A woman in Ankawa in 1950, spinning wool using a traditional spinning wheel, in a scene documenting aspects of daily life and traditional crafts in old Ankawa. Photo credit: Photographer unknown – Source: Archive Assyria, via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain (PD Iraq).

A Historical and Social Report Documenting the Names of Old Family Houses, Family Origins, Traditional Neighbourhoods and Social Ties That Shaped Ankawa’s Historic Community

Ishtar TV – Ankawa

Ankawa is considered one of the oldest Christian towns in the Erbil region. Its history is not limited to its churches and religious and linguistic heritage; it also encompasses a rich social history shaped over generations by families and traditional family houses that contributed to the development of the town and the preservation of its cultural and social identity.

Among the most distinctive features of this history are the names of families and family houses associated with Ankawa’s old neighbourhoods, which have become part of the collective memory of its residents. Family ties, neighbourhood relationships, marriage connections, agriculture and traditional crafts were all essential elements in shaping the town’s social life.

Documenting these names has become particularly important in light of the demographic and urban transformations Ankawa has experienced over recent decades, including the expansion of the town, the movement of families and changes in the nature of social relationships.

1. The Old Clans and Family Houses of Ankawa

In Ankawa’s collective memory, terms such as clans, family houses and family branches have traditionally been used to describe groups connected through kinship, ancestry, marriage or affiliation with a well-known family house.

Among the names mentioned in discussions and published recollections by Ankawa residents are:

Plender (پلندر)

Nyati (نياتي)

Siawosh (سياوش)

Abdoka (عبدوكا)

Glyana (گليانا)

Kokna (كوكنا)

Ajmaya (عجمايه)

Konda (كوندا)

Aghna (أغنا)

Ja Jila (جا جيلا)

Askar (عسكر)

Azmat (عظمت)

Husseini (حسيني)

Shangola (شنگولا)

Dakhoka (دخوكا)

Halwaya (حلويا)

Handola (حندولا)

Kaka (ككا)

Qaji (قجي)

Maqdasi (مقدسي)

Bargaw (برغاو)

Yarokaw (يروكاو)

Ali Beg (علي بك)

Malih (مالح)

Shani (شاني)

Baytun (بيتون)

2. Traditional Neighbourhoods and Old Residential Quarters

Old Ankawa was not simply a residential settlement; it consisted of neighbourhoods and narrow streets associated with the names of families, family houses and prominent local figures.

Among the names preserved in local memory are:

Darga (درگه).

The Old Church Quarter.

The Association Quarter (الجمعية).

Nabati Quarter (محلة نباتي).

Plender Lane (دربونا پلندر).

Siawosh Quarter (محلة سياوش).

Azmat Quarter (محلة عظمت).

Husseini Quarter (محلة حسيني).

Maqdasi Quarter (محلة مقدسي).

These names reveal the close relationship between family identities and place. Some streets and residential areas became associated with the families who lived there or were particularly well known in those locations.

These neighbourhoods were not merely geographical divisions; they were also spaces of shared life, social cooperation, religious celebrations and family gatherings.

3. Families Originating from Other Towns and Villages

Alongside the old family houses, Ankawa also became home to families who arrived from other towns and villages, gradually settling there and becoming part of its social fabric.

Local oral traditions indicate the presence of families whose names are associated with their places of origin, including:

The Armota families, associated with Armota.

The Sinjaq families, associated with Sinjaq.

The Shaqlawa families, associated with Shaqlawa.

These names reflect patterns of migration and settlement among Christian villages and towns in the Erbil region. They also demonstrate that Ankawa’s community was not limited to a closed group of families, but developed through kinship, marriage connections and internal migration.

4. Ankawa in Historical Records

The history of Ankawa’s families and traditional family houses cannot be studied separately from the history of the town itself.

Historical sources indicate that the name Ankawa appeared in different forms throughout the centuries, including Amkapad and Amku. The historian Bar Hebraeus also mentioned the town in connection with military events that took place in the Erbil region in 1285 AD.

Some historical studies document the history of the Church of Mart Shmuni, which gradually became an important religious centre in the town.

These studies also point to historical and religious transformations within the Christian communities of the region, including the gradual adoption of the Chaldean Catholic tradition by Christians in Erbil and Ankawa, particularly during the eighteenth century.

5. A Book Documenting Ankawa’s Families and Genealogies

One of the important works that can be consulted when documenting this aspect of Ankawa’s history is the book by researcher Farouk Hanna Atto Happi, entitled:

Ankawa in the Memory of Its People (Ankawa fi Thakirat Abnaiha)

Published in Ankawa in 2017, the book consists of 292 pages. It covers the town’s history and geography, folklore, education, culture, arts, historical events and prominent personalities.

It also includes a dedicated section on traditional family houses and genealogies, featuring family trees and documentary photographs.

The importance of this book lies in the historical material it provides for studying family histories and social relationships in Ankawa, rather than relying solely on scattered recollections published in online forums and social media.

6. The Importance of Documenting Ankawa’s Traditional Family Houses

Documenting the history of Ankawa’s family houses and families is not simply a matter of recording names; it is an important effort to preserve the town’s social memory and local heritage.

Such documentation can contribute to:

Collecting and recording the names of old families and traditional family houses.

Documenting family trees and relationships through historical documents and cross-referenced oral accounts.

Recording the names of old neighbourhoods and streets and explaining the origins of their names.

Identifying individuals who contributed to the town’s religious, cultural and social life.

Preserving the oral histories of elderly residents before an important part of local memory is lost.

Conclusion

The history of Ankawa is written not only through the history of its churches and institutions, but also through the history of its homes, families, streets and residents who, over generations, shaped its social and cultural identity.

The old family houses represent important chapters in the town’s collective memory. Documenting them is a cultural and historical responsibility towards future generations, ensuring that family names, stories and relationships remain an enduring part of the history of our Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrian people in Ankawa.

Sources and References

Farouk Hanna Atto Happi, Ankawa in the Memory of Its People, Ankawa, Akila Ink Press, 2017, 292 pages. The book includes sections on the town’s history, traditional family houses and family genealogies, along with family trees and documentary photographs.
University of Kurdistan Hewlêr – Library Catalogue.

Hanna Abdulahad Roufo, A Brief History of Ankawa: Its Past and Present, Adi Sher Publishing and Media House, Ankawa, 2003.
WorldCat – Global Library Catalogue.

Aziz Abdulahad Nabati, The History of Ankawa, 2000, particularly pages 10–26.

Saadi Al-Malih, Ankawa: Its Origins, Roots and Other Observations, 1997, pages 9–13.

Hanna Abdulahad Roufo, Archaeological Sites and Ancient Shrines in Ankawa, Shandar Magazine, Issue No. 4, 1997, pages 87–90.

Hanna Abdulahad Roufo, Ankawa: An Overview of Its History and Name, Shandar Magazine, Issues 7 and 8, 1998.

Ankawa.com, heritage discussions and articles concerning the clans, traditional family houses and old neighbourhoods of Ankawa.
Ankawa Heritage Archive.

Syriac Culture – Bernard Yousif Ashour, AN-KA'WA: An Analytical Study of the Name Ankawa in Light of Cuneiform Signs.
Read the Study.

Kurdistan TV, The Archaeological Site of Tell Qasra in Erbil, including references to historical sources and studies addressing Ankawa’s history and archaeology.
Read the Report.

Hadib Association for Competencies, an article introducing the book Ankawa in the Memory of Its People and its author, Farouk Hanna Atto Happi.
Read the Article.

Documentation Note: These references provide supporting material for research into Ankawa’s history, heritage and traditional family houses. However, not all the names listed in this report should be regarded as genealogically established clans without consulting the relevant pages of the books, as well as family and church records.