Abulafia (surname)

Abulafia or Abolafia (أبو العافية , or ; or אבולעפיה ) is a Sephardi Jewish surname whose etymological origin is in the Arabic language. The family name, like many other Hispanic-origin Sephardic Jewish surnames, originated in Spain (Hebrew Sefarad) among Spanish Jews (Sephardim), during the time when it was ruled as Al-Andalus by Arabic-speaking Moors. The romanized version of the surname is most commonly Abolafia. Other variations also exist, mostly in English transliterations, including Aboulafia, Abolafia, Abouelafia, Aboulafiya, Abulafiya, Aboulafiyya and Abolafia. Etymologically, the surname is composed of the Arabic words: Abu or Abou (أبو ), literally "father" but also carrying the meaning "owner", al or el (الـ), or simply l if the preceding word ends with a vowel, to which it attaches itself, is the definite article equivalent to "the", and Afiyya or Afia (عافية ), literally "health, wellbeing" but also carrying the meaning "power". Together they form Abou l-Afiyya or Abu l-Afia, rendered in Medieval Spanish as a single word, Abulafia, meaning "Father [of] the Health/Wellbeing" or "Owner [of] the Power". In actual practice, this surname was often originally rendered upon a medical doctor or pharmacist. Moorish rule in the Iberian Peninsula, lasting some 800 years, is regarded as a tolerant period in its acceptance and co-existence between Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Jews of Spain were proficient in Mozarabic Spanish, Andalusian Arabic and the Andalusi variety of Hebrew. Thus, it was commonplace among Spanish Jews to use the Arabic language for secular names, including surnames, for use outside of the synagogue. Among prominent Abulafias in Spain were the kabbalists Todros ben Joseph Abulafia and Abraham Abulafia, the powerful Toledo rabbi Meir Abulafia, the poet Todros ben Judah Halevi Abulafia, and the royal treasurer Samuel ha-Levi, for whom the Synagogue of El Tránsito was built in Toledo; it remains one of the city's most beautiful monuments.