I do not speak Arabic, but I do have a general concept of how the language works. The al- prefix on Arab names, specifically, that is how one can determine the origin of a family ,clan, or tribe.
It's the definite article in Arabic—the equivalent of "the" in English. Surnames that begin with "al" often refer to the place where someone's ancestors were born. Saddam Hussein, for example, used to be called by his family name,"al-Tikriti." Since "al-" serves as the definite article, the name "Saddam al-Tikriti" means "Saddam, the guy from Tikrit."
I will attempt to show the "indigenous-ness" of some well known Palestinians.
I don't know everything, so if I am incorrect, please correct me.
The worlds most well known Palestinian was Yasir Arafat, who as we all know, was an Egyptian born in Cairo.
Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat AsQudwa al-Hussaeini was born on 24 August 1929 in Cairo**
Meaning he could, if he chose to, add a certain prefix to his name because Al-Masi means the Egyptian, he is from Egypt.
But he used "Qudwa" identifying himself, as form the oldest, most well known clans, the Quraish tribe of Saudi Arabia.
Sayed Mohammad bin Arafat al-Qudwa around 1688 AD, and then later by his descendants. The Qudwas were always known as notables by belonging to the Ashraf class, the highest hereditary title of nobility to the highest social/political class in the Muslim World; also known in pre-modern society as the Hashemites- belonging to the Quraish tribe, Hashim branch/Al-Hussieni line ( Al-Hussien is the second son of Sayedah Fatimah daughter of prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali the Fourth Caliph in Islam; both are Hashimites). A Hashemite is the Latinate version of the (Arabic: هاشمي, transliteration: Hāšimī) and traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or "clan of Hashim",a clan within the larger Quraish tribe
See also Salah "Bardawil",Hamas legislator from Gaza,who's name refers to the "Bardawil" Lake area of Egypt, on the Sinai Peninsula.
Arafat's Doctor was Ashraf Kurdi, who's name identifies him as a Kurd
Deceased Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat's longtime physician Ashraf al-Kurdi
al-Kurdi - meaning the Kurd
The man who gave Arafat, the nickname Yasir , was Majid Halaby. Who's name identifies him as from Aleppo, Syria
Arafat was apparently greatly influenced by one of his teachers, Majid Halaby, who gave him the nickname Yasir
Connected to Arafat was Abdullah Hourani, who's name identifies him, as being from southern Syira . More than likely immigrating to "Palestine" during the famine of the 1930.
was PLO Exec. Committee member from 1984-96; co-founder of the Cultural Affairs Section of the PLO’s Education Dept
al-Hourani - means the Hawranite (from southern Syria)
Ashraf al-Ajami is the PA minister of prisoner affairs and his name identifies him as an Iranian
"On the Palestinian street there is now an understanding that without kidnapping soldiers, we can't get prisoners released. Through negotiation, we haven't managed to get prisoners released," said Ashrafal-Ajami, the Palestinian Authority's minister for Prisoners Affairs
The non-political Palestinian next best known, could arguably be Munib Masri of the Al-Masri clan, translation:( Munib- the Egyptian dude) That is how that "tribe" or clan, of Palestinian Arabs self describe themselves
Munib Masri, an American educated Palestinian billionaire, is at the top of Padico but the company really rests on a foundation of cronyism, nepotism and protectionism. Masri’s close ties to Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Authority cements Padico’s concentration of wealth in Palestinian society. Local business rivals portray Padico as an enemy of the free market and a beneficiary of political concessions.
al-Masri - means the Egyptian
Now on to the the real business of Palestine, everybody likes to make money, but Terror is the meme that keeps "Palestine" alive.
Dalal Mughrabi, was a woman who's clan self identified as Moroccan
al-Mughrabi - means the Moroccan from the "Maghreb" – meaning "West" in Arabic, and usually referring to North Africa or specifically to Morocco
One of the more interesting names, and it place associations, is Yaser Bushnaq, meaning his family is European. Bushnaq means his family came from Bosnia
Yaser Bushnaq, a former president of the Islamic Association for Palestine has been indicted in Virginia for naturalization fraud.
In applying to become a U.S. citizen in 2000, Bushnaq is accused of failing to disclose his affiliations with a series of organizations that the indictment links to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas
Juliano Khamis, was a Christian Arab who was murdered. his name identifies his family as coming from Khamis - Bahrain
The rarest of all Palestinians is the "peace activist" like Issain Al-Yamani.
It has come to our knowledge that your government is taking steps to deport Palestinian peace activist Issam Al Yamani because of his past political affiliations and beliefs.
Well if they deport him, they sure as hell will know where to send him. Yemen.
al-Yamani - means the Yemeni
