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Origin of the Surname "Daou"
The surname "Daou" in the Levant is held by families who descend from a number of ancestors who carried the first name of "Daou". Also, the surname historically was adopted by some individuals who joined any of the established "Daou" families in their respective towns (normally this happened via the bond of marriage). Ancestors of all of these people; i.e. those who descend from an ancestor named "Daou", or the descendants of a male ancestor who joined any of the "Daou" families, all carry the surname "Daou" or any of its variants in the Levant.
The "Daou" surname has been present in the Levant since at least the 16th c. CE; people who carried it belonged to different religious affiliations, Christian (Syriac, Orthodox & Maronite) & Muslim (Druze, Sunnite & Shiite). In Lebanon the largest number of "Daou" family members is found primarily in the Maronite sect (followed by the Druze sect in terms of the number of family members).
As for the common male ancestors of the “Daou” family in the Levant; so far, we can roughly identify 2 ancestors of the same name:
• A person who lived in the Qalamoun Mountains in Syria, either in Nabk النبك or Sadad صدد. His descendants moved to Yanouh يانوح (Jbeil District); later a branch of them went to Lehfed لحفد (Jbeil District); from there the “Daou” family spread to Chnaniir شننعير (Keserwan District), Deir el-Qamar دير القمر (Chouf District) & other towns. This branch was Syriac Christian in origin (المطران ديوسقوروس عيسى ضو of the Syriac Orthodox Church 1445- 1477 CE). Starting late 15th c. CE, many of the “Daou” family members started converting to the Maronite church (المطران جبرائيل القلاعي اللحفدي of the Maronite Syriac Church 1507-1516 CE). Later, a smaller group of the “Daou” family members converted to the Greek Orthodox church (البطريرك يوياقيم الخامس ضو of the Antiochian Orthodox Church 1581-1592 CE).
• A person who lived in S. Mount Lebanon; probably in Zaroun زرعون (Matn District). This person is assumed to be the ancestor of the Druze “Daou” family, whose members early inhabited the towns of Qrayeh القريّة (Baabda District); Bchatfine بشتفين /Deir Kouche دير كوشة (Chouf District) & later spread to other towns in the Levant. Some members of the Druze "Daou" family could have also converted to Christianity in the 18th-19th c. CE.
Branches of the Daou Family
Christian Branches
In Lebanon, these branches are assumed to have spread from its original hometown of Lehfed (Jbeil District); many of these branches became independent families:
• Saad and his branches: al-Labaki, Lahoud and al-khoury Nakour.
• Aalam and his branches: Abu Hatoum, Jebran, Shaaya, Maatouk, Shoubat, Dakhoul, Andraous, al-Afeera, Hankash, al-Fahl, Mandour, Saadallah and al-Sabagh.
• Nehme and his branches: Naoum, al-Hajj Keewan, Abi Aatma (Abu Atmeh)..., Moawad, Hanna al-Khoury, Sader-Deeb, Shidyac, Aakr, Safa, Aazar and Abi Khars. The first family tree of this branch was put by Nehme Bchara Nehme in 1888 CE and was renewed in 1913 CE.
• Daw al-Sagheer and his branches: Nasr, Abi Nasr, al-Jarr, Karam, Aaboud, Saliba, Shamoun, Al-Nasrani, Abi Karam, Aarkati, al-Aajwa, Jaara, Sarkis, Abi Zayd, Hammam and Hawila.
In the 18th & 19th c. CE, many Lebanese Christian families moved to N. Palestine. Some members of the "Daou" family moved during this period & settled in the following towns:
• Acre city “عكا”
• Bi'ina town “البعنة” (Shaghur): notable members: Salim Daw (Director & Actor) & his daughter Maysa Daw (Singer)
• Isfiya town “عسفيا” (Mount Carmel): notable members: Kamil Dow (Calligrapher)
• Rameh town “الرامه” (Upper Galilee)
• Kafr Bir'im town “كفر برعم” (very close to Lebanon's southern border): all this town's inhabitants were forced out by the Israeli army in 1948 CE.
Druze Branches
Historically, The Druze Daou family have inhabited these 3 main areas: Zaroun (Matn District), Qrayeh القريّة (Baabda District) & Bchatfine/Deir Kouche (Chouf District); later spread to other places in Lebanon, N. Palestine & Syria. Members of the family in Zaroun established "Haouch Ez Zaraane" (currently a suburb of Zahle) in the 17th c. CE (left the area either in late 18th c. CE or early 19th c. CE). From Bchatfine, members of the family moved to the towns of: Kfarhim (Chouf District) & Binnay (Aley District). In Syria, members of the Druze "Daou" family inhabited many towns, amongst which are: Jaramana (Damascus Suburb, Syria) & Salkhad (Al-Suwayda District, Syria)
Many members of the Druze Daou family who migrated to other towns became independent families, with some joining other existing families. These include:
• Natour Family (Daliyat al-Karmel دالية الكرمل; Haifa District): their ancestor are assumed to have migrated to N. Palestine in the 17th c. CE from Zaroun.
• Araydeh Family (Maghar المغار; Galilee): Their ancestors are believed to have descended from the Druze Daou family in Lebanon.
• Atashe Family (Isfiya عِسفْيا; Haifa District): they are descendants from the Druze Daou family of Deir Kouche , their ancestor (Mahmoud ibn Ahmad Daou) moved to N. Palestine in the 19th. c CE (married a woman named “Atashe” عطشة; thus the origin of the surname).
• Meshaal branch of the Abu Saleh family (Majdal Shams; Golan Heights): There ancestor "Meshaal" is believed to descend from the Druze Daou family of Bchatfine, he joined the "Abu Saleh" family & adopted their surname (via the bond of marriage).
“Al Daou” & “Daou” Muslim branches in the Levant
In the Levant, “Al Daou” الضو family is a Muslim family (Sunnite & Shiite), mainly present in the following places:
• Bint Jbeil town (Bint Jbeil District, Lebanon): Shiite
• Barja town (Chouf District, Lebanon):Sunnite
• Beirut city (Lebanon): Sunnite
• Tripoli city (Lebanon): Sunnite
• Aleppo City (Syria): Sunnite
• Armanaz town (Idlib Governorate, Syria): Sunnite
In Syria, the family surnames"Daou" & "Al Daou” are used interchangeably. There is also a big "Daou" ضو family in "Dalhoun" town (Chouf District), which is Muslim (Sunnite). It might have the same origin as "Al Daou" family in the nearby town of "Barja".
In Arabic, "ال" is a definite article used in the same manner as the English definite article of “the”. In the Levant, “ال” is sometimes used as a prefix that is added to the family surname. “ال”, when used as a prefix, is transliterated into English based on the starting letter of the word that follows. For example, if the word that follows "ال"is “Daou” / “ضو”, the transliterated English form for “الضو” will be:
• “El”: El-Daou, El Daou, Eldaou
• “Al”: Al-Daou, Al Daou, Aldaou
• “Ed”: Ed-Daou, Ed Daou, Eddaou
• “Ad”: Ad-Daou, Ad Daou, Addaou
These 4 prefixes can be used with any of the “Daou” various spelling: Dao, Dau, Daw, Dow, Dou, Daou, Daow, Dauo, Douw,Daww, Dhao, Dhau, Dhaw, Dhow, Dhou, Dhaou, Dhaow, Dhouw, Dhaww, Thao, Thau, Thaw, Thow, Thou, Thaou, Thaow, Thouw, Thaww. For example: Al Daou, El-Daou, Ed-Dou, Ad-Daw, Al Daw…
The “Bou Daou” & “Ben Daou” Family Surnames
In the Levant, there is a practice of adding one of the following prefixes (all meaning: “Father of”) to the family surname:
• “أبي”: “Abi”;
• “أبو”: “Abou” or“Abu”; ...
• “بو”: “Bou” or“Bu”
In Lebanon, the surname of “بو ضو” (i.e. “Bou Daou” or “Boudaou”) is mainly present in the town of “Antelias” (“Matn” district), with smaller presence in the town of“Hammana” (“Baabda” District). It is a Christian family, whose members have also immigrated to Canada (Montreal) & West Africa (e.g. Dakar, Abidjan).
In the Arab world, there is also the practice of adding the prefixes “bin” or “ben” to the family surname (In Arabic: "بن"; meaning: “Son of”). In the Levant, the "bin" (or "ben") prefixes were not used for the "Daou" family. In North Africa, I was able to find one family with the surname of “بن ضو”; i.e. “Ben Daou” or “Bendaou”. This family is present in Libya (Tripoli), Tunisia (Sfax, Mahdia) & Morocco (Fez, Casablanca, Safi, Tamelelt).
Lebanese Immigration
• Major immigration waves to Americas from the Levant took place between 1860 & 1930 AD (Bulk of which was between 1880 & 1920). The Lebanese emigrants came from the various religious sects: Christian sects (mostly Maronites), Druze (Mount Lebanon) & Shiites (Southern Lebanon).
• French passenger ships were active in the Mediterranean; & many Lebanese emigrants used them. Some passengers switched ships at ports in Europe or Africa depending on their destination countries. Favored destinations for the Lebanese were USA (New York City); Argentina (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Salta, Jujuy, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Santiago del Estero, Misiones, Chaco, Patagonia & Cuyo region); Venezuela (Puerto Cabello, Caracas); Uruguay (Montevideo); Brazil (Belém, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás & Rio de Janeiro); Mexico (Puerto Progreso, Veracruz & Tampico); Chile (Santiago, La Calera); Colombia (Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Lorica, Fundación, Aracataca, Ayapel, Calamar, Ciénaga, Cereté & Monteria).
• During the 19th & early 20th c. CE, Rufisque in Senegal was an important port city under French control. The city served as an important connecting point for transit passengers en route to Latin America. Some Lebanese decided to stay in Senegal & not to continue their journey to Latin America; these were from all Lebanese sects. Over time, Shiites from Southern Lebanon composed the bulk of the Lebanese expatriate communities in West Africa.
• Some members of the “Daou” family settled in Senegal, where a large African family of a similar surname already existed (e.g. in the cities of "Rufisque","Dakar", "Mbacké"). Some of the "Daou" family members might have adopted a surname variant similar to those used by the African "Daou" family in Senegal (notable persons of the Senegalese "Daou" family include: Guirane N'Daw, Moussa Ndao, Saidou Mohamed N'Daou).
Famous "Daou" Family members
• Dr. Abdullah Daou (عبدالله محمد سعيد ملحم نجم منصور أمين ضو; from “Binnay” -Aley District): He is a pioneer in the development of an advanced technology to construct floating islands. He designed different platforms for stable floating islands (e.g. Floating Island Dhow-4), which can also sail at low cruising speed. The design he implemented is very unique & employs a different marine engineering technology than what is traditionally used in the construction of ships or other offshore structures. Its main advantage is to provide a fabricated stable floating lot of land that can be used for any purpose. It is designed to be placed offshore, i.e. outside the crowded & expensive coastal lines of major cities. The mobile platform can be used as an extension for a beach resort or a location for sports & leisure activities. It can also be manufactured in various sizes, ranging between a few hundred & millions of square meters. Dr. Abdullah established "Beirut International Marine Industry and Commerce" company to construct the floating islands. He was honored by the Lebanese Government and the “Arab League” for his valuable engineering contribution.
• Georges J. Daou: Mr. Georges left Lebanon with his family in the 1970s after the start of the Lebanese civil war. He went to France & later immigrated to the USA. In 1987, he co-founded Daou Systems, Inc. & served as its CEO and Chairman. In 2006, He & his brother Daniel founded "DAOU Vineyards", a 120-acre vineyard based in Paso Robles, California. In 2007, he co-founded SG Biofuels, Inc. and served as its Chairman.
• Peter Daou: Mr. Peter is one of the most prominent political bloggers in the US; he was famous for writing "The Daou Report", which he published until he joined Hillary Clinton’s team in 2006.
He is the son of Lebanese businessman Arthur Daou (d. 1999; from Byblos, Lebanon) & a nephew of writer Erica Jong. He was one-half of the dance-music group “The Daou” alongside his wife “Vanessa Daou”; herself a famous singer.
• Doris Daou: Ms. Doris is a Lebanese-born astronomer from Merdache (Baabda District). Her family immigrated to Canada during the Lebanese civil war, when she was a child. She was educated at the Université de Montréal in Quebec, where she studied the atmospheric parameters of variable stars. Then, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in the USA, where she spent 9 years working on the Hubble Space Telescope. She then transferred to the team preparing to launch the Spitzer Space Telescope. Ms. Doris is now one of NASA's leading experts in education and public outreach.
• Rabih Dow (ربيع عارف ضو; Blind glass painter from “Zaroun” -Matn District): He is an artist, a fencing coach, a translator of Arabic poetry, and a survivor of Lebanon’s brutal civil war, in which he lost his 15-year-old brother, his eye-sight and left hand at the age of sixteen in an explosion. The search for medical treatment sent him to Europe and later to the United States where he has resided since then. He graduated from Boston College where he studied 20th Century Political and Intellectual History. For the last 12 years he has worked as a Fencing Coach, and as Vice-President of "Rehabilitation Services and International Training" at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts. His insight & empathy were inspirational to the Carroll Center clients, enabling people who lost their eyesight to navigate the world with confidence.
• Nehme & Alice Daou (Restaurant Daou): Mr. Nehme Daou & his wife Alice immigrated to Quebec, Canada from Lebanon in 1973. They opened the first “Restaurant Daou” in Montréal in 1975. It became a very successful restaurant famed for its fine Lebanese cuisine & family atmosphere.
• Latin America: Dr. Anibal Dao (Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs for Venezuela in the 1960s) , Rosalia Dau (Argentinian Singer), Ariana Dao Sidney (Venezuelan Singer), Denise Dao (Venezuelan Singer), Raja Daou (Inventor of Tekibon, the national drink of Bonaire), Dinorah Dao (Designer), Anibal Dao Pennino (Mister Turismo Latino 2011), Youssef Daou (Early 20th c. CE famous wheat merchant in Brazil -Amazon region); etc...
Historical Figures
• Patriarch "Joachim V Daou" (Патриарх Иоаким V Дау): His original name was Dorotheus Daou; he was born in 1553 CE. He became the Archbishop of Tripoli (Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch) & later was elected to replace the deposed Patriarch Michael VI (1577-1581 CE). He became known as Patriarch Joachim V (25 May 1581 – 7 Oct. 1592 CE). The location of the Greek Orthodox church of Antioch was at that time based in Damascus (It moved from Antioch to Damascus in the mid 14th c. CE). He made a famous visit to Wallachia (Romania), Budjak (Moldova) & Russia (Eastern Europe); during which he visited Moscow on 17 Jun. 1586 CE. He had made a notable contribution in the establishment of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church was inaugurated in the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (Patriarch Jeremias II Tranos) in Jan. 1589 CE. The Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia was chosen as the first Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church; who became known as Patriarch Job of Moscow (26 January 1589 – 19 June 1607 CE).
• "Mu'izz Daou" (from Qrayeh -Baabda District): He was a prominent member of the Druze “Daou” family -contemporary to Emir Bashir Shihab II (1767-1850). He was famous for his generosity & great wealth. He owned a famous mansion, which was transformed into a silk yarn plant in the second half of the 19th c. CE. The plant was sold later to the “Order of Friars Minor Capuchin”, who turned it into a monastery to replace their previous overcrowded convent “Capuchin Convent of Saint Anthony of Padua” in Khishbaw Ghazir (Keserwan District). It was the place where “Bl. Jacob Haddad of Ghazir” (1875-1954; founder of the “Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross of Lebanon”) completed his study in theology in the years 1900-1901 AD. The monastery was resold to the “Collège des Frères du Sacré-Coeur –Gemmayzé” & finally bought back by a member of the “Daou” family in Qrayeh town.
• Sheikh “Mohamad Salman Daou”(from Deir Kouche -Chouf District): He was the Mandatary (i.e. Agent) for the “al-Hamdan” feudal family (المشايخ آل الحمدان) in Deir Kouche. He was a strong & highly respected man in his Druze community, who became famous for his courageous & humane stance during the civil war that plagued Mount Lebanon in 1860 CE. During which, he offered refuge and protection for more than 60 Christians (mostly from the Nehme & Bustani families) who fled the nearby town of Deir el Qamar. Doing so meant he had to stand up against Sheikh “Bashir Nakad” (the fearful feudal lord of Manassef sub-district in Chouf), which he did -unhesitant- by offering the asylum for his guests & providing them with a safe passage to Beirut, escorted by his men.
The Surname "Daou" in Non-Levantine Arabic Countries
There are several families in the Arab world that have the "Daou” surname (or any of its variant spelling), but are not related to the “Daou” family branches in the Levant. Below is a list of these families:
In Saudi Arabia, Iraq & Kuwait:
• “Al Daw” الضو (possible variants: “Daw” ضو, “Dawwi” ضوي, “Al-Dawwi” الضوي, “BinDawwi” بن ضوي, “Bin Dawi”): They are a sub-branch of “Sinjara” (a branch of “Shammar” tribe). They are mainly located in Saudi Arabia (concentrated in “Rafha” & “Sakakah”; also present in “Arar”,“Ha’il”, “Riyadh”) & in Kuwait city. There is also a large sub-branch of them - “al-Mahmoud”- that lives in southern Iraq.
In Egypt:
• “Daw” ضو family (possible variants: “Al-Daw” الضو, “El-Dawwi”الضوي, “El Dawy", "Al-Dawi”): They are part of the “Samalous” tribe (originally from Libya), They are mostly present in the Governorates of “Faiyum” & “Giza”.
In Sudan:
• “Al Daw” الضو family (aka “Daw” ضو)
• “Daw Albait” ضو البيت family in “Ed Dueim” city; they are descendants from “Daw Albait” (b. 1845 CE in “En Nahud” town), a famous Muslim scholar who moved to“Ed Dueim” city in 1866.
In Maghreb countries:
• “Daou” ضو family in Tunisia: They are descendants from the “Banu Yazid “, a branch of the “Banu Salim” tribe. They are mainly present in “El Hamma” city.
• “Daou” ضو families (possible variants: “Daw”, “Dao”, “Dhao”) in Libya. They include sub-branches of the following clans: “Jalaghimah” (“Magarha” tribe); “Awlad Salih”(“Wershfana” tribe); “Al Qahs” (“Qadhadhfa” tribe).
• “Daou” ضو family in Algeria: present mainly in the provinces of Algiers, Bouira, Bejaia, Adrar, Tizi Ouzou, Tiaret.
• “Daou” ضو family (aka “Al-Daou” الضو) in Morocco: Present across the country; in Kenitra, Meknes, Casablanca, Oujda, Beni Mellal, El Jadida, Agadir, Berkane, Ouazzane, Sidi Kacem, Tanalt, Tinghir, Marrakesh, Dradeb, Tangier, Asfi, El Ksiba, Khouribja, Sidi Ifni, Taza, Alnif, El Kelaa Des Sraghna, Benahmed, Taourirt, Tafraoute, Nador, Rabat, Temara, Tétouan ...
• “Ben Daou” بن ضو family: They are present in Libya (Tripoli), Tunisia (Sfax, Mahdia) & Morocco (Fez, Casablanca, Safi, Tamelelt).
• “Dao” ضو family in Mauritania: belong to the African “Dao” branches present in West Africa.
Families with Similar Surnames:
• "Bou Dawwi" البو ضوي clan in Iraq: A sub-branch of "Ubadah" (a branch of the "Banu Uqayl" tribe). They are mainly present in "Dhi Qar" Governorate (Southern Iraq).
• “Dawa” ضوا family in Syria: mainly present in “Masyaf” city (“Hama” Governorate).
• “Abodowia /Dwia /Äbö Dwäÿä”أبو ضوية family in Egypt: mainly present in the cities of Helwan & Sohag
• “Dawa/Dawah” ضوة/ضوه family in Egypt
• “Al-Dawwi/Dawwi” ضوي/الضوي family in S. Egypt
• “Al-Dawwa” الضوة family (aka “Aldawa”) in Libya: A sub-branch of “Awlad Harb” (a branch of the “Wershfana” tribe)
• “Daou”ضوء family in Sabratha, Libya
• “Daoui” ضاوي family in Lebanon: mainly present in the of “Khiam” town (South Lebanon)
• “Al-Dawi” الضاوي family (aka “Daoui”, “Aldawi”, “Dhu Dawi” ذو ضاوي) in Yemen: this family is a sub-branch of the “Sufyan ibn Arhab” tribe
• “Al-Dawi” الضاوي family in Saudi Arabia & Kuwait: this family is a sub-branch of “Banu al-Anbar” (a branch of “Banu Tamim” tribe). They are mainly present in the cities of “Harmah” & “Al Majma'ah” (“Sudair” region,“Najd”).
• “Dowayan” الضويان Family (aka “Dhwayan”, “Al Dhwayan”, “Aldhowayan”) in Saudi Arabia: They are a sub-branch of the “Banu Zayd” tribe.
• “Daoo” دعو Family in Algeria.
"Daou" as a Surname in Non-Arabic Countries
- The French family “Daou” (aka Daoust, D’Aoust, Daout, Daoût, Davous, Davoust, Dault, Dahoult, Dahout, Dahult, Dauld, D’Aout, Dauth, Dawlt, Deau, Deault, Deaut, Deaux, Doe, Doth, Doult, Dow)...
- The French family "Dao"
- The English family “Daw” (aka Dawe, Daws, Dawes, Douwes, Dohse)
- The English family “Dawa”
- The English/Scotish/Irish family “Dow” (aka McDow, Dow, Dou, Dowe, Dove, Dows, Dowse, Dowes, Doves, Douw, Douwe)
- The German family “Dau” (Old Frisian"Douwo"; S. German "Davo", short form of the personal name"Tavold")
- The German family "Daue"
- The German/French family "Dauer" (aka Dower)
- The Swiss family "Doewz"
- The Dutch family “Douw” (NY-USA; Origin: Friesland, Netherlands)
- The Italian family “Dao” (Piemonte region, Italy)
- The Italian family “Dho”
- The Argentinian family “Dauo”
- The Russian family “Дау” (i.e."Dau"; short form for Ландау (Landau) family; aka Landauer, Landaur, Landov, Landow, Landahl. This family originated in either of the 2 cities named"Landau" in Alsace (France) or Palatinate (Germany; this branch of the family is of Jewish origin).
- The “Dao” family (aka Đào; a Catholic Vietnamese family; origin: Lang Me Village, N. Vietnam)
- The “Dao” (aka "Daw") family in Philippines
- The “Dâw people” of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil
- The African "Daou" families (aka Dao, N’Daou, N’Daw, N’Dao, Ndaou, Ndaw, Ndao, Ndow, Daw, Dão, Dau, نداو، نضاو) are present in the following countries (mostly in West Africa): Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Benin, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia (Ndow), Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria (Daw), Sierra Leone, Togo, Chad, Central African Republic, Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania (Dau).
- The “Ndau” people of central Mozambique (Zambezi valley) & eastern Zimbabwe (aka N’Dau).
- The “Ndau” people of Indonesia (aka Ndao, N’Dau, N’Dao)
- In Vietnamese “Dao” people refers to the “Yao” people (in China, Vietnam, Laos & Thailand). The Red Dao people live in villages near Sapa town in Northwest Vietnam.
- The Chinese “道”(Dao) & “陶”(Táo) families (Han ethnicity)
- The ancient Chinese “竇”(Dao) family of Qinghe County (Xingtai, Hebei province) in the 2nd c. BCE, during the Han Dynasty. Empress Dou (Wen; r.179-157 BCE) was from this family.
- The ancient Chinese "竇" (Dou) clan, which was powerful in the 1st c. CE, during the Han Dynasty. Notable members of this clan includes Empress Dou (Zhang; r.78-88 CE).
The Meaning & Historical Usage of the Word "Daou"
Usage in Arabic
The word “Daou" (Arabic: ضو) is a colloquial short form of formal Arabic word “ضوء”, which means “Light” or “illumination”.
Historically, it is not a very common name in the Levant; however, in historical books we find some references to some people having this name:
• In the 13th c. CE; “Daou” was the name of the grandfather of Imam Ibn Kathir (1301-1373; إسماعيل بن عمر بن كثير بن ضوء بن كثير بن ضوء بن زرع).
• In 1533 CE; someone named “Saleh” ibn”Daou” ("صالح ضو"؛ "صالح ولد ضو") from Qrayeh town appears in the Ottoman tax register (Tapu Tahrir Defteri 401; p.217)
• In the 16th c. CE, a person with the first name of “Daou” from the Maalouf family moved to “Amioun”; Koura District. He was nicknamed “Saliba”; his descendants include the following families (“دواني القطوف في تاريخ بني المعلوف” by Issa Iskandar Al-Maalouf; p.152):
- “Choueiri” (“Abi Youssef Nehme” branch) in “Choueir”; Matn District
- “Abi Akl” in “Bteghrine”; Matn District
- “Abi Kassab” in “Qaa Er-Rim”; Zahle Distrcit
- “Hawi” in “Choueir”; Matn District & “Amioun”; Koura District
- “Ghosn” in Koura District
- “Salibi” in “Souk El Gharb”; Aley District
- “Abi Gerges” in various places in Lebanon
• In 1684 CE; a person with the name “Daou Faraj” from the “Maalouf” family was employed by Sheikh “Khazen el Khazen” (“دواني القطوف في تاريخ بني المعلوف” by Issa Iskandar Al-Maalouf; p.195)
• In 1766 CE, a person with the name of“ ibn Daou” from the “Abi Farah” branch of the “Maalouf family is mentioned in an incident related to a local church in "Kafarakab"; Matn District (“دواني القطوف في تاريخ بني المعلوف” by Issa Iskandar Al-Maalouf; p.204).
In modern days, “Daou” (in its Arabic Form “ضو”) is a very popular first name in Libya & is present in person’s name in many of the Arabic speaking North African countries. “Daou” (in its Arabic Form “ضوء”) is also still used in Iraq as a first name.
Usage in other languages
In Chinese, the word Dao refers to any of the following:
- Dào (or Dǎo; Mandarin Chinese: 道): a word meaning way, path, road, method.
- Dão (or Tao): a philosophical Chinese concept (Taoism).
- Dao: the name given to administrative provinces in ancient China (after 627 CE).
- Dao: the name given to certain types of Chinese single-edge swords.
- Dao: a Chinese vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BCE), which was located in the southern part of Runan County, Henan.
Other meanings:
- Daw (in Medieval English): the term was used as the diminutive form for "David".
- Daw is a former name for the jackdaw (a black bird related to crows and ravens).
- Daou (Breton) & Dau (Welsh): the respective term was used for number two in these Celtic languages.
- Dao (in Filipino) or Dracontomelon Dao is the name given to a species of tropical canopy tree.
- Dao is the name of a two player abstract strategy game played on a 4x4 board.
- Daw is a Burmese honorific title used before the names of senior women in the society.
- Дау is the name of a Russian movie dedicated for the famous Soviet physicist Lev Landau (Лев Ланда́у).
- Dhow (German: Dau or Dhau; Russian: Доу; Turkish: Dhov) is a generic term for traditional sailing vessels used in the Red Sea & Indian Ocean region.
- Dhau is a type of yogurt prepared by the "Newa" people of Nepal.
- Daou is the name of a South Korean IT company; Daou Technology Inc.
- Jiangsu Daou Aluminium Co. is the name of a Chinese company located in Changzhou City.
Geographic Places:
- Daou Vineyards, Paso Robles, California, USA; N 35.636424, W 120.773395
- Douar Sidi Daou, Morocco; N 31.65, W 8.05
- Oulad Ben Daou, Morocco; N 35.24, W 5.99
- Ait Bou Daou, Morocco; N 30.050058, W 8.899891
- Djebel Daou, Tunisia; N 36.4264, E 10.2728
- Ouled Ben Daou, Tunisia; N 36.4392, E 10.2589
- Ouled Dhaou Village (أولاد ضو), Tunisia; N 33.770985, E 9.855190
- Ad Daw, Homs, Syria; N 34.5722222, E 38.0694444
- Tell Daou (Tall Daww), Homs; N 34.9333, E 36.4833
- Daw Al Qamar, Ninawa, Iraq; N 36.6222222, E 42.8152778
- Daw Sunni, Musandam, Oman; N 26.3172222, E 56.5008333
- Izbat Ad Daw ( عزبة الضو), near Faiyum, Egypt; N 29.214703, E 30.765422
- Al Daw Street, Giza, Egypt; N 29.9855556, E 31.1944444
- Frazione di Dao (Cuneo province, Piemonte region, Italy); N 44.495002, E 7.315498
- Dão-Lafões subregion of Dão DOC (the oldest established wine region in Portugal); N 40.655059, E 7.914097
- Rio Dão, a river in Portugal; N 40.438550, W 8.059348
- Dao, Senegal; N 15.670057, W 16.553668
- Con Dao Islands (Southeast Vietnam); N 8.678278, E 106.601713
- Chiang Dao District (North Thailand); N 19.366990, E 98.964359
- Ndao Island (Indonesia); S 10.816665,E 122.666668
- Dao County (Yongzhou, Hunan, China); N 25.526438, E 111.600796
- Dao Municipality (Capiz, Philippines); N 11.394416, E 122.68783
- Dau Barangay (Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines); N 15.182263, E 120.588882
- Daw, Mauritania, village
- Daw Mill, a mine located in Warwickshire, England; N 52.506389, W 1.617778
- Daw Park, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide; S 34.981, E 138.588
- Daw's Castle, Anglo Saxon hill fort in Somerset, England; N 51.181389, W 3.344167
- Jabal Daw', a hill in Ras al-Khaimah; N 25.383333, E 56.35