Qubain Family
Qubain Family (also known as: Qubein, Cobain, Cobein, Kubein and Kobein. Arabic: قبعين ) is a wealthy Christian family of Palestinian[1] and Jordanian origins. The family owns several businesses and establishments throughout the country and are involved in the furniture industries, financial, medical and engineering services.
Origin
The name Qubain comes from the Arabic word quba-atain ( Arabic: قُبعَـتين ) meaning two head-covers (i.e. hats). This name association was given to the shepherd Hanna Nassar, originating from the city of Salt. The story told: One day, Hanna was out herding his cattle in the mountains of Ajloun when the rain came down heavily. So, he made a cover from two sacks and sought shelter in the nearby village of Anjara. The village dwellers, not knowing his name, acknowledged him as “Abu Quba’ain” ( Arabic: أبوقبعين) which translates to the man with two hats.
Hanna lived to have three sons in his new hometown of Anjara. In the early 1800s the family moved to live in Nazareth. Later Ibrahim the eldest son moved to settle back in Anjara and Eid, the youngest, moved to settle back in Salt. Khalil, the middle son, continued his life in Nazareth. From these three brothers the whole Qubain descendants come. One of the first Christian famillies in Salt.
Notable deceased Qubains
- Salim was the founder of “Al’akhaa’” (translates to Friendship) Cultural magazine in 1924 in Cairo.
- Najeeb was the first Arabic Archbishop in 1952 to the Anglican Church of England in the Levant region.
- Shurki was the first University-educated architect in Jordan and co-founded the Jordan Engineering Union in 1953.
- Adel Najib donated funds to help build St. Mary of Nazareth Catholic Church in 1984.
Qubain Foundation
In 1992 the elders of the family at the funeral of Issa Jeries decided to establish a foundation that pools annual fees from the working men in the families resident in Jordan to attend for family funeral needs. Later the foundation grew to be social event organization and digital documentary advocates to the family.
In 2011 the active leaders of the foundation are Makram Adel, Fadel Jubrae'l, Samer Fuad and Basil Qubain.
References
The History of Nazareth by Reverend Asad Mansour Al Shaaeri. Hilal Press - Cairo, Egypt 1924.