KHAROUF FAMILIES

"Sunni" in Trablous and "Shia‘a" in South Lebanon

A “kharouf” (sheep) is a pet characterized by docility and obedience. It is raised by humans for meat, wool, and milk. “Kharouf” is also the surname of several Lebanese families.

Etymology
We did not come across the origin of this word, but perhaps the ancestors of these families were obedient and good-hearted and this is why they were called “Kharouf”.
Genealogy researchers reported that the “Kharouf” family stems from Imam Zain Al-Abidin, son of Imam Hussein, son of Imam Ali, meaning that they are members of the House of the Prophet (PBUH). These families are largely present in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria, with limited presence in Lebanon.
They are said to be from Nabulsi families, tracing back to Nablus in Palestine.

Members
The Kharoufs (or Al-Kharoufs) total around 220 members. They are distributed by
sect and region as follows:

Sunni: 140
Saadnayel in Beqa‘a: 65 (They bear the “Al-Kharouf” surname) 

Trablous (Al-Haddadin, Al-Tabbaneh, and Souwaika neighborhoods): 40

Ashrafieh in Beirut: 35

Shia‘a: 50
Houla in the Qada’a of Marjeyoun: 50

Greek Catholic: 15
Ashrafieh in Beirut: 15

Published by Information International