Nabhan family

The Nabhan family (Arabic: نبهان‎) is a family of Syrian and Lebanese descent, notable for its international presence, with members established in Brazil, the United States, Jordan and Lebanon. The family has gained recognition in Brazil, in particular, where they are known to be descendants of Jahjah and Chames Nabhan, immigrants from Lebanon who settled in the country. The family may be descendants of the Nabhani dynasty, which ruled Oman. The name Nabhan means "fruitful" or "productive" in Arabic.

Nabhan نبهان
Family
Country	Syria
Current region	Middle East North America South America
Etymology	Fruitful or productive
Place of origin	Aleppo

The family traces its roots to the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, where it was involved in trade and commerce. Some of the family members migrated to other parts of the Middle East, such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, in search of better opportunities. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, some of the Nabhan family members fled from Palestine to neighboring countries, such as Egypt and Syria, as refugees.

Origin

The Nabhan family has its origins in the Levant region, which comprises the current countries of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. The first records of the surname Nabhan date back to the 13th century, when some members of the family participated in the resistance against the Mongol invasions in Syria. The Nabhan family belongs to the Orthodox Christian religion and their patron saint is Saint George, the martyr.

Immigration to the United States

In the mid-20th century, some of the Nabhan family members immigrated to the United States, where they settled in New York City. They worked in various fields, such as education, medicine, engineering, and business. Some of the notable members of the Nabhan family in the United States are:

• Gary Paul Nabhan, an ethnobotanist, ecologist, writer, and conservationist.
• Paul Nabhan, a physician and cardiologist.
• George Nabhan, an engineer and entrepreneur.

Immigration to Brazil

The Nabhan family's immigration to Brazil occurred at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, amid the political and economic turbulence that affected the Ottoman Empire, which dominated the Levant region. The first immigrants from the Nabhan family settled in the state of Paraná, where they dedicated themselves to agriculture and commerce. Some of them later moved to the state of Mato Grosso, where they became pioneers in the colonization and development of the region. The Nabhan family also has members in Brazil, where they are involved in various activities, such as agriculture, commerce, and politics. Some of the notable members of the Nabhan family in Brazil are:

• Nabhan Garcia, a farmer and politician.
• Adriana Nabhan, a Brazilian politician.

Descendants of Jahjah and Chames Nabhan

• Jahjah Nabhan (1851-1909) and Chames Nabhan
  • Youssef Nabhan (1898-1978)
  • Amin Jahjah Nabhan (1900-1940) and Estanislada Vasques Nabhan (1899-1975)
    • Adel Nabhan (1923-?) and Feres Elid (1909-?)
    • Erasmo Nabhan (1937-?) and Leda Maria Nogueira (1941-?)
      • Cláudia Nogueira Nabhan (born 1965)
      • Eduardo Negueira (born 1969)
    • Sofia Nabhan Garcia and Rafael Garcia Martin (1926-2023)
      • Luiz Antonio Nabhan Garcia (born 1958) and Marisa Ângela Parzianello (born 1965)
      • Maurício Nabhan Garcia (born 1969)
  • Souad Nabhan (1900-1978)
  • Katherine Nabhan (1902-1978)
  • Nazira Nabhan (1906-1971)
  • Alexandre Nabhan and Zeferina Insabralde
    • Bernada Nabhan
    • Farid Nabhan
    • José Nabhan
    • Nelson Nabhan
    • Renê Nabhan
  • Neif Jorge Nabhan
    • Jorge Nabhan (1920-?) and Vitalina Farias (1924-1995)
      • Leonids Nabhan (born 1962)
      • Eli Nabhan (born 1964)
    • Paulo Nabhan (1923-1990) and Maria Abadia Ribeiro (1932-2011)
    • Floripes Nabhan de Rezende (1925-2005) and Otacilio Borges de Rezende
      • Sebastião Nabhan de Rezende (1950-2003)
      • Valdir Nabhan de Rezende (born 1947)
    • Jamile Nabhan Andrade (born 1927) and Horacio Antonio de Andrade
      • Jorge Andrade Nabhan (born 1956)
      • Antonio Andrade Nabhan (born 1964)
      • Chico Andrade Nabhan
      • Divino Andrade Nabhan
      • Tiana Andrade Nabhan
    • Osvaldo Nabhan (1944-2016) and Aparecida Mariano Nabhan (1949-2016)
      • Alex Mariano Nabhan (born 1972)
      • Juliana Mariano Nabhan (born 1977)
      • Adriana Nabhan (born 1985)
      • João Nabhan
      • Kaio Nabhan
      • Luciana Nabhan
      • Lúcio Nabhan
      • Silvana Nabhan
      • Suzana Nabhan
    • Antônio Nabhan
    • João Nabhan
    • Nelson Nabhan
    • Pedro Nabhan
    • Siria Nabhan

Conflicts in the Middle East

The Nabhan family has also been affected by the recent conflicts in the Middle East, especially in Gaza, where some of the family members live. In May 2023, the family's home in Jabalia refugee camp was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, leaving 42 members of the extended family homeless. The airstrike also left four children with special needs without their wheelchairs, crutches, and medical equipment needed to move about. Israel said the building was used as a command center by the Islamic Jihad militant group, which was involved in launching rockets at Israel during the five-day escalation of violence that killed 33 Palestinians and two Israelis. The family denied any connection to the militant group and said they were innocent civilians.