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The Al-Taher Family Archive is an independent family initiative dedicated to documenting, preserving, and responsibly sharing the genealogy and history of the Al-Taher family.
The family tree is at the heart of the Archive, and we aim to complete it to include all descendants of As’ad Al-Taher.
The Archive also seeks to collect records, photographs, documents, family accounts, and historical materials that help preserve family history and illuminate the lives of its members and their relationships.
Our aim is a family tree that is as comprehensive and accurate as possible, supported by an organized, reliable record that respects individual privacy and remains a resource for future generations.
Archive Stewardship
The Al-Taher Family Archive is maintained by brothers Firas and Ahmad, sons of the late “Muhammad Salameh” Shaker Tawfiq Al-Taher and Mrs. Da’ad Ahmad Abdul Rahim Al-Taher.
Ahmad leads research into the family's genealogy and history, drawing on Sharia court records, census records, and other historical documents. Firas oversees the Archive's technical development, administration, preservation, and data and presentation standards.
Together, they are committed to maintaining the accuracy and consistency of the Archive's information, documenting it responsibly, and preserving it for future generations.
Family Tree Scope
The family tree includes As’ad Al-Taher and all his biological and adopted descendants through either parent, regardless of gender or surname. Their immediate non-descendant spouses are also included.
Maternal and paternal descendants are treated equally. A descendant remains part of the Al-Taher genealogy regardless of the surname carried by that person or later generations.
The Archive also documents selected information about individuals outside As’ad’s descendant line, such as his ancestors and half-siblings, when it helps clarify the family’s history and relationships.
Research & Evidence
Family Contributions
Completing the family tree depends on family members sharing what they know about their relatives and branches. Every contribution helps document generations, connect family branches, and fill gaps in our existing knowledge.
Earlier family trees and the efforts of previous generations provide an important foundation for our work today. Through family members' contributions and review, we can fill gaps in the tree, correct errors, and clarify relationships among its branches.
Historical documents also help complete the picture. Working with several institutions, we have obtained valuable sources, including Sharia court records, Ottoman population registers, and available issues of selected newspapers published in Palestine and Jordan. These sources have helped us identify individuals previously absent from the family tree, clarify family relationships, and discover aspects of our history that were not previously known.
Historical Research: Family History and Roots Before Nablus
Research into the family's distant origins differs from documenting the contemporary family tree. It involves studying and comparing historical sources and assessing their reliability. The Archive respects and preserves inherited family accounts and traditions, while distinguishing what historical evidence establishes from what remains an account or hypothesis, without presenting either as an established fact.
Some questions about distant origins may remain unanswered because the surviving historical records are limited. Completing the family tree from As’ad Al-Taher and his descendants, however, does not depend on resolving those questions and remains our primary priority.
Names, Places, and Data Consistency
The family tree includes names spanning many generations, written in Arabic and English, with spelling variations from one person to another.
The Archive respects each individual's chosen spelling of their name and preserves it in their personal record. At the same time, the Archive applies a consistent Arabic-to-Latin transliteration standard for names displayed in the Interactive Tree and statistical reports. See our Arabic name transliteration guide and examples.
The Archive also follows consistent standards for recording places, dates, and other information, while preserving original historical forms where appropriate.
Personal Stories
Our family history is more than names, dates, and relationships. Every family member has experiences, memories, and aspects of their life worth preserving.
The Archive provides space in each personal record for individuals to share their life stories in their own words, choosing what they wish future generations to know about them. However ordinary these stories may seem, they are part of our family's history and shared memory.
Privacy and Information Protection
The Archive is committed to protecting the personal and family information it maintains and respecting the privacy of family members. This includes information such as dates of birth, contact details, and personal photographs, with access governed by the nature of the information and applicable privacy settings.
Only information appropriate for public access is published on the public website. The detailed family tree, photographs, documents, and other records are subject to access controls that reflect individual privacy and the nature of the materials preserved.
Access permissions depend on the type and sensitivity of the information, with an emphasis on responsible preservation and access. Read the Privacy Policy.
A Living Record
The Al-Taher Family Archive aims to be a living record that continues to grow and become more complete through the contributions of family members.
Every name we add, every family relationship we uncover, and every photograph or document we preserve adds another piece to our family's history and helps carry it forward to future generations.