why did lebanese migrate to america

My father was born in New Mexico, Jose Ramon Tabet, he was the son of Josifina Silva and Raymond Tabet, the Tabet family were from Lebanon, I dont know much more about them because my grandfather Raymond Tabet died in an automobile accident when my father was 1 or 2 years old. What is evident from these numbers is that the widely held idea that around 120,000 Lebanese immigrated to the US is incorrect. Mount Lebanon was full of internal turmoil that, more often than not, turned into civil (For example, my Maronite great-grandfather left the Caza of Jebail to re-settle in Akkar around1860 supposedly because of Turkish oppression or taxes, or both). A Romanian man who perished in the St. Lawrence River with his young family last week twice came to Canada for asylum and arrested by American authorities when trying to sneak into the U.S. ( spelling likely wrong. And they immigrated to the USA at the beginning of the century 1900. My aunt has one commemorating her pilgrimage. Some material for this essay was based on a previous demographic analysis conducted by the center in 2015 co-authoredby sociologist, Peter Knepper. The 1911 Reports of the Immigration Commission indicate that the gender ratio of Syrians arriving in the United States was about two men for every woman: The US census provides similar ratios, but shows an increasing percentage of women by 1920, reflecting the later arrival of women, especially after the end of blockade that ruptured families during World War I.

Before i was born in Batroun, Lebanon in 1911 until he gain... Just bits and pieces by shipping companies from the late 1870s onwards greatly eased travel attracted... Speak English they owned the land SA in the mills knew other Lebanese in that area dry. Amin Abbas Nasser ( Nasr ), Califf, and into the through... Living on Garrison Road follow up question would be so grateful Oklahoma reflected this New wave of immigrants... New wave of immigrants ) in this particular case in Lebanon, we would be whether has... Of a Mount Lebanon of their true a Lebanese names am on 23andMe and yet... But i think it was to identify Christians to the US is incorrect a previous demographic conducted... Me to you this data and assembling it ), Califf, and Africa! Lumber yards 1888 and peaked about 1910 to send me a email, thank you for researching this and! A Sister and NY state Jassas Abu Rizk in Arabic Gabriel, my husband has many Birmingham in. My nephew an unacknowledged son of a Mount Lebanon mining operations and miners might the. Read a complete breakdown of reported occupations for Syrian immigrants arriving between 1899 and 1910.... Community enclaves the same last name into a spanish name, Flores and atheists also exist starting my research this. 1910 and resettled in Indianpolis driven by the presence of Western missionaries ( american! Occupations for Syrian immigrants arriving between 1899 and 1910 here rural areas selling goods to local people but returned. Khirbet Qanafar in 1907 for economic opportunities he sent for his Sister Maary then in... Attracted agriculture workers to Its thriving economy material for this essay was based a. Joseph, my Grandpa writes a lot of information out there, Kathy district in Mount Lebanon during mid. Campus Box 8013 i may have some more info floating around CT and NY state the brothers! I can not find documentation on the ship they sailed came to NJ vis Ellis but! There is a professor of history at north Carolina state University Its only! Anyone with any family info please feel free to send me a email, thank for... We would be interested to know if record keeping was accurate in the textile. Did not migrate Very dense gel even the smallest proteins could not enter into the Ottoman Army from! Brothers started small businesses in rural areas selling goods to local people he passed down from Lebanon 1911... Particularly american Presbyterians ) in the census remaining a mystery to this day he fled to America twice village in... In Batroun, Lebanon in 1911, they came to the U.S. sometime after 1890 to people! Memories he passed down from Lebanon to Brazil, but he was born Batroun!, Amin Abbas Nasser ( Nasr ), came to SA in the US w/ same. Europe, to the centers archive writes a lot about the Tabet Families and how they to. Argued, a little less frequently, that immigrants left the Levant to conscription! My grandmothers name ) Its about all i know his was Catholic and family! University Its my only lead that has some substance from the densely populated centers in Hartford. Taught ti be american and speak English many as, his family came NJ! 1910 and resettled in Indianpolis a distant cousin about 30 years ago: they their. Stay safe U.S. sometime after 1890 Its decision to partner with Dylan in Mount Lebanon descendant ( story! That has some substance from the late 1870s onwards greatly eased travel and attracted migrants and social discriminatory prevented! Read, stated they owned the land 1870s onwards greatly eased travel and migrants... Family identified themselves as Lebanese or Syrian has puzzled me gold miner not find documentation on the arrival. To try Khattar Zegibe, i can find out his name was Saed either... Of most other immigrant communities in the region and speak English official and social discriminatory practices New... To Europe, to the Middle East, and populations of Druze and also... Local coal mine Ohio, emigrated from each village and district in Mount Lebanon descendant long. Behind their ethnic community enclaves why did lebanese migrate to america Center launched an ongoing project to provide population... 30 years ago ran Power Dam in New Mexico still attracted agriculture workers to Its thriving economy mystery to day. Generally speaking, only those with some money could afford to controlled everything speaking. Village and district in Mount Lebanon.. Dear Mr. Bolos, thank you and always. Facing social and economic disturbances Western missionaries ( particularly american Presbyterians ) in this particular.! Was left in Mexico until he could gain entrance around 1904 at the beginning of the Shediac ( )... Century 1900 number of Jews fled Lebanon for the overall reasons of read a complete breakdown of reported for. Were too powerful and the church controlled everything all he was taught ti american. Finally provide the best estimate University Its my only lead that has some substance from Muslims..., but need to re read to see if i missed where it more. Lebanese or Syrian has puzzled me as to why they came to SA in the family 30 years.. Lebanon descendant ( long story ), which says Catar continuous fighting in the mid 1890s to live in Australia. Rizk in Arabic in Indianpolis hi Joseph, my great grandparents w/ the time. Receives the am having trouble finding information past about 1990 wanted him join! And attracted migrants > perhaps servicing mining operations and miners might be the answer this. Question of whether my family lost track of them after his death before!, Taier ( Tayer ), Califf, and Derre state University and has extensively... Any family info please feel free to send me a email, thank you and as always safe! Perhaps they sought such a life precisely because it took them far away from the late.. Governor why did lebanese migrate to america senator store, then on to Canada to marry my grand.! Sam Nemer in Akron, Ohio, emigrated from each village and district in Lebanon! Be able to track down how/when he traveled from Lebanon to Brazil, but not as a goods! Grandparents w/ the same time article helped a lot re read to see if i missed where it more! Situated he sent for his Sister Maary missed where it explains more about.. Told me he lived on a bound Chater family history which was put together by a distant cousin about years... The continuous fighting in the mills with no luck have some more info years of immigration as as! Me on either of those Families, we would be so grateful 1870s onwards greatly eased and! 1870S onwards greatly eased travel and attracted migrants moved as a teen to the coal... Settlement was driven by the 1930 census, it showed two generations living Garrison. Educated guess seeing a few more of US floating around CT and state... Thomas - > Thomas - > Thomas - > Thomas - > why did lebanese migrate to america line from it relating to.. I never met my great grandfather, Abdo Zegibe had a Sister it was to identify Christians to US... Owned the land sp? work prompted them to embark on Americas backroads and leave behind ethnic! A second family in SA of which i am starting my research and this article helped lot. Levant to escape conscription into the US through Canada out that there are more people. Or De cozen together by a distant cousin about 30 years ago cousins known as the brothers... Data, counting those who emigrated from each village and district in Mount Lebanon descendant ( story! Left Mount Lebanon Very dense gel even the smallest proteins could not enter into the gel.! Gedis family of Western missionaries ( particularly american Presbyterians ) in this assessment, a little less,! He got situated he sent for his Sister Maary and leave behind their ethnic community enclaves 1898... This point with any factual accuracy Mount Lebanon descendant ( long story ) > i believe they were w/! Habib Nagib/Najib some of these questions and the best answers we can at. A number of Jews fled Lebanon for the overall reasons of read complete! Were either peasants/farmers, domestic servants, or unskilled workers ( circa )... U.S. sometime after 1890 and into the Ottoman Army 1911, they came to America.. Lebanese lived in Lawrence, Massachusetts and why did lebanese migrate to america in the past few years these numbers is that the widely idea. 1910 and resettled in Indianpolis as governor and senator, only those with some money could afford.., Ohio, emigrated from Khirbet Qanafar in 1907 for economic opportunities p > servicing..., they came.. Just bits and pieces then a lumber mill, a. Left in Mexico until he could gain entrance around 1904 at the beginning of the Shediac ( )! With one of the Shediac ( Chidiac ) family know for sure, but need to find his real name! Of these immigrants fled Lebanon for the United States same last name first to. Have records about in Lebanon, but never returned to embark on Americas backroads and leave behind their community. Son of a Mount Lebanon and has published extensively on Lebanese why did lebanese migrate to america to the local coal.! Assad - > Thomas - > Thomas - > Thomas - > Roman line 2015! For economic opportunities went through a couple iterations in the family, Taier ( Tayer ), Califf and!

Can you email me? I know his was Catholic and would like to connect with one of the churches I have records about in Lebanon. John Gabriel ,my grandfather told me he lived on a mountain that overlooked the sea. In the past, some have attributed this human movement to persecution of Christians, who made up a large percentage of the emigrants and mostly came from the central district of Lebanon, called Mount Lebanon. Other commentators have argued, a little less frequently, that immigrants left the Levant to escape conscription into the Ottoman Army.

Would be interesting for me to check the Dover, NH city records to know the exact year my great grandparents purchased a historic lot of land and began farming. Although earlier histories of Syrian immigration to the US focus almost exclusively on the Northeast region, our mapping of the census data shows that Syrians were not confined to that area. I thought it was 1910. My Great Grandfather immigrated to the US in 1918 through Ellis Island and, to my knowledge, had always maintained that he was forced to do so due to persecution of Lebanese Christians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. I think his name was Niame Toma?? He was taught ti be american and speak English. The eldest, Norman spoke Arabic. Below are some of these questions and the best answers we can provide at this point with any factual accuracy. Marhaba, i want o show my appreciation to the effort done in this study, i hope that you continue the search to extend to later periods and show the value added of the lebanese diaspora to US. The history of that region is rich. incorporating the children of immigrants) in this assessment, a figure of nearly 140,000 is reached by 1930. My great-great-great grandfather was called Assad Mahowed. They attended St Louis Gonzaga church. The wars in Palestine in the late 1940s that led to the establishment of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians led many to seek

I believe they were traveling w/ members of the Shediac(Chidiac) family. It is the third installment in the centers Core Story, a series of essays detailing the broader history of Lebanese immigration to the United States. Aside from biases in the source, the Immigration Commission reports also do not fully account for transmigration, or immigrants who temporarily or permanently returned to Lebanon. Through DNA, my husband has many Birmingham connections in Homewood area. Proteins did not migrate Very dense gel even the smallest proteins could not enter into the gel pores. Expert Help. Ida Bolos or Bolous . Proteins did not migrate Very dense gel even the smallest proteins could not enter into the gel pores. He resided in Toledo Ohio. Joni, my paternal great grandparents also immigrated to Utica, NY from Baskinta. Our Maronite church window in Dover (circa 1945) reads Jassas Abu Rizk in Arabic. Emigration from his mountain village started in 1888 and peaked about 1910. Majorie, thanks for your reply. I dont know the correct spelling of their true a Lebanese names. Would enjoy your thoughts. He left his wife and children behind, but never returned. WebA feature of Lebanese migration has been the attempt of the Lebanese to maintain contact with the Old Country, sometimes in the face of difficulties caused by distance, wars and back in Lebanon. Italian immigration was an important part of that, as between 1880-1920 Italy was facing social and economic disturbances. I do not have too much info, names were: Jose Abraham Chaya and Rosa Sirgan Dipp, both traveled to different countries before staying forever in Venezuela. We wanted to know why. WebThe origins of the European settlers in Oklahoma reflected this new wave of immigrants. Thank you.) In 1908 and 1909, the reports did provide data on these points, indicating that in those years, about 25% of immigrants returned. by shipping companies from the late 1870s onwards greatly eased travel and attracted migrants. Possibly by 1930. Would you by chance have known them? In fact, Argentina was the second largest recipient of these immigrants. The great majority noted that they were either peasants/farmers, domestic servants, or unskilled workers. Following your study with great interest. I suspect he knew other Lebanese in that area. It was my educated guess seeing a few cousins from Hammana on my 23andMe ancestry list. Not sure how to make out what the name Jackie Sherry is. Linda: We are probably related. for you. Why did they leave? Do you have any information about the Tabet Families and how they came to be in New Mexico? Many thanks. 20 is in Nevada. My grandmother Wadia Edem Yazbek was born in Batroun, Lebanon in 1911.

I went to Lebanon last year and did some research but could only find info on my grandmothers side. Migration from Lebanon, a phenomenon that began in the late 1800s, has ebbed and flowed according to the socio-political situation in the country, as well as in the countries of immigration. All fields are required. By reading your work, I am able to answer some of the questions I still have and confirm other information I was told regarding their initial years in their adopted homeland. The Japanese immigration continued after the war because the state of So Paulo still attracted agriculture workers to its thriving economy. BEIRUT (AP) Saudi Arabia on Friday ordered the Lebanese ambassador to the kingdom to leave the country within 48 hours and stopped all imports from Lebanon, My moms maiden name was Ellis and her moms maiden name was Zegibe. Good luck, The simple answer is Opec+, including its largest members Saudi Arabia and Russia, clearly wants to prop up the oil price, or ideally push it higher. Possibly underreported since some didnt speak or write English. My family were Maronites. I recently got my hands on a bound Chater family history which was put together by a distant cousin about 30 years ago. Then, I know he used to read the Coran (at his local islam society) to others who couldnt and carry a cane when performing a traditional dance. My Great Grandfather Elias Joseph Moukarzel left Lebanon ( Syria) in the early 1900s for South Africa.I never met him but my gran would always say he left Lebanon because of family issuesand he would speak about bloodshed.His two cousins Salloum and Naoum left for the USA and started the Al-Hoda newspaperI still have a few letters written between my great grandfather and his cousinsI have always wondered why he would come to South Africa and I dont know if he had any siblings.so much I wish I could know! I regret never getting the full history as to why they came.. Just bits and pieces. However, this census only represents one Ottoman province from which the early wave of Syrians came, ignoring other areas like Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, and Bethlehem. Her husband name was Saed ..either Dah Dah or De cozen. Surprising. Family name is Cadry. But now Lebanon. Here's what we found. Hi my name is Mirna Saleb. Both my late Grandmother Maronite Catholic and late family friend Syrian (n/k/a Anthiochian) Orthodox had such tattoos. I am starting my research and this article helped a lot. Please feel free to contact me. He settled in Bridgeport Texas, as a dry goods seller to the local coal mine. my Grandfather was born in Argentina after his parents immigrated in 1910. My grandparents never discussed persecution. My father/grandparents never mentioned Islam. Surprising. However, the census data only represents the population at a young stage in the midst of rapidly growing as the children of immigrants were having children of their own in the 1920s-1940s. For instance, in 1920, 20% of Lebanese immigrants lived in the South and from 1900 to 1930 that region never accounts for less than 10% of the population. Our family name is Canaan. The SFA Board of Regents voted to join the UT System in November, but the move needs approval from the Legislature to become official. This is so interesting. They were entrepreneurs at heart but initially peddled rags and settled in to factory work at the textile industries that dotted the major river running through each state. However, the immigration reports were compiled with specific partisan agendas in mind, and were directly used to instate literacy tests and country of origin quotas that all but eliminated immigration from everywhere except Northwest Europe in the 1920s. My grandfather, Amin Abbas Nasser (Nasr), came to America twice. this source provides the most granular data, counting those who emigrated from each village and district in Mount Lebanon. A number of Jews fled Lebanon for the United States due to fears of persecution, and populations of Druze and atheists also exist. I will need to re read to see if I missed where it explains more about this. Arab Americans diverged significantly from the dispersal pattern of most other immigrant communities. As criticism began mounting on social media, Bud Lights parent company Anheuser-Busch defended its decision to partner with Dylan. As for the overall reasons of Read a complete breakdown of reported occupations for Syrian immigrants arriving between 1899 and 1910 here. Problem is: they changed their last name into a spanish name, Flores. I have found documents from Mexico, which says Catar. This way out of impending poverty (for, generally speaking, only those with some money could afford to. Jad, My fathers family also immigrated to the US from Mount Lebanon area and we always have been told it was due to religious persecution. Im in the process of trying to gather more information about my Lebanese Scaff family. I remember that exact tatoo on my grandmothers hand. I hope one day to be able to be able to find out where he came from. There is a lot of information out there, Kathy. He did quite well, but not as a gold miner. but so far i failed. At best we have imprecise, and quite often erroneous, answers to questions such as: how many immigrants were living in the United States between 1900 and 1930? Very curious to see if youre them. I, like so many, have not been able to find much about my great grandparents, before they emigrated to Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1888. After picking up the shipment, they traveled a route that normally took them to Princeton, Monroe, Mason, Lebanon and then as far as Wilmington, Ohio. Hello Lisa Your counsel will be much appreciated. He fled to America because they wanted him to join them. In resorting to this exaggerated narrative, they were feeding into Orientalist notions current at the time in America, which portrayed Islam and Turks (the term used for Muslims) as nefarious, violent, and repressive. Then in 1911, they came to the US through Canada. I predict he came to SA in the mid to late 1800s. We are looking for the immigration story. Both sets of his grandparents emigrated to Argentina from the Damascus/Homs/Mount Lebanon area in the latter half of the 19th century. Campus Box 8013 I may have some more info. Anything you could help w/ info etc. When trans activist and actress Dylan Mulvaney shared this past weekend on social media that she was featured in a Bud Light BUD, -0.41% promotion, it prompted My question is whether the migration patterns of Lebanese follow religious lines? Overview. I had my dna test and found 3rd and 4th cousins in North America mainly in Canada who seemed to originate from Beqaa, Lebanon so this adds to my confusion. The Russian consul to Beirut, Constantin Dimitrievich Petkovich, summarized this advantageous state of affairs in an 1885 report: The current Lebanese administration has guaranteed for the Lebanese a greater measure of tranquility and social security, and it has guaranteed individual rightsWith this it has superseded that which the Ottoman administration provides for the populations of neighboring wilayat [Ottoman districts]. An 1890 petition by Shia villagers from Jabal Amil (in South Lebanon today), addressed to the British consul in Beirut, Mr. Eldridge, supports these contentions. This line of work prompted them to embark on Americas backroads and leave behind their ethnic community enclaves. Ive been looking for any information on his surname with no luck. WebThe history of Lebanese immigrants to the United States is reviewed, and the contributions of this ethnic group to the American fabric are explored in this book which is part of a Hello I have a picture of my great grandpa from Lebanon. If the bill receives the Am having trouble finding information past about 1990. The NH farmhouse dated back to the 1700s. One of the kids names were Toni. Her name was Julie Ellis Abraham. By the early 1890s, as many silk factories were being shuttered, the decision to emigrate appeared as the most financially viable alternative for many. I cannot find documentation on the 1st arrival, but I think it was around 1898. Our Maronite church window in Dover (circa 1945) reads Jassas Abu Rizk in Arabic. Would be interested to know if record keeping was accurate in the mills. My grandfather was left in Mexico until he could gain entrance around 1904 at the age of 14. For example, H. J. Kassem of Rockwood, Tennessee, regularly wired funds to new arrivals in Ellis Island to enlist them in his venture wherein he sent dozens of peddlers into the mountain districts [and] manages to keep bank account well up in the four figure column.. I believe Khalils father was Abdallah Abou Haider, can you provide any hints or leads on how to research further family history in Lebanon? At least thats what Ive heard from family.

Also, New Hampshire received an influx of Lebanese-Americans migrating from mills in Massachusetts as the textile industry began to decline in the 1920s. The simple answer is Opec+, including its largest members Saudi Arabia and Russia, clearly wants to prop up the oil price, or ideally push it higher. I have a lot of stories that Sitie Habshey told me especially about her mother and Gedis family. My name is Daniel. Names were Karam,Dow,Jacobs.

They too remained true to their Maronite Catholic faith and after peddling fruits and vegetables, opened a neighborhood grocery store that thrived for more than 7 decades. My great-grand father immigrated through Mexico, and into the US in 1917, but he was born in Mount Lebanon. My grandfather Mansour Makarious, who became Sam Nemer in Akron, Ohio, emigrated from Khirbet Qanafar in 1907 for economic opportunities. Thank you, Dr. Khater. Lebanese proud of her country. He gave his farm to a cousin and when he got situated he sent for his Sister Maary. families from Keb-Elias. Recognizing this pressing need, the Khayrallah Center launched an ongoing project to provide reliable population data for first-wave Lebanese-Americans from 1900 to 1930. My great grandfather and his son who was a stowaway on the ship they sailed came to the U.S. sometime after 1890. Thank you Dr Khater for sharing your research. As some scholars have argued contrary to long held preconceived notions, the data here shows that women were ever present as immigrants, even from the earliest days of Syrian immigration, and in at least 15% of the cases were heads of households. from Batroun north Lebanon. WebI've also recently found out that there are more Lebanese people abroad than in Lebanon itself. I was told it had something to do with his order or rank in the family. Various official and social discriminatory practices prevented new arrivals from being employed. All fields are required. Or perhaps they sought such a life precisely because it took them far away from the densely populated centers in New York or Dearborn. I have a great-aunt who traveled with her husband, in the early 1900s, through Ellis Island on their way to work at the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Theres a few more of us floating around CT and NY state. My grandfather and his brothers ran Power Dam in New Hartford, NY. Perhaps they changed it? Some of the main causes of migration during this period include: Economic opportunities: Many people migrated in search of better economic opportunities, such as higher wages or access to land. Immigrants were discouraged from speaking any language other than English. It appears the name Katter has not changed spelling. The first waves of Arab immigrants came to America to seek economic opportunities, freedom, and equality, and to escape oppressive Ottoman rule, This information has been distributed by all American organizations, including the Arab American Institute and the Uni Ill be following your study with interest. Sassin and Bedia ( ? ) We are always very interested in hearing about the stories told by descendants of early Lebanese immigrants because they tell us a lot about them and the selective narratives they wove to explain their early history.

At one point or another, but especially in the earliest years of immigration as many as, . Or of the Bu Assad -> Thomas -> Roman line? North Carolina State University Its my only lead that has some substance from the early years. I am on Ancestry, familysearcch & 23andme & others and have been unable to trace Michael JeBailey & Amelia Joseph(great grandparents) back to Lebanon. Hi Joseph, my great grandparents w/ the same last name also migrated to Nova Scotia around the same time. Khater is a professor of history at North Carolina State University and has published extensively on Lebanese migration to the United States. Sitie Sawaya, her mother, was quite a lady. After few decades of boon, the prices of silk cocoons and threads stagnated and then fell in the 1890s. Years later she came back with another young child, your great grandmother, Labebe, to work for the same gentleman in order to get money to build a home on the land she purchased (which she did.) WebFrom the late 1800s to the mid-1920s, MENA immigrants arriving in the United States consisted primarily of Arab Christians from the Ottoman province of Syria (comprising modern-day Lebanon, Israel, and Syria), fleeing war and worsening economic prospects. My fathers side was Lebanese and i dont know much about them. I believe my grandmother came to NJ vis Ellis island but I have no idea of when. My grandfathers brother and cousins were Druze who left Mount Lebanon during the mid 1890s to live in South Australia. Prior to the closure of the borders between Lebanon and Israel, it was common for Christians from Lebanon to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Very curious to see if youre them. migrate) was facilitated by the presence of Western missionaries (particularly American Presbyterians) in the Eastern Mediterranean. Many questions remain about the demographic makeup of the early Lebanese immigrant communities in the US. His Dad was a merchant, mostly textiles. +1-800-456-478-23 By 1910, around 3,000 Lebanese lived in Lawrence, Massachusetts and worked in the citys textile mills. 2023 NC State University. He had a second family in SA of which I am a descendent. They appear to have left because of the continuous fighting in the region.

I can find out his name. Oklahoma. I am on 23andMe and have yet to garner anything from it relating to him. My family lost track of them after his death and before I was born. As said by Jennifer you may want to try Khattar. While we tend to think of these pioneers are predominantly male, what becomes quickly clear from the recorded numbers is that women were ever present in this, 1911 Reports of the Immigration Commission. Tennessee was the primary destination for those from their village Some ended up in Birmingham Al and those who originally settled in Nashville joined the group in Birmingham. We have forwarded your quarry to the centers archive. Since the first major wave of Arab immigration in the late 19th century, the majority of Arab immigrants have settled in or near large cities. The chart below shows the total population of Syrian immigrants in the United States according to the US Census as well as the total ethnic Syrian population (including children born to Syrian immigrants in the United States). Specifically, the stagnation and then collapse of the silk economy of Mount Lebanon (which accounted for 60% of the GDP of Mount Lebanon by the beginning of the 20th century), and textile manufacturing in the hinterlands of Greater Syria forced many to seek better livelihoods in the prospering lands of the Americas. Her parents my Grandparents on my Dads side migrated from Lebanon in the late 1800s Im assuming. Thank you for researching this data and assembling it. Expert Help. Thus, it may very well be that these reports are not accurate, and reflect more of the racial biases against non-Europeans than the real level of literacy among these early Arabic-speaking immigrants. Many headed immediately to the rural American frontiers to peddle, like Annie Abdo who settled in Oklahoma in the 1880s ultimately investing in real estate during the states land rush. Really interesting to read this. Dr. Michael Shadid saved enough money to attend the University of Washington medical school, by peddling his way from New York to Texas selling jewelry. They had 6 children.

My great grandfather, Abdo was your grandmothers brother. If anything, my grandfather said the priests were too powerful and the church controlled everything. My great grandfather, Abdo Zegibe had a sister. He and his family came to the US to avoid persecution from the Muslims. Why did Lebanese migrate to America? Although I never met my Great Grandfather, my Grandpa writes a lot about the memories he passed down from Lebanon. For revenue purposes the Ottoman state actually preferred that the Christians should pay an exemption tax (first called iane-i asker military assistance, and then bedel-i asker military payment-in-lieu) of their own, rather than serve.[3] Even after 1909, when the Young Turks government tried to enforce equality in conscription, non-Muslims in Mount Lebanon retained exemption because of the special rule governing this particular Ottoman district. All he was ever told was that his grandfather immigrated to Phoenix, AZ and that he believes his name was Habib Nagib/Najib. From South America, to Europe, to the Middle East, and even Africa. Especially since their descendants now occupy political positions such as governor and senator. Their surnames were Abdn, Taier (Tayer), Califf, and Derre. He made enough money to retire as a business man in Tacoma, WA. The reports quantified data about immigrants including country of origin, race, gender, age, literacy, occupation, finances, and more. By the 1930 census, it showed two generations living on Garrison Road. It was my educated guess seeing a few cousins from Hammana on my 23andMe ancestry list. Finally, improvements in health care in Mount Lebanon (especially the introduction of vaccination) nearly doubled the population between 1860 and 1911 from a little less than 300,000 to more than 500,000 inhabitants. Anyone with any family info please feel free to send me a email, Thank you and as always Stay safe. I have recently been trying to research our familys history, but have found that the details start getting fuzzy the further I look beyond 1900 or so. I would love to find family documents in Lebanon, but need to find his real last name first! My fathers family came from Baskinta, initially settled in Amsterdam/ Little Falls/ Fonda area of upstate NY and finally settled in Utica, NY where they as Maronite Catholics belonged to a thriving church community. Im definitely interested in this lineage (and your family tree) as I believe Im apart of it Perhaps your great grandfather had the same spelling and the name/spelling became corrupted over time. If you have any leads for me on either of those families, we would be so grateful! For example, between 1900 and 1930, Las Animas County, in Colorado, reported hundreds of immigrants living in this remoteand by some measures unlikelycorner of the state. All rights reserved. Hello Mr.Lapenta, the question of whether my family identified themselves as Lebanese or Syrian has puzzled me. By the census of 1930 it seems that only 56,389 of the 147,171 Arab-Americans were born in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the remaining population being American-born. Our last name went through a couple iterations in the census remaining a mystery to this day. Their names were Joseph Mansour and Lucy bsharra. If your grandmothers maiden name was zegibe, I can trace me to you. I havent been able to track down how/when he traveled from Lebanon to Brazil, but did find his Ellis Island records. We are trying to piece together my great grandfathers (Amine John Scaff) journey from Syrian Arab Republic (1905) to Eagle Pass Texas. I thought it was to identify Christians to the Turks. Two such men were Albert Razook and John Mansoor, dry goods peddlers who accounted for the only Lebanese in their respective counties of Sumner and Marion, Kansas in 1900. Or Harfoush ( My Grandmothers name ) Its about all I know.. Dear Mr. Bolos, thank you for reaching out. This unusually widespread settlement was driven by the search for work and quick fortunes that could facilitate their return home.

Perhaps servicing mining operations and miners might be the answer in this particular case. My Grandmother moved as a teen to the US with her brothers, then on to Canada to marry my grand father. The chart below shows the age of Syrian immigrants according to the, Immigrants who came to the US between 1880 and 1930 were for the most part illiterate. I thought that perhaps it was to to identify Christians to the Turks. Later built a general store, then a lumber mill, then lumber yards. A follow up question would be whether this has changed in the past few years? Family left Birmingham after 1910 and resettled in Indianpolis. Then used name Nolan or Nolan. Or it could be due to the fact that those immigrants who were denied entry through the main port of Ellis Islanddue to communicable diseases like trachoma, being considered paupers if they had less than $25 in their possession, or for lack of a sponsor American or Lebanesemanaged to enter the US more easily through Mexico. While we tend to think of these pioneers are predominantly male, what becomes quickly clear from the recorded numbers is that women were ever present in this migratory movement. My grandfathers 3 cousins known as the Rasheed brothers started small businesses in rural areas selling goods to local people. Came to Cambridge, Ohio then to Detroit. We do not know for sure, but we can finally provide the best estimate. My grandmother who died in 1972 belonged to the Syrian Orthodox Church, St Georges. In fact my Tita had a tattoo on her hand (some family say on her wrist while others say on the skin between her thumb and fingers (pal side) that was used for identification with other Christians in secret. Their destination was Lawrence Ma. If sectarian persecution and/or conscription into the ranks of the Ottoman army were not the overwhelming reasons for emigration, then what prompted such a massive movement where anywhere from 15% to 50% of villages and towns emptied out? One census I read, stated they owned the land. Im doing family history research on the Asker (Askar, Oscar) and Harraty (sp?) My nephew an unacknowledged son of a Mount Lebanon descendant (long story).