The surname “Al (El) Chemor” (in Arabic الشمرّ) has many other transliterations: Shamir, Shammar, Shoumar, Shmr, Chemour, Chemr, etc.
The family ruled two sheikhdoms in Northern Lebanon, Aqoura from 1211 to 1633 and the Zawyia region of Zgharta from 1641 to 1747. Important to notice that the El Chemor family has this name from the last king of Ghassan, Chemor (or Shummar, Shemir, Shemar, etc) Jablah VI Ibn Aiham (ruled 632-638 CE). Therefore, they were known as the “Chemori” (not to be confused with the El Chemori/Shamari surname) or “the descendants of King Chemor”. King Jablah VI received the name “Chemor” from a tradition started by King Jabalah IV (ruled 518-528 CE) who was also known by the “kunya” or teknonymous “Abu Chemor” (or “the father of Chemor“) referring to the eldest brother to King Al-Harith V, the most famous Ghassanid King of all times (ruled 529-569 CE).. Its sheiks were the last Ghassanid princes to rule until the 18th century.
Today, according to the website Forebearers, there’s a very limited number of family members in the whole world, only around 500 people combined (El Chemor/Chemor, Gharios, and Guerios) we find it to be a very small and exclusive family. Source: https://forebears.io/
Of course, if we think in European terms, that might sound strange. How can we assert an unequivocal royal lineage simply by a surname? In Europe, there are dozens of families with the same surnames that are not even related. Also, by the restrictive European laws of succession (including Salic and semi-Salic laws, morganatic marriages, etc.) the observance of the particular position on the family tree is indispensable. Not in the Middle East, where the simple descent in male line from the last ruler is mandatory.
Even though the surname is written the very same way in Arabic “الشمرّ” it has different pronunciations even in the Arab world. Noteworthy, in Lebanon, thanks to the Syriac Aramaic influence of the Maronite Christians, it has a different intonation than the rest of the Arab countries.
“The Syriac language (/ˈsɪriæk/ SIH-ree-ak; Classical Syriac: ܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ, romanized: Leššānā Sūryāyā, Leshono Suryoyo),[a] also known as Syriac Aramaic (Syrian Aramaic, Assyrian Aramaic, Syro-Aramaic) and Classical Syriac ܠܫܢܐ ܥܬܝܩܐ (in its literary and liturgical form), is an Aramaic language. The language is a dialect that emerged during the first century AD from a local Aramaic dialect that was spoken in the ancient region of Osroene, centered in the city of Edessa. During the Early Christian period, it became the main literary language of various Aramaic-speaking Christian communities in the historical region of Ancient Syria and throughout the Near East. As a liturgical language of Syriac Christianity, it gained a prominent role among Eastern Christian communities that used both Eastern Syriac and Western Syriac rites.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_language
Arabic has many transliterations or “Romanizations” of Arabic words. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Arabic
A word, a name, or a surname can be written in many different ways in English, Spanish, Italian, French, etc. It has the VERY SAME WRITING IN ARABIC. For example, the Maloof Family. You write it in Arabic in only one way, but in Roman languages, you can write: Maalouf, Maloof, Makhlouf, Maluf, etc. It’s the very same family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maloof_family
Any amateur genealogist knows that it’s very frequent that names and surnames from the same family have different spellings. Here’s another explanation from professional genealogist Melissa Corn Finlay, Accredited Genealogist® has 30 years of genealogical research experience. She is accredited by ICAPGen℠ in the Mid-South region of the United States. She is a specialist in research planning, solving genealogy brick walls, research report writing, and document analysis.
According to ABC News, there are at least 112 recognized spellings of Moammar Gadhafi, the late Libyan dictator. https://www.westword.com/news/top-112-spellings-of-moammar-gadhafi-or-gaddafi-or-qaddafi-or-kadafi-5875642
According to BBC, the name Mohammad has the following different spellings variations: Muhammad, Mohammed, Mohammad, Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Muhamad, Muhamed, Mohamud, Mohummad, Mohummed, Mouhamed, Mohammod and Mouhamad.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-45638806#
That’s not just in Arabic. Another reason for the different ways of writing the same surname was because the immigration clerks would write the surnames and names in any way they understood it. It’s a very common and notorious fact and it happened to families from all over the world.
How come Prince Gharios’ name is “Ahnume Guerios”?
That’s the Portuguese transliteration of the Arabic name النعمان غاريوس or in English “Al-Numan Gharios”.
Prince Gharios was born in 1973 and up to 1988, anything related to monarchy was forbidden in Brazil due to the constitution (1891) that followed the coup-de-etat that overthrew the Brazilian Emperor in 1889, making it impossible for Gharios/El Chemor family members in Brazil to even register their titles legally.
However, the fact that the prince was registered as “Ahnume” (Al-Numan) implies royal blood according to the old Arab tradition, otherwise, he would be just “Nume” (Numan or Noman, the actual given name in the simple form). The Ghassanid Kings followed this principle, for example, seven kings were also named “Al-Numan” instead of just “Numan”. All kings named “Harith”, “Mundhir”, and “Ayham” also had the “Al” in front. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghassanids
Like the late King Hussein of Jordan, his name was “Al-Hussein” not just “Hussein”.
Same with the current crown prince of Jordan of the same name.
Therefore, Prince Gharios never “changed his name”, he simply added the titles, the original surname, and the English translation of the Arabic names instead of the Portuguese one AFTER those rights were legally recognized as his by an international court verdict, learn more HERE
According to international law, it’d be perfectly acceptable to Prince Gharios to completely change his name legally since, due to the jurisprudence, his “jus majestatis” – the right of being honored by his titles, is intact. By assuming the headship of the Royal House of Ghassan he could have chosen a completely different “regnal name” like it’s tradition for monarchs, popes, and heads of dynasties. Learn more about “regnal names” HERE
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THE ROYAL HERALD 