" I cannot hear your voice, but in the secret places of my heart, I listen to the sound of your footsteps"

--Yehuda Ha Levi

~VOICES OF MY PAST~..................                      

 

Study of surname Maymí/Maimí and its variants.

Notes on the origins & genealogy of Pérez/Perez

 

WELCOME

These are voices of my past and what I have learned about them.  My findings, its sources, and  diverse theories and opinions.  It is a tribute to those who were my ancestors and testimony of their existence.  In this virtual world, their memory will remain.

This document intends to be a source and a way of sharing the information gathered, of which, each source is solely responsible of the veracity of its content.  It is a long-term project that welcomes new documented information.  This version is, and will be, mainly in the English language, with some exceptions, which will lose their meaning if translated, or because I have not been able to find the equivalent in English.  You will encounter Castilian, Catalán and French languages.  Note:  The underlined words in green are links.  Thank you for pointing out the defective ones.

 Copyright  Notice: ALL the material in this site is Copyrighted © Reg. to U.S. Copyright Office. It must not be used under any circumstances without written permission of the webmaster.  Any references to it must have the acknowledgement or quote of its source and of its author.  All rights reserved.

~Margarita Maymí Pérez

 

CONTENTS

[The Sephardic Theory] [The Catalan Theories] [Considerations] [Maymí in history] [My direct ancestors: Ten generations] [The emigrants] [One final note] [Curiosities] [Sources] [Other Links] [Additional bibliography] [Acknowledgments] [E-mail]     

 

INTRODUCTION

The sound and spelling of family names have evolved throughout history.  Names have been influenced by, and adapted to, different languages, political, geographical and territorial circumstances, ethnicity, religion, culture and personal choice.

Many times, as it appears in civil and church archives, names were recorded as they were understood or provided.  Based on these facts, some family names could present different or several origins, depending on the sources. Today we are witnesses of this cross-cultural evolution as part of an accelerating historical process.

I share with the reader the historical notions of the origin of the surname, as well as its geographical location, both, in the antiquity and in the present.  These, and its variants, will give us a clearer idea of its origin and of its evolution, though still much is to be discovered.

As we learn about our genealogy and become more aware of our identity, we also become more aware of other people's diversity and, consequently, we can have a better understanding of humanity. 

Unfortunately, we also have learned throughout the repetition of historical errors, that this understanding not only depends on the individual or even the community's good will, but on the governments decisions which are responsible, in most part, of what happens in the world.

       

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ORIGIN and MEANING of MAYMI/MAIMI and its VARIANTS

 

King David plays the harp

THE SEPHARDIC THEORY  

The source of the name Maymí or Maimí is in the Hebrew language itself, and it is  pronounced (read it like it was Spanish) MEY-MI .  It is the adjective form of the noun "MAYIM" which means water, so its origin is based on pure Hebrew linguistics. An example is the word "shamayim" (shama-yim) which means sky or heaven. Its adjective form is "shemaymi" (shemey-mi) = celestial, heavenly.  The root is MAIM.  Mayim, is also an euphemism for knowledge. The more resembling surname that exists in Israel today is "MEI-AMI" which means "waters of my town".   (Sources: Benjamín Nahman, Mathilde Tagger, Schelly Talalay Dardashti and several other that agree).

Mayim is also the acronym of Rabi Meir Yeduda Maymon.  And Maymii the acronym of "Mi Yiten Metsion Yeshuat Yisrael", that means: Who will give from Tsion the salvation to Israel. (Sources: Ídem).  Actually, the use of Mayim, as name or surname is very scarce.

The surname Maymí/Maimí appears in the: "Consolidated Jewish Surname Index", (S.) and in the book "Les Noms des Juifs du Maroc" by Abraham I. Laredo. Institut Montano (Madrid, CSIC, 1978). On page 819, entry no.760, Laredo says: "Maimi, Maymi, Mimé, Meme: Name derived from the Hebrew "Mayim" = water or sea, it relates to the "aquatic" or "maritime" element. See the equivalents in Spanish "De la Mar" (no. 648) and Arabic "Labhar" (no. 653). Another graphies found in ancient Spanish documents are 'Mime' and 'Meme'.

Saul Aben Mime, one of the 14 rabbis who took part in the controversy of the Council of Tortosa in 1413-1414. ("Historia Social, Política y religiosa de los judios de España y Portugal" por: José Amador de los Rios, p. 435).

Rabi Yuce Meme, of Cuéllar, is beneficiary of the will of Doña Mencia Enriquez, duchess of Alburquerque, deceased in 1479 in Segovia. (Baer II, p. 422.,  Antonio Rodríguez Villa: "Bosquejo Biográfico de Beltrán de la Cueva" pub. at the end of the XIX century. and Archivo Histórico Municipal de Cuéllar).

Meme el Viejo, figures as the owner of a house in a lawsuit on the town of Cuéllar in 1498. (Baer II, p. 422).

Simeon Maimí: Last Chief Rabbi of Portugal, *died in 1497.  (More to follow).

Simeon Maimí: Rabbi in Segovia, XV century, probably the same Chief Rabbi of Portugal. (More to follow).

Natan Maimí: Rabbi of Fez, Morocco in the XVII century. (More to follow).

Simon (Simeon) Maimí is mentioned in the books:

Rabbis Simón Maimí and Natan Maimí are mentioned in the book: "Malkhei Rabanan" by Rabí Yosef Ben Naim, published in Jerusalem in Hebrew in 1931. (Biographical dictionary of the Rabbis of Morroco, pages. 99, col. 1 y 126, col.2).

Abraham Maimín, exegete and cabalistic poet, from the XVII century, mentioned in the German archives "Judisches Biographisches" No. I 457, 247-248. (Title of Source: Winiger S[alomon]. - Cernauti. - [1925] - (1936) (Bd. 1-7). (W.B.I.). and Cabbalah).

 The Maimín surname also appears documented in Taradell, Vich, Barcelona, according to the  "Fogatge" or 1553 census, # 993.  The  Maymín variant appears as the surname of cantor Nuchym Maymín of the synagogue of Bedzin, Poland, born there in 1773.  In Estambul, it appears in the marriage record of Mose Merkante and Reyna Maymín, the 15 of November, 1896.  And  it appears, clearly, among the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, 1941-45, in Latvia, Russia, Belorusia, Lituania, Poland, and in cementeries of Scandinavia.  These two variants are in use at present.  (Fogatge 1553; Family Search; Jewishgen, American Sephardi Federation, ref. 48 (2) y Istanbul Jewish Genealogy Project).  

Regarding de equivalents for Maymí in Spanish; "De la Mar, Del Mar and Delmar" (A. Laredo, p.707 # 648), and the Arabic "Lebhar and Elbhar" (A. Laredo p.717 # 653), we find them documented in:

De la Mar is found in Richardstone, Derby, England, abt.. 1200, birth of William De La Mar.   (Family Search).

Catarina Anna Delmar, in her baptismal record of 1575, La Bisbal, Girona, Spain. (Family Search). 

In 1597 in Cassà de la Selva, Girona, in the death record of Antoni Aymerich Johes Delmar Noguera. (LD 1, Cassà, Fol. 44).  

In 1675, in Cassà de la Selva, Girona, in the death record of  Mateu Delmar.  (LD 1, Cassà, 30 Sep.)

Subsequently, we find these variats through, Europe and The Americas, from the XVI century on, in birth, marriage and death certificates, and civil registries. (Family Search). 

Shalom de la Mar, rabbi and  merchant from the XVIII century in Mazagan, Atlantic Coast of Morocco.

Mordekhay de la Mar, son of Shalom, rabbi, merchant and  financier, president of the Israelite community of  Mazagan in 1786.  He was counselor and banker of the Sultan of Morocco, Sidi Mohamen Abdellah.  Both, also, mentioned by Yaaqob Moshe Toledano in his book "Sepher Ner ha-Maarab", p. 48,49, 52 y 166.  His siblings were stablished in Amsterdam, Mogador, now Essaouira and Mazagan .

Emmanuel Delmar and Abraham Benatar published in Gibraltar, in 1843, "La Crónica Israelita".  Also mentioned by A.B.M. Serfaty in the book "The Jews of Gibraltar under British Isles", 1933.

Abraham and Shalom Delmar, were sons of Jacob and bankers in Tangier.

Marcos Delmar, son of Shalom, was born in Tangier in 1895.  He was administrator of the synagogue "Rabbi Yahya Auday" of that city.

Salomón Lebhar, rabbi of Marrakech in the XVIII-XIX centuries.  Mentioned, also, by Joseph Ben Naim in his book "Malkhei Rabanan".  The surname is found later through Europe and The Americas.

 

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THE CATALAN THEORIES                          

Statistically, this name exists in small numbers and in a limited number of countries.  It is a general consensus in Catalonia that this surname is uniquely Catalan, and that the original spelling had the letter "i" in the middle.  These four spellings are considered the same name and phonetically, in catalan, they are pronounced identically, thus being an acute word, the final "r" is mute.  Francesc B. Moll said in his article "L'Ortografia dels cognoms o llinatges", writen the 16 of June, 1963 and published in El Correo Catalán: "Many centuries ago, the final "r" turned mute in most Catalan words"  This explains why its orthography has been used indistinctively in old documents. According to reliable genealogy and heraldic dictionaries of Catalonia, all families with this name are originally from the province of Girona.  Nevertheless, in the first edition of "Diccionari Aguiló", 1924, we read: "Maimí; lineage of Barcelona".  To what I add the information received from Benet Maimí y Pou of Arenys de Mar, Barcelona: "Surname of Catalan origin, with ancestral dwelling in Barcelona, found widely in the Catalan region and later in Aragón, Valencia and Baleares".  (No source specified).  This surname is found relatively in few towns of Girona, and also in few towns of the coastal area of the province of Barcelona.  (Sources: Carles Maymí i Bou; Joaquim Mundet Creus and several dictionaries of Catalan onomastics.  See bibliography).

José Balari Jovany says in its book "Historic Origins of Catalonia", 1896 p. 546: "Surnames originating from Germanic names, .... "Mirus"....Aymamir, Maymir and Maymí ....from Ermemir, lat. Armamirus... year 977 - Marca Hispánica".

According to the book "Els Llinatges Catalans" by Francesc B. Moll, published by Editorial Moll of Mallorca, 1987: " Maimir and Maimí are of the group of lineages that represent the paternal or maternal names, and are of Germanic origin, deriving from the name "Ermemir" >Aymamir >Maymir and Maymí".  The source of this hipotesis is based on the book "Orígenes Históricos de Cataluña", p. 546, by Joseph Balari i Jovany, 1899.    

The surname Aymamí is found in Madrid in 1752 on the birth of Toribio Alfaro Aymamí and in Lérida on 1786 on the birth of Irene Busquets Aymami. (Family Search). There is no proof that this surname is an evolution of Ermemir.

Names of Germanic origin are more abundant in the regions of the North East of Catalonia: L'Empordá, El Gironés, La Garrotxa and La Selva. It was in that area where the basic population of la "Marca Hispánica" was constituted. Moll mentions the surnames; Mainal, Mainau, Mainar, Maynar, Mainer, Maine, Maines, Mayner, Maynes as derived from the old high German substantive "MAGAN or MAGIN", which means force, might. 

-- Other meanings found for "Magan": 1) Ancient land on the coast of Oman, source of cooper & diorite for the states of Mesopotamia, mentioned by Sumerian cuneiform texts. 2) Referring to the region of the Sinai as; "The place of strength, walled land". 3) In Hebrew; to deliver up, give; a denominative from 'magen'= shield, protector. 4) Verb, meaning to be able to, to have power, be competent. (Taken from various sources in internet).

-- Meanings found for "ERMIN" : 1) Bishop from Lobbes, Belgium during the VIII century. (Catholic Encyclopedia). 2) "Strong in the arm" - old Germanic. (www.dictionary.com). 3) Male name found in Slovenia, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. (Google). 4) Name of a Germanic town. (Francesc B. Moll). 5) Germanic names in the Low Lands until 1100: Irmin (= Tiwaz or Ziu, a tribal deity) also: connected, mighty Em, Ermen, Ermin, Hermen, Hirmen, Im, Immu, Irmen. (Germanic names in the low lands...)

-- Meanings found for: > "MAI/ MAY" = 1) Water in Arabic. 2) Roman goddess of growth and increase. 3) German fem. name. (New Babylon dictionary). > "MIR" = 1) me, myself, (object form of first person) in the German language. 2) Persian male name. 3) (Tirich) Mir = highest peak in the Hindu Kush mountain system. (Britannica.com).

The "Dictionari Català-Valencià-Balear" (vol. 7 ), by Antoni Ma. Alcover and Francesc B. Moll says: Maimir = existing lineage in Girona, Figueres, Caldes de Malavella, Cassà de la Selva, Sta. Coloma de Farners, Campllong, Peratallada, Palamós, Palafrugell, Castell d' Aro, Tossa, Blanes, Vic, Barcelona, Mataró, Granollers, Llinars, Arenys de Mar, Valls, etc. Etymology: from the germanic personal name, Ermemir, according to Jovany Balari's; "Historic Origins of Catalonia", (p. 546).

In the "Dictionari  Aguiló" by Marià Aguiló y Fuster, (1rst. ed., 1924), we read: "Maimí = lineage of Barcelona", and the same thing of Maymí and Maymich. "Maymir = lineage of Codinas, Barcelona; and Ortsavinyà, 1782".

The "Dictionnaire des noms de famille de France, (et d'ailleurs)" supports this theory under the name Maymil, found in Formiguères, Pyrénées-Orientales, France, as corresponding to Maymir/Maimir, found in Catalonia, Sp, as of Germanic origin: Ermemir from "ermen"= inmense + Mir"=ilustrious.

According to the book of Etienne Badie on the history of the region of Capcir and its inhabitants, the Maymil surname appears, for the first time, in a document written in Latin  This document, that dated the 26 of August of 1595, referes to the confirmation of the right of property of a piece of land, in it appeared the names of Bartomeu, Joan and Estève Maymil. It is probable that this information came from Puigcerdà, Girona, which reinforces the notion that Maymil is a French variant of Maymí or Maymir. (Sources: Mme.Laurence Pujol.  Etienne Badie: “Histoire du Capcir et des Capcinois”, Ed. Revue Terra Nostra à Prades).

In the region of Aquitania, to the South west of France, have existed what could be variants of the surname:  Meymy yr. 1280, Maimie yr. 1665 and Maimia yr. 1779.  (Source: Philippe Dubedout).  Also,  the surname Maymat exists in Rieumes in the Haute Garonne, since 1605, according to its archivist, who believes that this surname comes from a Catalan family of  jewish origin. (archirieumes@wanadoo.fr )  

 The name Ermemir appears as having belonged to different persons:

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Can (house of) Maimí (photo 1) (photo 2), 16__?, appears in the book "Atles Topogràfic de Catalonia", Vol.I, in the district of Girona between the municipalities of Llambilles and Cassà de la Selva, 7.5 Km. S-SE of Girona and 2.25 Km. SE of Llambilles.  In the family files of Muixach de Montroig of Cassà de la Selva, appears Joseph Maymí, 1733, as former owner of the Mas (Can) Maymí of Llambilles. (Property assesment no. 813).

 

  Mas (rural property) Maimí (map), appears in the same book, in the low Ampurdan, province of Girona, at 19.5 Km. South-West of the city of Girona, 1.75Km South-West of Romanyá de la Selva, in the municipality of Santa Cristina d'Aro. It rises 140 m over sea level.

 

Maison (house) Maymi (photo), 1683, or "Maymie". Exists in the territory   of the community of Montaut, Les Landes, in Aquitaine, South-West of France.  (map).

 

Can (house of) Maimi, in Caldes de Malavella.  Situated North   East  of the municipal limits of Cassa de la Selva, close to the vicinity of Esclet. (map)

 

 

 

 

Puig (hill) Maymi exists as a toponym, in Romanyà de la Selva, situated in the vicinity of La Bruguera in the grounds of the mas 'la Casa Nova d'en Bota', in the municipality of Santa Cristina d'Aro.

 

 

 In the Fogatge of 1497 by the historian and geographer Josep Iglésies Fort, (Study and complete transcription, town to town, of the census for tax effects, done in Catalonia, including the Rousillon and the French Cerdagne Valley, in 1497), appears  one "Guerau Mayni"  in the town of "Lo Vilar", pertaining to La Bisbal, and one "Lo Ferrer Mayvir" (Ferrer = blacksmith) in Vidrieres.  Because  when transcribing, errors were habitual, there is a great  probability that they were the first Maymí(r)  that arrived in Girona.  So far, we can conclude, that this surname has not been found in Catalonia before *1497.  

In the church archives, the oldest documented dates found, as of now, are: *1505 for Maymí, in the baptismal record of Catarina Maymí, daughter of Roche and Francesca,  from the church of San Feliu, Girona. *1552 for Maymir in the baptismal record of Margarida Peferer Maymir, daughter of Pere, from Caldas de Malavella.  In the 1553 census we find in the towns of Caldes de Malavella one Garau Meymir and in Llagostera one Antich Maymir.  (Source: Fogatge 1553 of Cataluña).  *1596 for Maimir, in the baptismal record of  Margarida Magdalena Maimir, daughter of Pere and Magdalena, from the church of Santa Maria, La Bisbal, all in the province of Girona, Spain. *1643 for Maimí, in the  marriage record of Margret Maimi, in Schupfheim, Luzern, Switzerland. (from: Family Search).  

The church registries in Spain began in the second half of the XVI century, by order of the Council of Trento (1545-1563).  From then on, the spelling of the surnames were consolidated to a large extent - although not definitely-  due to the obligation imposed to keep the parochial registries, which were reviewed and approved by the bishops.

 Maymir is documented in Northeast England in a marriage record from the 30 of July, 1641, being the surname of the bride, and in France in 1688 in Le Bourget, Savoie, being also the surname of the bride, named Marie Helene Maymir. Later it appears documented in Prussia during the XIX century (1812), as the surname of Charles Maymir and his family who emigrated to the US, according to the 1880 census.  Maymí appears the 16th of November, 1676 in the baptismal record of Marzela Maymi Sisa in Santiago, Sandia, Puno, Perú,  (Rootsweb & Familys Search).

For the frequency of the surname in Catalonia in 2004, please consult the statistics of "Noms i cognoms de la població" at:  http://www.idescat.net/orpi/Orpi?TC=M

 

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A FEW CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THESE THEORIES

  Catalonia is the result of a long and continuous process, and it is impossible to fix an exact date. It is known that this process began in the IX century under Charlemagne,

Coronation of Charlemagne 

Some traditions refer the arrival of the Jews in Spain to the Phoenician period, around 587 B.C.E. According to documented data, Jewish settlements already existed in the Iberian peninsula since the Greco-Roman period. (1 Maccabees,8-3). The destruction of Jerusalem by Titus took place in the year 70, thus beginning the Jewish Diaspora through the Mediterranean. The first settlements along the Mediterranean coast took place in the II century, (a.c), according to archeological remains found mainly in the cities of Ampurias, Mataró, Tarragona, Tortosa, Adra, Málaga, Cádiz and Mérida.

From the Visigoth period, beginning with the conversion of King Reccared (586-601) in 589, during the II Toledo Council, and under the new laws of his successor, King Sisebur (612-621), who initiated a cruel persecution against the Jews, the first significant number of conversions of the Sephardim to Christianism took place,  At that time many Sephardim emigrated to North Africa.

It is believed that in the Visigoth, and later Arab periods, some Jewish families lived already in Girona. The first documented evidence of the existence of a Jewish community in the province of Girona, dates from the year 882 in Sant Pere de Juïgues, a rural property between the towns of Vilamarí and Galliners, Orfes and Sant Marçal de Quarentella, inside the municipality of Vilademuls, where they lived from agriculture. Their presence in the city of Girona is known between the years 888 and 890 when Count Dela I, d'Ampurias,(845-894), who ruled between 878 and 894, bought this rural property, and had its inhabitants, twenty five Sephardic families, moved to the city. There, they rented old houses, built around the cathedral, that belonged to the clergy, according to a document from the year 1002, where Pope Silvester II mentions the taxes paid by the Jews. This was the beginning of the formation of the "Call", or Jewish quarter. The first reference to it, appears in a document dated in 1160. (Call= from the latin root, callis (street); in Catalan= narrow path.)  The Aljama (Jewish community) of Girona, as all the ones belonging to the kingdom, was protected by the king in exchange for an special tax. At the end of the XI century good relationships flourished between both communities and Judaism developed as an integral part of the society.

In the XII century the Jewish community of Girona was one of the most important in Spain, and attained its height with its center of the Cabbala, (in Hebrew, received tradition). Its contribution was fundamental for the development of the Cabbala. The city was known by "Mother of Israel".

Through the centuries, this coexistence went through different phases. Following the violent pogroms and murders of  many Jews during the tragic events of 1391, the number of conversions to Christianity rose sharply. Baptism was chosen as the only possible means to avoid death, a life of constant fear, as well as to preserve the goods and wealth built up during many years of hard work.

The most important Jewish settlements in the province of Girona were in the area of the coast and in the interior, like Cadaqués, San Feliu de Guíxols and La Cerdanya, where they consolidated in Puigcerdá. This was also a period of great difficulties for the Jewish community on the other side of the Pyrenees, sufficient cause to flee from persecution and settle in parts of the province of Girona, being some of them: Camprodon in the Ripollés, La Bisbal, Torroella de Mongrí, Peratallada, Alta Empordá, Vilademuls, Figueres, Banyoles, Olot y Castelló D'Empuries.  Besalú and the city of Girona were the most important, for their number, economic and cultural influence and for the mark left on the old part of the two cities.

Sephardic family names were well developed in Aragón by the year 1213, being many of them of Hebrew derivation. Some of biblical extract, others not so, like: Alay, Bonjuà, Maimo, Meyr, Mussons and Xarom. In addition, many Jews also had names of Latin origin. In Medieval documents they appear as: Astruch, Bonet, Cresques, Llobet, Picó, Rosell, Vidal, etc. At that time, Catalonia was part of the Kingdom of Aragón, (map).

It was common in the Middle Ages to take the name of the father or another ancestor, as a family name. For example; in the " Jornades D'Historia dels Jueus a Catalonia" by the Ajuntament de Girona, (p.157) , "Membres Prominents de L'Aljama de Girona com a Jueus Despres dels Avalots" (1391), we find: Bonjuha Maymó and Maymó Bonjuha; Vidal Bonet and Bonet Vidal, as four different persons.

During this time, the variants of family names were interchanged, and some were applied as diminutives of the same name.  Prior to 1492 we find these spellings with the root Maim, in the Iberian peninsula:

Maimó  Maimón Maymarán Maimonell Maymunchel Maimona
Maymó Maymón Maymerán Maymonell Maymonellet Maimoni

The mention of the Maymó surname, its origin and variants is of given relevance due to its phonetic proximity, the sharing of the Hebrew root "Maim" and the presence of both surnames, although scarce, in Catalonia, in the Middle Ages, as much as today.

In documents from the Middle Ages, Maymó/Maimó is found since the yr. 1214, with some frequency, among the Jews of Girona and the Balearic Islands, not so often in the rest of Catalonia and Valencia.

Regarding a possible relationship between Maymí/Maimí and Maymó/Maimó the opinions differ. According to some, these names are tied as having the same roots, while others, based on the etymology of the names, claim they are very different, despite that they are phonetically close. Maymó seems more related to Maimón. As it was said before, Maymí/Maimí derives from the Hebrew word "Mayim"= water/sea, while Maimón derives from the Hebrew word "Mamón"= fortune/treasure. Maimón is a first name, meaning in Hebrew "good chance", it exists in two of the Semitic languages, Arabic and Hebrew. The most remote dates found so far refer to Aben Maimón, versed in letters, erudite from Spain, year 1007 and to the rabinic judge Rabbi  Maimón Hadayán, from Córdoba, father of  Moses ben Maimónides.

The "SPANISH DICTIONARY of SURNAMES", editorial ESPASA CALPE INC. Madrid 2001. Authors. Roberto Faure, María Asunción Ribes and Antonio García says:  "Maimó not a frequent surname, registered almost in an exclusive way in the Balearic Islands. It proceeds from the personal Arab and Hebrew name Maimûn, that signifies "happy". It is a lineage transmitted by the "moriscos". Of the same Arabian etymology is the surname Maimón, disseminated and not found very frequently in Spain".  

From the Book: "GUIDE OF JEWISH PATRONYMS" published by Beith Hatefutsoth, editions Solin Actes Sud. Edition 1996: "MAYMUN": Maimon, Meim(o)un, Meimouni, Mimoun(e), Mimouni, Maimo, Maimun or Maimon mean "Lucky" or "Happy" in Arabic and "Calm" or "Slow" in Catalan. This name gave rise to many Jewish surnames: Ben Maimon (indexed in Northern Africa in the XI century), Meimun, Meimouni, Mimoun, Mimoune, Mimouni, Maimo.  Maimón, writen in Hebrew, is spelled just as Mimoun and Mimouni.  Variants all in use today.

Until now,  Maimí, or its variants, have not been found in the Iberian Penninsula before 1496, date that appeared in the person of  Rabi Simón Maimí.  The surname began to appear at the same time in Girona, that is, at the end of century XV.

Previously I have mentioned  that according to some Catalan authors, the etymology of Maymir and its variants comes from the name Ermemir, which existed in Girona between the IX and the XII century. Nevertheless, the fact that calls the attention is that there are at least three centuries between the disappearance of Ermemir with no trace of evolution, and the appearance of Maymir.  This fact  debilitates this hypothesis.   

A possible explanation to it is that, although maybe being of a different etymology, Maymí/Maimí is a posterior derivation of Maymó/Maimó.  Or.......as some think, could it be the reverse?  The fact that they are different words, etymologically, in relation to the language, does not make impossible that  one could be derived from the other.  This remains to be probed.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

We have to consider that in Visigothic Spain, as well as in Medieval Spain it existed an absolute identification between the political community and the religious community. Civil laws were submitted to the Christian faith. It was not about racism, but about religious fanatism. Political unity was based in religious unity. Meanwhile, the Inquisition became an instrument of the state. Historically, it could be concluded that the destabilization came from the popular masses influenced by the clergy and therefore, filled of prejudices against the Jews.

History tells us that long before Spain expelled its Jews, they were forced to convert or suffer expulsion, from most of the kingdoms of Europe.

It is also a historical fact that in addition to the great persecutions, the Sefardim, enjoyed long periods of prosperity and tolerance in Spain and were under the protection of the Christian monarchs or the Muslim taifas, due to the great benefits that they contributed to their kingdoms. Besides distinguishing themselves as merchants and craftsmen of textiles and jewels, as builders and navigators, the Sephardim distinguished themselves for their intellectual accomplishments as philosophers, physicians, astronomers, historians, notary publics and translators. One of the most remarkable examples was Moses Ben Maimon (1135-1204), known as Maimónides or Rambam, considered as the greatest Jewish thinker of the Middle Ages. His statue, on the left,  can be seen at la judería of Córdoba, Spain. (Photo taken during my visit in the year 2000).  

After vacillating periods between persecution and tolerance, forced conversions and voluntary conversions, throughout several centuries, religious intolerance grew, ending with the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. The Sephardim emigrated to Morocco, to Portugal until 1497, from where they were also expeled, to the Ottoman Empire since 1391, to the Balkans, to Italy, to Egypt, to Palestine and to Syria. Some went to the Netherlands, to Amsterdam, to Hamburg and to London. In newly discovered America they settled mainly in the West Indies and in North America. As they found more tolerant countries, many conversos returned to Judaism.

These historical facts make us think that the Catholic Kings trusted that most Jews would convert, and only a small minority would choose exile. It is evident that this was their wish, it is proven in the extension granted before their exit and the intensification of the religious preaching.  But their deception proved to be profound, the Sephardim gave an elevated example of fidelity to their religious conscience, and left Sepharad in great numbers.

Although historical conflicts generally have two faces, human cruelty does not seem to have limits when its roots and motivation are political or religious radicalism.

By preserving their Judeo-Hispanic culture, the Sephardim also preserved the pride of their Hispanic origin. The hatred that victimized them, could not destroy their culture.

Eventually, a considerable number of the descendants of the conversos, merged into the Spanish society, which contributed to enrich the character of the Spanish people. In many instances, they became part of the nobility, held prominent positions in the church's hierarchy or in the Spanish government.

Today and after more than five centuries, most of these descendants have no idea of their ancestry. The general ignorance about this dark and unfortunate period of Spanish history is the result of it, being "officially" ignored by the educational process, strongly influenced by the Catholic Church.

Surnames of biblical or Hebrew derivation still exist in Spain.  But we must consider that in addition, the Sephardim also adopted, for historical reasons, already displayed, surnames from the languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula at that time, some of them common to non Jewish families.

According to the Catalan philologist Santi Arbós, it do not seem to exist Catalan surnames of Arab or Hebrew origin except ''Maymó''. 

  At the moment, there is no indication of a contrast between the Sephardic and the Catalan theories, being these historically reconcilables.  In synthesis, logically, the second could be a continuation of the first.

Surnames, in general do not indicate by themselves an specific origin unless historically proven.  Having a particular surname does not always mean that a person belongs to a specific lineage or ethnic group. It will be necessary to investigate the genealogy of each individual family to be able to reach a definitive conclusion.

Unfortunately, the investigation of Jewish ancestry in Spain is specially difficult, because the ones that stayed there, conversos or not, did all they could, centuries ago, to erase and avoid leaving any trace of their identity behind by, mainly, changing, or adopting, common names and surnames. 

You are welcome to help complete these findings with new documented information.

"Truth, like oil, rises to the surface" (Judeo-Spanish proverb)

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MAYMI/MAIMI and its VARIANTS in HISTORY

Simon Maimí: *died in 1497.  Many reliable sources mention him as the last Chief Rabbi (Arrabi-Mor) of Portugal, a scrupulously pious man.  The attempt to convert Portuguese jewry by King Manuel by trying to force Rabbi Maimi to accept Christianity, occured during the spring of 1497, following the promulgation of the edict of expulsion on Dec. 4, 1496.   In october 1497, he resisted stoically forced baptism.  He, his wife, his sons in law, and a group of co-religionists, were imprisoned in the Palace of Estaos in Lisbon, because they would not renounce Judaism.  To bring them to conversion, Rabbi Maimí, his family and fellow official rabbis, probably Abraham b. Jacob Saba, Abraham b. Samuel Zacuto and Issac b. Joseph Caro, were tortured, thrown into a dungeon and immured up to their necks and left for several days. They remained firm, and when the walls were torn down, three had died, among them, Rab. Simon Maimí, whose conversion was most important. 

Two conversos risked their lives to secure the corpse, and took it to the Jewish burial-ground near Lisbon for interment, although it was strictly forbidden to bury Jewish victims of Christian sacrifice otherwise that by the executioner's hands. A few conversos secretly accompanied him to his last rest, and celebrated a funeral service over his grave.  (See bibliography).

The rest of the companions of Rab. Simon Maimí and his sons -in-law, six in total, were deported to Arzila, (Morocco), where they were forced to work in the trenches until their death. (From the books of A.Laredo, J. Nehama, C.Roth, H. Graetz and N. Slouschz).

Rabbi A. Zacuto went to North Africa with his son, Samuel and settled in Tunis. There, in 1504, he compiled his "Sefer ha-Yuhasin", a book of genealogies. Rabbi A. Saba of Zamora was a preacher, cabbalist, and biblical exegete who also went to North Africa. Rabbi Isaac Caro of Toledo and uncle of Rabbi Joseph Caro was a physician, and biblical commentator, author of several philosophical works and reponsae.  He went to Turkey and then to Jerusalem.

One of Rab. Maimí's "Responsae" to a consultation in Talavera, is preserved in the book "Kerem Hemer" by A. Ankawa (Vol.II, Livourne, 1871.) (A. Laredo). It deals with Toledo's statutes in a "Ketuba" (marriage contract).

Rab. Haim Yosef David Azulay wrote in his book that Simon was from Fez. (Biographical dictionary of the Rabbis of Morocco, page. 126, col. 2)

Evarist Maymí: 1538. Mestre de Senys, (Manufacturer of bells). Handicraft artist, Catalonia, Spain. (Archivo Biográfico de España, Portugal e Iberoamérica, Fiche: II 575,243. Title of Source: Ráfols: Diccionario biográfico de artistas de Cataluña: desde la época romana hasta nuestros días / Ráfols, José F.. -Barcelona. - 1951-1954 (3 v).  (World Biographical Index).

Juan Maymir: ?-1621. Vicar of S. María de Navarcles, town of the region of Bages, Province of Barcelona. (Catálogo Párrocos).  http://personales.com/espana/barcelona/indice/tebaida.html

Natan Maimí: 162_?. Rabbi of Fez, (Morocco) Following the devastation caused by the famine of 1638 in Morroco and the death of numerous whole families, he saw to leave us a list that he established using the "Ketubot" (marriage contracts), and other diverse documents of his time, to transmit to posterity the names of those he thought had disappeared. (A. Laredo). While still young he signed on the book "Nekudot HaKessel" and added: "I am the young Natan Maimi who wants to tell about some families from Morocco who disappeared during the famine which occurred in 5398" (1638). (Joseph Ben Naim, Biographical dictionary of the Rabbis of Morocco, Jerusalem, page. 99, col. 1)

Francesch Thomàs Maymir: 1760. Composer sardinista, La Bisbal, Girona, Spain. (W.B.I.).

Frederic Ballell Maymi: 1864 -1951. Photo-journalist, Founder of the Press Association, Barcelona. Born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, died in Barcelona, Spain. (La Vanguardia, news paper, April 04, 2000; Catalog of Spanish Journalists, XX century, Madrid 1980-81)  (W.B.I.).

Domingo Maymir: 1868. Tenor, Spain. (Archivo Biográfico de España, Portugal e  Iberoamérica, Fiche: I 583,341. Title of Source: Saldoni. Diccionario biográfico-bibliográfico de efemérides de músicos españoles /Saldoni y Remendo, Baltasar. - Madrid. - 1868-1881 (4 vols).  (W.B.I.).

Timoteo Susany Maymir: 1884. Writer, Spain. (Diccionario Biográfico de Artistas de Cataluña). (W.B.I.).

Xavier Maimí y Miró: 1888-1965. Arenys de Mar, Barcelona, Spain. Composer.  http://fed.sardanista.cat/