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[Surname] Najera
Najera is supposed to be a Spanish surname of Arabic origin. I've read that it's derived from the Arabic word for the province of Navarre. Can anyone verify that for me? If it isn't derived from Navarre, does anyone know what Najera could mean in Arabic?
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Najera is a saphardic Jewish surname...and it comes from Spain many najeras fled to France when Nazis invaded and took many to their deaths at the camps...its not Arabic..but i was told its Basque ..
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The surname comes from the placename Nájera in La Rioja which you can situate at http://www.maplandia.com/spain/la-rioja/la-rioja/najera/. The word Navarra is thought to be of Basque origin. The etymology of Nájera is unknown.
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So...Najera and Navarra aren't related, then? Thank you.
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