Wakim
Wakim is a Levantine Christian family surname historically rooted in lower Galilee, modern day Lebanon and Palestine/Israel, with branches documented in Mount Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley and in the Jerusalem area.
The family's origins are relatively well-documented, with Maronite and Greek Orthodox records tracing their lineage to before the Islamic conquest of the Levant. The name itself believed to derive from the Hebrew Yehoyaqim, meaning “raised” or “established by God.”For centuries, the family has traditionally been associated with the Desposyni, the early Judeo-Christian families regarded as relatives of Jesus.
Notable people with the surname include:
- Bishara Wakim, Egyptian director and actor
- Chris Wakim, former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
- Emil Wakim, Lebanese-American comedian and actor
- Najah Wakim, president and one of the founders of the Lebanese leftist group the People's Movement
- Sam Wakim, Canadian lawyer and former Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons