ORIGIN of the SURNAME:
The first Namura I could find in Malta was Joeph Namura son of Honofrio Namura and Domenica. He got married,for the first time,in Vittoriosa (St.Lawrence Church) in 1679. Therefore, I believe they have arrived in Malta by 1650. Dur to the fact that the KNIGHTS had been before in the HOLY LAND, I believ that the first NAMURA was from that aerea. We know that from the early 16th century until World War I, SYRIA and MOUNT LEBANON region were part of the OTTOMAN EMPIRE, being this the reason why Lebanese and Syrians,before 1918 had Turkish Passports.

I could find some Families with this surname still living in Lebanon.I could,also,find around the world (Brasil,USA,Germany,France,England,Lithuania,Palestine (at Dura near Hebron),Czech Republic,etc.etc. members of the Namura family and all of them are of either Syrian or Lebanese or Palestinian origin.

So, I must concluded that the real origin of the actual surname NAMURA is the Middle East.

MEANING OF THE SURNAME :
1 - I could also find that in JAPAN there exists this surname.However I believe it has a different origin.
So far, I could find out that this surname means:


MURA - menas VILLAGE
NA - has different meanings according to certain rules I could not find.The various meanings are: southern - name - seedling - blacksmith.


2 - In NEPAL/INDIA there is a sacred place called NAMO BUDDHA also known as NAMURA. It is said that in the shrine Namura or Namo Buddha is the place where Buddha in a past life is said to have offered his own flesh to a starving tigress.
The meaning of Namura it is said to be : I greet to Buddha.


3 - In Lebanon, I was told that there are two meanings for this surname,being:
a - little tiger
b - sweet of mulberry


ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME IN FIRST PLACE :
I was told that the surname exists dur to the fact that a CRUSADER KNIGHT (FRENCH - 1st or 2nd Crusade) decided to settle in SIDON and gave origin to the surname in its different variations.The Knight's surname was NAMUR.

S W E E T :
I was told that in Lebanon there is a very popular sweet called Namura.
During my investigations, I could find that this sweet has different names, such as :

Nammoorah - Namura or Basbousa (Egyptian) - Nammurra (Lebanese) or Hareesa (Palestinian) - Namoura - Nammoura - Nammura - Namurrah - Nammura

Obs: I believe that these are just different ways of reading the surname NAMURA in french accent.

The recipe I was given is as follows:

Ingredients for the SYRUP
3 cups of suggar
1 1/2 cups of water
4 drops fresh lemon juice or rose water


For the sweet - ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of coconut
1 cup of yogurt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/4 cup of semolina
2 medium eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder.


DIRECTIONS for the SYRUP

prepare syrup by putting the sugar and water in a heavy saucepan.Bring to a boil while constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar.Let it boil until it appears clear.Add few drops of lemon and let it boil for a minute or so.Remove from saucepan and let it cool completly.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE SWEET:
Preheat the oven to 350F.In a bowl combine all the ingredients (sugar,coconut,yogurt,oil,cream,semolina,eggs and baking powder)and stir until well mixed.Grease 2 9 inch round pans and divide butter among them.Decorate the surface with whole blanched almonds,pistachios or pine nuts. Bake until golden (30 minutes).Remove from oven and pour some syrup on the whole pan or on each small muffin size and return the pan to the oven for a few minutes (5 minutes) to dry the surface.Allow to cool,cut into squares like brownies.

Good apetite.

Submitted by Eduardo Casals Namura, rop42902@mail.telepac.pt

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VITTORIOSA - Marriages :

1 - 13.02.1699
Giuseppe Namura son of Onofrio Namura and Domenica with Maria daughter of Prospero Timiuni and Catarina

2 - 15.01.1717
Catarina Namura daughter of Joseph Namura and Maria with John Seichel son of John Baptist Seichel and Maria

3 - 12.02.1725
Pasquale Namura son of Joseph Namura and Maria with Margarita Dosmani daughter of Francis Dosmani and Francesca

4 - 25.11.1728
John Namura son of Joseph Namura and Maria with Eugenia Saliba daughter of Dominic Salibba and Maria

5 - 23.01.1756
Francis Namura son of John Namura and Eugenia with Rosa Masna daughter od Gulielmo Masna and Alexandra

6 - 22.03.1757
John Namura (widower of Eugenia) son of Joseph Namura and Mrya with Benedicta Sacco (widow of Antonio Cassar) daughter of Joseph Sacco and Anna

7 - 05.05.1765
Gaetano Namura son of John Namura and Eugenia with Maria Cassar daughter od Antonio Cassar and Benedecta

8 - 05.05.1768
Anna Namura daughter of John Namura and Eugenia with Antonio Magrino son of Joseph Magrino and Francesca

9 - 13.01.1782
Eugenia Namura daughter of Francis Namura and Rosa with Anneto Christoforo son of Jo.Nicola Christoforo and Teresa

10 - 04.02.1787
Teresa Namura daughter of Gaetano Namura and Maria with Joseph Bezzina son of Hycint Bezzina and Anna

11 - 18.11.1806
Anna Namura daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina Caruana with Lorenzo Borg son of Joseph Borg and Barbara Drago

12 - 19.04.1807
Vincenza Namura daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina with Lorenzo Baldachino son of Antonio Baldachino and Liberata Fajela

13 - 07.11.1809
Maria Namura daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina Caruana with John Mary Magro son of Peter Magro and Maria Borg

14 - 09.06.1811
Teresa Namura daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina Caruana with Philip Agius son of Joseph Agius and Rosa Xiberras (Sceberras)

15 - 05.12.1820
Saveria Namura daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina with Francis Buhagiar son of John Buhagiar and Teresa

COSPICUA - Marriages

1 - 01.11.1760
Nicolaus Namura son of John Namura and Eugenia with Speranza Grech daughter of Claudio Grech and Mary

COSPICUA - Births

1 - 05-09-1764
Antonia Maria Josepha Euphemia daughter of Vincentio Namura and Anna Maria

2 - 11.04.1767
Maria Xavenia daughter of Nicolaus Namura and Sperantia Grech

3 - 29.01.1771
John Baptista Anthony Joseph son of Nicolaus Namura and Sperantia Grech

VITTORIOSA - Births

1 - 24.'3.1700
Catarina Francesca Domenica daughter of Joseph Namura and Maria Leonora

2 -23.07.1703
Margarita Teresa daughter of Joseph Namura and Mary

3 - 27.08.1705
Veronica Modesta daughter of Joseph Namura and Mary

4 - 31-07.1709
John Ignatius son of Joseph Namura and Mary

5 - 07.11.1725
Francisca Joanna daughter of Pascuale Namura and Margarita

6 - 08.05.1728
John Philip Namura son of Pascuale Namura and Margarita

7 - 01.12.1728
MariaPolixena daughter of John Namura and Eugenia

8 - 27.10.1729
Joseph Dominic son of John Namura and Eugenia

9 - 25.10.1732
Caterina Maria daughter of John Namura and Eugenia

10- 07.11.1735
Francis Namura son of John Namura and Eugenia

11 - 22.11.1746
Salvator Gaetano Namura son of John Namura and Eugenia

12 - 21 -12-1749
Anna Maria Catarina daughter of John Namura and Eugenia

13- 31.12.1756
Joseph Maria Alexander son of Francis Namura and Rosa

14 - 11.12.1757
Aloysius Maria Joseph Michael son of John Namura and Benedicta

15 - 21-10-1758
Aloysius Francis son of Francis Namura and Rosa

16 - 26.03.1760
Rosa Maria Eugenia daughter of Francis Namura and Rosa

17 - 12.01.1763
Alexander Joannes son of Francis Namura and Rosa ( became Kan.Alessandro Namura in the Kolleggjata of Vittoriosa in 1825)

18 - 15.02.1766
Lorenza Teresa Magdalena daughter of Gaetano Namura and Mary

19 - 13-10-1766
Anna Scolastica daughter of Francis Namura and Rosa

20 - 26.01.1768
Lawrence Paul son of Francis Namura and Rosa

21 - 12.01.1769
Matthew Jo Claudius son of Gaetano Namura and Mary

22 - 23.03.1771
Victoria Maria daughter of Gaetano Namura and Mary

23 - 16.01.1773
ROSARIO LAURENTIUS son of Gaetano Namura and Maria ( came to Portugal by 1800 and married in Lisbon/Portugal with Rosa Marchese (born in Genova/Italia) daughter of Francesco Marchese and Anna ) in 21.01.1807

24 - 02.06.1778
Margarita Maria daughter of Gaetano Namura and Maria

25 - 15.12.1780
Joseph Angelus son of Gaetano Namura and Mary

26 - 19.02.1782
Margarita Teresa daughter of Gaetano Namura and Mary

27 - 03.01.1784
Maria Francisca daughter of Gaetano Namura and Mary

28 - 16.11.1785
Caterina Teresa daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina

29 - 22.10.1787
Maria Antonia daughter of Aloysius Namura and Caterina

30 - 02.01.1789
Anna Caterina daughter of Gaetano Namura and Mary

31 - 25.05.1790
Francisca Fortunata daughter of Aloysius Namura and Caterina

32 - 07,01,1836
Lawrence Cosmel son of Aloysius Namura and Angela Vella

33 - 28.07.1839
Maria Dolores daughter of Aloysius Namura and Angela Vella

34 - 27.01.1842
Joseph Lawrence son of Aloysius Namura and Angela Vella

35 - 23.08.1843
Joanna Josepha daughter of Francis Namura and Victoria Camilleri

GIBRALTAR - Births

1 - 28.02.1837
Francisco Andres Namura son of Francis Namura (born in Malta) and Margarita Gonalves (born in Lisbon-Portugal)

TUNIS/TUNISIA - Births

1 - 06.11.1845
Lorenzo Ignacio Dominic son of Aloysius Namura and Angella Vella (both parents born in Malta)

VALLETTA - San Duminku - Death

1 - 02.04.1805
Aloysius Namura son of John and Benedicta

VALLETTA (PS) - Marriages

1 - 01.02.1831
Giuseppa Borg daughter of Anna Namura (daughter of Aloysius Namura and Catarina Caruana) and Lorenzo Borg with Giuseppe Amadore son of Domenico Amadore and Maria Sfrac

ZABBAR - Marriages

1 - 19.09.1752
Giuseppe Namura son of Giovanni Namura and Eugenia Saliba with Agnese Xicluna (Scicluna) daughter of Antonio Xicluna and Maria

2 - 24.08.1777
Aloysius Namura son of Giovanni Namura and Benedectta Sacco with Caterina daughter of Giuseppe Caruana and Paolica

3 - 10.07.1782
Rosa Namura daughter of Giuseppe Namura and Agnese Xicluna with Saverio Zarb son of Francesco Zarb and Alonza Abela

4 - 10.09.1782
Maria Namura daughter of Giuseppe Namura and Agnese Xicluna with Francesco Pulis son of Giovanni Pulis and Rosa

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THE NAMURA FAMILY IN PORTUGAL

Rosarius Laurentius Namura
born in 15.01.1773 Vittoriosa/Malta baptised in 16.01.1773 St.Lawrence Church/Vittoriosa/Malta son of Salvator Caetano Namura (born 22.11.1746/Vittoriosa) and of Maria Cassar married 05.05.1765 Naturalised Portuguese in 14.10.1828 Died in Ajuda/Lisbon in 19.04.1833

Married in 20.01.1807 at S.Mamede/Lisbon/Portugal with

Rosa Marchese daughter of Francesco Marchese and Anna
born approx.1782/1787 Genova/Italy
died 07.02.1826 Ajuda/Lisbon

SONS AND DAUGHTERS:

1 - Maria Namura born St.M.Madalena/Lisbon in 08.05.1808 married in 03.02.1828 Ajuda/Lisbon with José de Castro Brito born 10.12.1803 Saõ Pedro Pena/Sintra/Portugal sons : Jose (21.01.1829) - Lourenço (03.11.1830 died 14.05.1833) - Manuel (06.01.1832) - Francisco (08.08.1833)
2 - Francisco Namura born 05.07.1809 St.M.Madalena/Lisbon married in 31.05.1830 S.S.Pedreira/Lisbon with Margarida da Piedade Gonçalves
sons :
a - Maria da Piedade born 23.07.1835 died 30.07.1888 married in Belem/Lisbon with Antonio Bernardo de Moraes Leal Junior

b - Francisco Andrés Namura born in 28.02.1837 in Gibraltar

c - João Namura born 28.03.1838

d - Madalena Adelaide Namura born in 17.01.1841 Sta.Isabel/Lisbon and died 17.05.1915 Sta.Justa/Lisbon

e - Aurelia Virginia Namura married João Carlos Ferreira

f - Francisca Namura died 09.03.1906 married Antonio Pedreira Caçador died 12.01.1903

ILLEGITIMATE SONS:
g - Lourenço born in Ajuda/Lisbon 23.11.1828

h - Jose Antonio Namura born approx.1832 (MY GREAT GRAND FATHER) married in 05.05.1864 with Guilhermina Rosa d'Oliveira Namura

sons : Emilia - Alfredo - EMYGDIO (MY GRAND FATHER) - Maria da Conceição - Adelina - Gestrudes - Palmyra - Americo

Grand sons : Clarinda Adelaide - EDUARDO (MY FATHER) - Miguel

Great grand sons : Antonieta - EDUARDO (THAT'S ME).

3 - Caetano Namura born St.M.Madalena/Lisbon 27.09.1810

4 - Anna Maria born 02.10.1812

5 - João Baptista Namura born in 12.08.1814 married with Maria do Ó sons: Anna - Lourenço - Januario Augusto

6 - José Namura born 20.09.1815

7 - Caetano born 20.09.1818

8 - Angelo Namura born 03.07.1819 married in 24.06.1837 with Anna Luiza da Conceição

9 - Francisco Namura born 11.01.1821

10 - Madalena Namura born in 26.05.1823 married in 29.07.1839 with João Carlos Alves