fully Asian, but actually have Yemeni decent. Over time, some Malaysians also absorbed Indonesians into their communities and now hardly recognize that their ancestors were originally Indonesian. Then, for example, a Malaysian might move to Indonesia and re-assimilate with the Indonesian people their ancestors came from. It happens a lot.

The entire Harla contingent was led by Sultan Mohamed who was Sexawle Reer Garaad. This was agreed upon by Ahmed Shami who was the most authoritative Muslim Harari scholar at the time. He was of Ottoman descent and had habit of collecting old Harari manuscripts.

 

[Step a side]

The Harla “clans” like Abong, Adash, Gidaya etc are Somali descendants of locals tribes around Hararghe .

Abong is literally Garaad Abun
Adash is literally Garaad Adash (Cadaadshe)
While Gidaya their leader was called Giiri which is literally a Somali name

 

[Step a side]

@OmarZiad You can see Adash right next to Bisidimo which is part of Baabili district. There is even a place named after Abong (Abun) I just can’t find it anymore. The point is that all these Harla tribes are well known and are actual sub tribes of Sexawle. You can find the same tribe and its parent tribe all around Harar like Garamulata, Haramaya, Ejersa Gorsa, Funyan Bira, Aw Cumar etc

 

[Guure⁸]

The term Garad means chief or tribal leader in both the Harari and Silte languages.


As for Aw Barkhadle, he was an Arab—some sources suggest he was from Yemen, while others claim Moroccan origins. He was a Sharif, meaning a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and was not ethnically Harari or Somali.


Similarly to Aw Abadir, who was also an Arab from the Hijaz region. Aw Barkhadle migrated to the Horn of Africa with the goal of spreading Islam. Sheikh Abadir settled in the Harar region and became associated with the Harla people, helping to unite them under Islam. Aw Barkhadle followed a similar path and come to the regions of harar or harla territories and after that traveling through areas such as the Maldives—and according to some accounts, even Sri Lanka—before eventually settling in present-day northern Somalia.


In northern somalia, Aw Barkhadle married a Harla woman, and his descendants are said to still reside in Harar and the surrounding areas with the family name Barkhadle. Historically, the Harla people inhabited parts of northern Somalia before the Somali migration to the region. Over time, the Somali people assimilated some Harla people who decend from Aw Abadir and Aw Barkhadle.


One Somali clan, the Wardiq, claims descent from Aw Barkhadle and claim harla origins. Though now part of the Issa clan , the Wardiq have a different lineage and do not share the same lineage as the rest of the Issa.

Hence, we cannot say Aw Barkhadle was a somali.

No, it doesn't just mean trible chief it have a meaning in somali and u can't find me a meaning in any other language


Aw Barkhadle was a somali man and the story that he came from Arabia are folktales and he isn't the only that ppl claim he was from Arabia alot of tribes in somalia claim that they were from Arabia and it was a common thing back then to claim to be an arab

 

[Guure⁸]

A lot of people get confused about Aw Barkhadle because he’s buried in Somalia, so they assume he was Somali.


Some Somalis even claim that certain righteous figures weren’t Arab at all, calling that idea a “myth,” and instead say those figures were Somali and linked to their clans.


But we’ve got to remember that Muslims traveled all over the world to spread Islam. For example, some Yemenis went all the way to Indonesia, and today there are Indonesians who look fully Asian, but actually have Yemeni decent. Over time, some Malaysians also absorbed Indonesians into their communities and now hardly recognize that their ancestors were originally Indonesian. Then, for example, a Malaysian might move to Indonesia and re-assimilate with the Indonesian people their ancestors came from. It happens a lot.

Yes it's a myth Cause it's been debunked multiple times and it makes sense, for example I'm a daarod and my ppl claim that shiekh daarod was an arab man but it have been debunked by dna

 

[Zak12]

As for Aw Barkhadle, he was an Arab—some sources suggest he was from Yemen, while others claim Moroccan origins. He was a Sharif, meaning a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, and was not ethnically Harari or Somali.

No. Whatever ethnicity he was, its 100% native Horner. There is no proof that him or the Walashma were Arab. Claiming Arab lineage or descent was a common thing back then since otherwise you would say Somali sultans of the past were Arab too.