Pronunciation Ez-zi | Region of origin Lebanon/Tuscany | |
Meaning "Those of the silkworm" | ||
Azzi is the anglicized form of (القزي Commonly shortened to: قزي) translating to "Those of the silkworm" or "That which is of the silkworm".
The Azzi family or the House of the Azzi (بية القزي) as it is usually referred to in the region is a family found in the coastal settlements of Lebanon. The family traces its history back to the silk trade and is considered to be a part of the high merchant class that developed during the height of the silk road in Ottoman Lebanon. Though the silk trade has long since floundered in the region, the Azzi family continues its tradition of mercantilism through various business traditions around the world. The Azzi family also has a noteworthy military and mercenary tradition.
The family belongs to the Maronite religious group, however it has foreign origins. The name itself, (القزي) or El-Az-zeh, is used in a manner indicative of a title rather than a name. Local origin stories from Saida and Tabarja indicate that the family arrived in Lebanon fairly recently (1600-1830) and is of Italian origin, Tuscany is more often than not referenced.
The Lebanese Azzi family has no relation to an Italian family of the same name, which bears a false friend relationship and has its origin with the first name Azzo, pronounced akin to the word Piazza. However, adding to the confusion is the fact that various Lebanese Azzi's returned to Italy bearing their new name. Thus, in Italy there are two distinct Azzi families with coincidentally similar names and origins which are impossible to differentiate without ancestral records.