New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesSephardic usage of Cayden/Caden/Cadin/etc.?
I was recently told that my first name, Cayden, has Sephardic Jewish ties, specifically from Turkey and Spain. I'm a convert to Judaism but not ethnically Jewish, so if my name is Sephardic it would be completely coincidental. I doubt the information I got was accurate, but an answer from someone who really knows the subject would be really appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks!
1
Replies
According to one research standpoint (see link below), many of the Sephardic Jews are of Berber and Arab descent, and not just Spain/Greece, etc.
According to Leslie Bolton (The Complete Book of Baby Names) - Caden means "spirit of battle" in the Welsh language. She also has Kaden listed as Arabic for "a beloved companion" with 15 spelling variations, Cayden being one of them. Though - in reality, "kadin" is the Arabic word, with usage noted in Turkey. Easy to jump to Cayden from there, but not likely.
This would support the idea that Kaden / Cayden has usage in the Turkish/Sephardic culture.
That said, most references I found online for Caden / Kaden / Cayden, etc... were linked to surnames of Sephardic people. Which most likely means that the name was introduced into the culture through assimilation. There are Sephardic lineages throughout many, many cultures.
In essence, I don't think I would say that Cayden is Sephardic, other than being able to find some Sephardic people with that name.
The history of the name is fluid so... If it were important to you to find a link, you could definitely argue that your name is a variant on "kadin" rather than "Caden" and that you attribute it to the Sephardic culture with the meaning "companion".
http://www.sunypress.edu/p-2279-the-non-jewish-origins-of-the-s.aspx
According to Leslie Bolton (The Complete Book of Baby Names) - Caden means "spirit of battle" in the Welsh language. She also has Kaden listed as Arabic for "a beloved companion" with 15 spelling variations, Cayden being one of them. Though - in reality, "kadin" is the Arabic word, with usage noted in Turkey. Easy to jump to Cayden from there, but not likely.
This would support the idea that Kaden / Cayden has usage in the Turkish/Sephardic culture.
That said, most references I found online for Caden / Kaden / Cayden, etc... were linked to surnames of Sephardic people. Which most likely means that the name was introduced into the culture through assimilation. There are Sephardic lineages throughout many, many cultures.
In essence, I don't think I would say that Cayden is Sephardic, other than being able to find some Sephardic people with that name.
The history of the name is fluid so... If it were important to you to find a link, you could definitely argue that your name is a variant on "kadin" rather than "Caden" and that you attribute it to the Sephardic culture with the meaning "companion".
http://www.sunypress.edu/p-2279-the-non-jewish-origins-of-the-s.aspx
1