Every now and then, I come across someone named "Omar" in the Western hemisphere. Having a brother called Omar, as well as my family claiming descent from another famous Omar, I am intrigued.
The name Omar عمر is a pre-Islamic male proper name. Several of the Prophet's companions were called Omar, the most prominent of which is the second successor to him, Omar Ibn Al Khattab.
In Latin America, the name is popular in the 20th century. For example, we have Omar Sivori from Argentina, Arthur Omar from Brazil, Omar Jose Daal from Venezuela, Omar Cabezas from Nicaragua, Omar Rodriguez Lopez from Puerto Rico, and Omar Romano from Mexico.
Although Moorish influence through Spain is a possibility, it is hard for me to accept that this is the case. No 16th or 17th Spaniard Or Portuguese would like to be associated with a Muslim/Arab name, not to mention that the Inquisition would not approve of this, let alone social norms.
As we move north to the USA, we find that a few African Americans also use the name Omar, such as Omar Gooding, Cuba Gooding Jr. brother, as well as Omar Epps. This is not that surprising knowing that African Americans do use Muslim and Arab names, whether they themselves are Muslim or not.
However, that extends to even white Americans, such as Omar Knedlik, the Kansas City inventor of the ICEE, later to become the 7-Eleven Slurpee.
The most famous white American who went by the name of Omar, is Omar Nelson Bradley, General of the Army of the United States. The M2 and M3 vehicles are named Bradley after him.Now, how would a late 19th century Christian white American gotten the name Omar?
Puzzling, isn't it?
Comments
el moro (not verified)
I would like to add that
Sat, 2007/03/17 - 15:54I would like to add that most spain was muslim and arab. the areas under muslim rule reached 82% muslim. the most noble of arab tribes mostly qahtani lineage such as jutham and lakhm migrated in Andalusias early days. my tribe ruled valencia, toledo, and zaragoza (Beni Hud). Beni Abad ruled Granada. The mudjers (fake christians) existed in spain openly until 1610 when the last moorish rebelion took place. During this time the most skilled laborers from spain where brought to latin America as white slaves. Families such as bobadilla, Almansoor, Medina, Alvarez, bendereas, and so many more can be found all through-out latin America. The economy of Spain depended largely on these new slaves. The only people that were expelled to n. africa where the muslims who were defiant or influencial. just look at the faces of many latinos and its obvious they are neither european nor indian. the changing of names for protection was one of the biggest mistakes they made. take for example the last muslim rebels name- Fernando De Valor also Muhammad ibn Umaya. Thats why its hard to find out the lineage of most latinos.
Anonymous (not verified)
There are names that sound
Wed, 2007/04/04 - 03:47There are names that sound similar to Omar in German. Some books credit Omar as being of German origin as well as Arabic and Hebrew. Germans had invaded just a tad bit before the arabs. Spain was under rule of a German king for a while. The popularity of the name Omar could have been attributed to the name sounding familiar to both the white and arab population. A common sound among 2 different populations.
What happened to the name Mohammed, Mustafa, Hakeem, Naseem, and others in latin america? Muhammed is probably the most popular name amongst arabs but it is no where to be found in latin america. Why is it that Omar stands out?
Why are names of germanic origin like Rudolfo, Adolfo, Osmar, etc, etc. so popular in latin america? Much more popular than Omar. . .
Anyhow, it's interesting to note that Gabriel Omar Batistuta is of Italian descent and the Italians just like the Spanish were invaded by visigoths.
Osmar is a German and dropping the "s" turns Osmar into Omar.
Besides, Omar Khayyam is a famous poet and Omar sounds similar to one or two Germanic names. . . why not?
Anonymous (not verified)
Some also mentioned that
Thu, 2010/08/05 - 03:16Some also mentioned that Gabriel Omar Batistuta is of Syrian origin!!What's going on?
Anonymous (not verified)
I wanted a biblical name for
Tue, 2010/02/09 - 18:49I wanted a biblical name for my son, and decided on the Hebrew name, Omar, and learned it was one of many names derived from the ancient Greek name: Homer.
Anonymous (not verified)
Omar Khayyam Theory correct, but not previous 'two centuries'
Mon, 2014/02/03 - 01:01I'm sure the Omar Khayyam Theory is correct. But the mention of translations over the previous 'two centuries' seems misleading, at least in the case of Omar Bradley (born in 1893), as the popularity of the name in his day would be due to Edward Fitzgerald's very poetic but very loose English verse 'translation' of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam which, at least according to Wikipedia, first appeared in 1859 (and is incidentally a translation so loose that critics sometimes jokingly call it "The Rubaiyat of FitzOmar"), and which began to achieve fame after established poets decided they liked it, reportedly starting with Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1861, about 3 decades (and not 2 centuries) before Bradley was born. English Wikipedia's Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam article currently mentions many translations in the West after 1859, but seemingly none before 1859, which suggests that if any existed they did not achieve widespread popularity in the English-speaking world. Quite likely this also explains why the name reportedly doesn't appear in English-speaking America until the 19th century. I had been toying with the idea of quoting your article in Wikipedia's Omar Bradley article, but unfortunately those questionable 'two centuries' currently make that impossible (though I suspect others might well reject it anyway even without that problem, presumably in a dispute over what constitutes a so-called 'reliable source' according to Wikipedia rules).
Omar (not verified)
Omar in German.
Thu, 2014/10/02 - 18:22I am black African muslim and my name is Omar.
I have masters degree in German and can speak all the other germanic languages like norweigian swedish etc. The theory about that Omar can be german can not be true. The only german word which is near to Omar is OMA and it means granmother. When ever the teacher called my name all the students used to say OMA and laughed therefore according my exprience of german language and their culture i believe that the name can never be german..
Callen (not verified)
The name "Omar"
Sat, 2016/08/06 - 02:09Unless I am mistaken, the first use of the name 'Omar' is in the book of Genesis, a descendant of Esau, the son of Isaac. (Genesis 36:11)
The meaning of the name 'Omar' in Hebrew is: 'Eloquent,' from the Hebrew word 'Amar= 'to speak.'
Since 'Omar' is derived directly from a Hebrew root, and since it has a functional meaning in Hebrew, [with even the pronunciation identical to the Arabic] I think we can say definitively that 'Omar' is a Hebrew name of great antiquity, predating both Islam and the Arabic language.
omar (not verified)
but what about omar in latin america?
Thu, 2006/09/28 - 15:30was omar khayyam popular throughout latin america? Did the culture of latin america promote naming children after authors?
if the name Omar is a relic of moorish influence, then what about other arab names? Fatima is rare, and other names are all but non-existent, but omar is very common. I just dont get it.
Anonymous (not verified)
Omar Bradley
Fri, 2011/07/01 - 19:20I was curious about the origins of General Bradley's mother. There is virtually no information about his maternal genealogy in biographies I have read. Yes, it is quite puzzling. As a African American I am aware of some of my people passing for white. I suspect someone is rewriting genealogical history on the Bradley family for similar reasons.
brit-omar (not verified)
I have heard that the name
Wed, 2012/02/08 - 19:01I have heard that the name Omar became popular in the middle east due to the interest and dissemination of greek culture that naturally spread from east to west. homer the blind bard would then be the root of this name and this would seem to be a decent theory as after the fall of rome and the advent of the dark ages, wetsern europe destroyed (as blasphemous) or lost many of the mathematical, philosophical and literary works of the greco-roman world. the arabs on the other hand saved and translated all the greco-roman texts that they had been left and grew powerful and cultured in response. therefore the name omar can be seen as a derivative of homer and a reaction to the influnce of greek culture on the middle east.
Pages