Bushnak
 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Syria, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bosniaks in Turkey Bosniaks in Syria |
Bushnak (Arabic: بشناق, meaning "Bosnian", also transliterated Bushnaq, Boshnak, Bouchenak and Bouchnak) is a surname common among Levantines and Saudis (Hejazis) of Bosnian Muslim origin.[1][2] Those sharing this surname are the descendants of Bosnian Muslims apprehensive of living under Christian rule after the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878, who immigrated to Ottoman Syria.
While not originally from one family, most Bosnian Muslims who immigrated to the Levant adopted Bushnak as a common surname, attesting to their origins.[1]
History
[edit]Some Bosnian movement to British Mandate Palestine occurred when Bosnian Muslim soldiers were brought to British Mandate Palestine in the late 1800s to provide reinforcements for the Ottoman army.[1]
More substantial movement occurred after 1878, when the Austro-Hungarian empire, ruled by the House of Habsburg, occupied Bosnia. Bosnian Muslim emigration continued through this period, escalating after the Austro-Hungarian's 1908 annexation of Bosnia. Many immigrated to parts of what is now modern Turkey, while a smaller number settled in Ottoman Syria (modern Syria, Israel, British Mandate Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan).
Bosnian immigrants settled predominantly in villages in the parts of the present day West Bank and Israel: Caesarea, Yanun, Nablus and Tulkarem. Their descendants still live in these villages, their Bosnian heritage reflected in the Arab surname of Bushnak.[1][2]
Notable people bearing the surname
[edit]Bushnak
[edit]- Ramez Bushnak (1976-2000), a Palestinian civilian shot dead by Israeli police during the Second Intifada
Bushnaq
[edit]- Ali Bushnaq, Palestinian Mount Everest climber
- Alia Bushnaq (born 2000), Jordanian athlete
- Suzan Bushnaq (born 1963), Kuwaiti painter, daughter of Mohammed Bushnaq
- Suad Bushnaq (born 1982), Jordanian-Canadian film composer
- Mohammed Bushnaq (1934-2017), Palestinian artist (painter and sculptor)
Bouchnak
[edit]- Lotfi Bouchnak (born 1952), Tunisian singer
- Hamid Bouchnak (born 1969), Moroccan raï singer
Boushnak
[edit]- Laura Boushnak (born 1976), Kuwaiti-born Palestinian photographer
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b c d Amira Hass (25 October 2002). "It's the pits". Original in Haaretz, reprinted by Ta'ayush. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
- ^ a b Ibrahim al-Marashi. "The Arab Bosnians?: The Middle East and the Security of the Balkans" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
Bibliography
[edit]- Khalifeh, Sahar (2005). The Inheritance. Cairo and New York, NY: American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-939-6.
Bosniak diaspora | ||
|---|---|---|
| Europe |  | |
| Asia | ||
| Americas | ||
| Oceania | ||
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