List of Assyrian settlements


The following is a list of historical and contemporary Assyrian settlements in the Middle East. This list includes settlements of Assyrians from Southeastern Turkey who left their indigenous tribal districts in Hakkari, Sirnak and Mardin province due to torment, violence and displacement by the Ottomans in the First World War. Many Assyrians from Urmia, Iran were also affected and as such have emigrated and settled in other towns. Resettling again occurred during the Simele massacre in northern Iraq, perpetrated by the Iraqi military coup in the 1930s, with many fleeing to northeastern Syria.
Most modern resettlement is located in Iraq, Syria and Iran in the cities of Baghdad, Habbaniyah, Kirkuk, Duhok, Al-Hasakah, Tehran and Damascus. Few Assyrian settlements exist in Turkey today and also in the Caucasus. The exodus to the cities or towns of these aforementioned countries occurred between late 1910s and 1930s. After the Iraq War in 2003, a number of Assyrians in Baghdad relocated to Northern Iraq, repopulating parts of Iraqi Kurdistan, in what they now call the "Assyrian homeland". Many others have immigrated to North America, Europe and Australia, especially in the late 20th century and 21st century. Currently, there are a number of settlements on this list that have been abandoned due to persecution, conflict, and other causes.

Iraq

Baghdad Province">Baghdad Governorate">Baghdad Province

Dohuk Province">Dohuk Governorate">Dohuk Province

SettlementAramaicProvinceDistrictNote
AradenܐܪܕܢDohukAmadiya35 Assyrian families inhabit Araden as of May 2004
EnishkeܐܝܢܫܟܐDohukAmadiya30 Assyrian families inhabit Enishke as of May 2004
SarsingܣܪܣܢܓDohukAmadiya150 Assyrian families inhabit Sarsing as of May 2004
BadarashܒܪܕܪܐܫDohukAmadiya40 Assyrian families inhabit Badarash as of May 2004
AmadiyaܥܡܝܕܝܐDohukAmadiya
BazܒܐܙDohukAmadiya10 Assyrian families inhabited Baz in May 2004. 40 Christian and Muslim families inhabit Baz as of June 2011
Bebadiܒܝܬ ܒܥܕܝDohukAmadiya30 Assyrian families inhabit Bebadi as of May 2004
Belejaneܒܠܝܓ̰ܢܐDohukAmadiya15 Assyrian families inhabit Belejane as of May 2004
BelmandܒܠܡܢܕDohukAmadiya50 Assyrian families inhabit Belmand as of May 2004
BeqolkeܒܹܩܘܠܟܐDohukAmadiya74 Assyrians inhabited Beqolke in 1957; 7 Assyrian families inhabited Beqolke in 1978; 4 Assyrian families inhabit Beqolke as of 1991
BenathaܒܹܢܬܐDohukAmadiya8 Assyrian families inhabit Benatha as of May 2004
Beth Shmayayeܒܝܬ ܫܡܝܝܐDohukAmadiya
Beth Tanuraܒܝܬ ܬܢܘܪܐDohukAmadiya
ChalekDohukAmadiya10 Assyrian families inhabit Chalek as of May 2004
Chem Rabatkeܟ̰ܡ ܪܒܬܟܐDohukAmadiya
DawodiyaܕܘܘܕܝܐDohukAmadiya
DehiܕܗܐDohukAmadiya20 Assyrian families inhabit Dehi as of 1991
DereܕܝܪܐDohukAmadiya323 Assyrians inhabited Dere in 1957; 250 Assyrians inhabited Dere in 1988; 25 Assyrian families inhabit Dere as of May 2004
DerishkeܕܝܪܫܟܐDohukAmadiya20 Assyrian families inhabit Derishke as of May 2004
DoreehܕܘܪܗDohukAmadiya30 Assyrian families inhabit Dore as of May 2004
EqriܐܩܪܝDohukAmadiya
EyatܐܝܬDohukAmadiya169 Assyrians inhabited Eyat in 1957; 19 Assyrian families inhabit Eyat as of 2013
HayesܗܝܤDohukAmadiya
HezanyܗܝܙܢܐDohukAmadiya27 Assyrian families inhabit Hezany as of 1991
Jadideܓ̰ܕܝܕܐDohukAmadiya
JelekDohukAmadiya519 Assyrians inhabited Jelek in 1957; 62 Assyrian families inhabit Jelek as of 2011
Joleܫ̰ܘܠܐDohukAmadiya
Kani Balaviܟܢܝ ܒܠܦ̮ܐDohukAmadiya15 Assyrian families inhabit Kani Balavi as of May 2004
KhalilaneܚܠܝܠܢܐDohukAmadiya20 Assyrian families inhabit Khalilane as of May 2004
KomanyܟܘܡܢܐDohukAmadiya20 Assyrian families inhabit Komany as of May 2004
MangeshܡܢܓܫܐDohukAmadiya1195 Assyrians inhabited Mangesh in 1947; 959 Assyrians inhabited Mangesh in 1965
Margajiyaܡܪܓܐ ܓ̰ܝܐDohukAmadiya
MayeܡܝܐDohukAmadiya10 Assyrian families inhabit Maye as of May 2004
MeristekܡܝܪܣܬܟDohukAmadiya
MerogeܡܝܪܘܓܐDohukAmadiya
MezeܡܝܙܐDohukAmadiya
MosakaܡܘܣܵܟܵܐDohukAmadiya
Sardarawaܣܪ ܕܪܒܐDohukAmadiya
Sardashteܣܪܐ ܕܫܬܐDohukAmadiya
SikrineܣܟܪܝܢܐDohukAmadiya
TashishܬܫܝܫDohukAmadiya163 Assyrians inhabited Tashish in 1957.
AqrahܥܩܪܐDohukAqrah
NohawaܢܘܗܒܐDohukAqrah
BabeloܒܵܒܠܘDohukDohuk
BageratܒܓܝܪܬDohukDohuk
DohukܢܘܗܕܪܐDohukDohuk
Gondekosaܓܘܢܕ ܟܘܣܐDohukDohuk
Korygavanaܟܘܪܝܓܦ̮ܢܐDohukDohuk
ZawitaܙܘܝܬܐDohukDohuk
AvzrogܐܒܙܪܘܓDohukSemel
Bajed Beravܒܓ̰ܕ ܒܝܪܦ̮DohukSemel
Bajed Kindalܒܓ̰ܕ ܟܝܢܕܠDohukSemel
BakhetmeܒܚܬܡܐDohukSemel
Bakhlojaܒܚܠܘܓ̰ܐDohukSemel
Jamborܓ̰ܡܒܘܪDohukSemel
Mar Yakooܡܪܝ ܝܥܩܘܒDohukSemel79 Assyrian families inhabit Mar Yakoo as of 2011
SimeleܣܡܠܐDohukSemel
ShezeܫܝܙDohukSemelInhabited as of November 2011
Shkafteܫܟܦ̮ܬܐDohukSemel
SurkaܨܘܪܟܐDohukSemel
Berseveܒܝܪܣܦ̮ܐDohukZakho
DashtatakhܕܫܬܟDohukZakho
Dera Shishܕܝܪܐ ܫܝܫDohukZakho250 Assyrians inhabited Dera Shish in 1976; 8 Assyrian families inhabit Dera Shish as of 2011
Levoܠܝܦ̮ܘDohukZakho
MargaܡܪܓܐDohukZakho
Margasorܡܝܪܓܐ ܣܘܪDohukZakho
Navkandalaܢܐܦ̮ ܟܢܕܠܐDohukZakho
PirakaܦܝܪܟܐDohukZakho
QarawulaܩܪܘܠܐDohukZakho334 Assyrians inhabited Qarawula in 1957; inhabited by 66 Assyrian families in 1975. Inhabited as of November 2011.
SharaneshܫܪܢܘܫDohukZakho
ZakhoܙܟܼܘDohukZakhoA Chaldo-Assyrian tribe, associated with Catholic Assyrians. It has been inhabited by Assyrians since the 5th century. Assyrians from Hakkari, Turkey, have resettled there to escape persecution and violence by Ottoman Turks in the early 20th century.

Erbil Province">Erbil Governorate">Erbil Province

SettlementAramaicProvinceDistrictNote
AnkawaܥܢܟܒܐErbilErbil
ArmotaܐܪܡܥܘܛܐErbilKoya
BatasܒܬܣErbilShaqlawa
BidialܒܕܝܠErbilBarzan5 Assyrian families inhabit Bidial as of 1991
DarbandokehܕܪܒܢܕܘܟܐErbilShaqlawa
DianaܕܝܢܐErbilSoran
HarirܗܪܝܪErbilShaqlawa
HawdiyanErbilShaqlawa
HinariErbil
RowanduzܪܘܢܕܝܙErbilSoran
SeerishmiܣܝܪܫܡܝErbil
ShaqlawaܫܩܠܒܐErbilShaqlawa
QalataܩܠܬܐErbil

[Kirkuk Governorate]

Nineveh Province">Nineveh Governorate">Nineveh Province

SettlementAramaicProvinceDistrictNote
MosulܡܘܨܠNinevehAl-MosulAssyrians have inhabited the city of Mosul for over a millennia. Population records show a continuous Assyrian presence in Mosul from at least the 16th century. Assyrians from Mosul are Arabic-speaking, their dialect belongs to North Mesopotamian Arabic. Most belong to Syriac churches; the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Syriac Catholic Church, and the Chaldean Catholic Church. A few having converted from Syriac churches to Protestantism starting in the mid 19th century. The majority of Mosul Assyrians migrated south to Baghdad in the 1960s due to political unrest and persecution,. However, Assyrians continued to live in Mosul until being fully driven out by ISIS in 2014. After the recapturing of Mosul, only a few Assyrian families have returned back to the city.
Ain Sifniܥܝܢ ܣܦܢܐNinevehShekhan
AlqoshܐܠܩܘܫNinevehTel KeppeAncient Assyrian tribe associated with Chaldean Christians. It was also settled by Assyrians from Hakkari after 1914.
BandwayaNinevehTel-Keppe
BakhdidaܒܟܕܝܕܐNinevehAl-HamdaniyaWas an ancient, pre-Christian Assyrian town filled with historical artifacts. Always had a significant Christian minority in modern times. Was also settled by Assyrians from southeastern Turkey.
Balawatܒܝܬ ܠܒܬNinevehAl-Hamdaniya
BaqofahܒܬܢܝܐNinevehTel Keppe
BartellaܒܪܬܠܐNinevehAl-HamdaniyaHome to Oriental Orthodox Syriacs and Eastern Catholic Syriacs. Most emigrated out of the town due to Islamic terrorism and violence.
BatnayaܒܬܢܝܐNinevehTel KeppeAncient Assyrian tribe associated with Catholic Assyrians. Partially resettled as of now, post-ISIS.
DashqotanܕܫܩܘܬܢNinevehShekhan
KaramlesܟܪܡܠܝܣNinevehAl-Hamdaniya
JambourNinevehTel Keppe
KhorsabadNineveh
MerkiܡܪܓܐNinevehShekhan
SharafiyaܫܪܦܝܐNinevehTel KeppeTyari Assyrian immigrated here from Hakkari province after persecution and violence by Ottomans in 1914
Tel Keppeܬܠ ܟܐܦܐNinevehTel KeppeAncient Assyrian tribe populated by Catholic Assyrians. Also has had Assyrian settlements from Hakkari.
Tel Esqofܬܠ ܝܣܩܘܦܐNinevehTel KeppeAs above.
ArmashܥܪܡܫNinevehShekhan
AzakhܐܕܟNinevehShekhan
BebozeܒܒܘܙܐNinevehShekhan
DizeNinevehShekhan
Mala Barwanܡܠܐ ܒܪܘܢNinevehShekhan
TilanܬܠܐNinevehShekhan

Abandoned villages

Iran

West Azerbaijan Province">West Azerbaijan">West Azerbaijan Province

;Urmia County
Assyrians immigrated to Syria during the 1930s and 1940s, from Northern Iraq, after they were slaughtered and displaced during the Simele Massacre perpetrated by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Iraq. Many Assyrians in Syria did not have Syrian citizenship and title to their land until late 1940s. The Assyrians who settled in the Khabour River Valley organized their villages according to their own tribal structure, with each village belonging to a single tribe. As such, each village effectively has two names, the official Arabic name and the unofficial Assyrian name, with the latter being the name of the tribe that built the town.

[Al-Hasakah Governorate]

Villages in the Khabour River Valley
Cities and towns with Syriac-Assyrian population
Villages
Note: Maaloula and neighboring Muslim-majority villages Jubb'adin and Al-Sarkha are the only villages left where a majority of the population speak the Western Aramaic dialects

[Diyarbakır Province]

The following is a list of Assyrian settlements in the Hakkari region prior to the Assyrian Genocide of 1914. The Assyrian settlements in this region were divided into two groups, ashiret and rayyat. The ashiret settlements belonged to the five semi-independent tribes of Tyari, Tkhuma, Baz, Jilu, and Dez with each tribe presiding over its own district. The rayyat settlements were vassals to either the ashiret tribes or to Kurdish chieftains.
Villages in the Lower Tyari District
Villages in the Upper Tyari & Walto Districts
Villages in the Tkhuma District
Villages in the Baz District
Villages in the Jilu District
Villages in the Dez, Shwawuta, & Billijnaye Districts
Villages in the Liwan & Norduz Districts
Villages in the Qodchanis & Siwine Districts
Villages in the Chal, Raikan, & Tal Districts
Villages in the Gawar District
Villages in the Albaq, Derrenaye, Khananis, and Artushi Kurdish Districts
Villages in the Shemsdin District
Villages in the Baradost, Tergawar, & Mergawar Districts
Villages in the Taimar District
The Assyrian population in Armenia is mainly rural. Out of 3,409 Assyrians in Armenia 2,885 was rural and 524 urban.
According to the Council of Europe European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages there were four rural settlements with significant Assyrian population.

[Ararat Province]

  1. Verin Dvin - Assyrians and Armenians
  2. Dimitrov - Assyrians and Armenians

    [Armavir Province]

  3. Nor Artagers - Assyrians, Armenians and Yezidis

    [Kotayk Province]

  4. Arzni - Assyrians and Armenians