Are the Arabs and Mexicans related, why do they look like each other?

Question

ya dunia

until now all the mexican whom I met look like arabs. I am Arabic too and for some reason people think that I am mexican.

Answer 1

Im Iranian J2 DNA, been mistaken for Latino my whole life, J2 is well represented in Mexico obviosuly via Spaniards, J2 stretches from Afghanistan to Portugual along the meditaranean - I believe Romania and Sicily have especially high J2 concentration, hence the similarites are not that far fetched, and need not have anything to do with Moors or Arab immigration to Latin America. Peace and chicken grease.

Answer 2

 Saddam Hussein looking mexican , I think not he actually resembles many of the kurds of Iraq , same heritage .I have seen mexicans I dont think all are like arabs , some yes . Kurds are 28.4% j2 and 11.6% j1 , maybe even more and you have southeadtern tyrkey , hatay syria . 

 

 

Arab immigration to Mexico started in the 19th and early 20th centuries.^[38] Roughly 100,000 Arabic-speakers settled in Mexico during this time period. They came mostly fromLebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Iraq and settled in significant numbers in Nayarit, Puebla, Mexico City and the Northern part of the country (mainly in the states of Baja California,Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Coahuila, andDurango, as well as the city of Tampico and Guadalajara . The term "Arab Mexican" may include ethnic groups that do not in fact identify as Arab.

During the Israel-Lebanon war in 1948 and during the Six-Day War, thousands of Lebanese left Lebanon and went to Mexico. They first arrived in Veracruz. Although Arabs made up less than 5% of the total immigrant population in Mexico during the 1930s, they constituted half of the immigrant economic activity.^[39]

Immigration of Arabs in Mexico has influenced Mexican culture, in particular food, where they have introduced Kibbeh,Tabbouleh and even created recipes such as Tacos Árabes. By 1765,^{[citation needed]} Dates, which originated from the Middle East, were introduced into Mexico by the Spaniards. The fusion between Arab and Mexican food has highly influenced the Yucatecan[disambiguation needed] cuisine.^[40]

Another concentration of Arab-Mexicans is in Baja Californiafacing the U.S.-Mexican border, esp. in cities of Mexicali in theImperial Valley U.S./Mexico, and Tijuana across from San Diego with a large Arab American community (about 280,000), some of whose families have relatives in Mexico. 45% of Arab Mexicans are of Lebanese descent.

The majority of Arab-Mexicans are Christians who belong to the Maronite Church, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox andEastern Rite Catholic Churches. A scant number are Muslimsand Jews of Middle Eastern origins.

 

 

Answer 3

 There is a high rate of arab ancestory in mexico via spain. 

Answer 4

I don't think that every Mexican looks like an Arab. But Mexico is a country where many different races have mixed during a very long time. Thus you will find Mexicans who look arab, filipino or even chinese. I have seen people from India that can pass for Mexicans, and I'm sure there's absolutely no relation other than coincidental physical characteristics. I once read a funny post by some american right wing crazy blogger who swears that he has seen chinese troops in Mexico, obviously he has mistaken indigenous soldiers for chinese troops. Some indian tribes definitely look like chinese people with darker skin. So, if some Mexicans look arab, it's more of a coincidence than of a relationship.

Answer 5

I don't think that every Mexican looks like an Arab. But Mexico is a country where many different races have mixed during a very long time. Thus you will find Mexicans who look arab, filipino or even chinese. I have seen people from India that can pass for Mexicans, and I'm sure there's absolutely no relation other than coincidental physical characteristics. I once read a funny post by some american right wing crazy blogger who swears that he has seen chinese troops in Mexico, obviously he has mistaken indigenous soldiers for chinese troops. Some indian tribes definitely look like chinese people with darker skin. So, if some Mexicans look arab, it's more of a coincidence than of a relationship.

Answer 6

ACTUALLY, we ARE related. As most have said before, the Muslims (Arabs AND Berbers) ruled Spain for 700 years. You can't populate a country for almost a millenia and NOT have influence and change some DNA. Mexicans have a wide ranging "look". We can look quite Caucasian, Indigenous, Arab, Asian, Indian, and the list goes on. 

Also the Spanish language and culture was highly influenced by the Arabs. Some words for example are, "arroz","aceite", "alberca", etc. The full list is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Words_of_Arabic_origin

Thats a long list if you ask me. I'm taking Arabic now, and I squeal with joy every time we find a Arabic connection to a Spanish word. Also, if I'm not mistaken, many linguists believe that the Spanish exclamation of "Ole!" comes from Allah, and our term "Ojala" which means, "I hope so", comes from InshAllah. 

So the next time you're wondering why your Mexican acquaintance looks like Saddam Hussein, (sorry, bad example, but true in the case of my uncle), its because he practically is. Not 100%, but quite close. Also for further reference, take a peek at this example of DNA analysis of a Hispanic American: http://www.dnatribes.com/sample-results/dnatribes-sample-hispanic.pdf 

If you scroll towards the bottoms, you can see she has matches in the Middle East and the Maghrib or North Africa, along with European and Mestizo matches. 

So please, don't be offended if people automatically speak Spanish to you. Tell them "Soy Arabe", unless you speak Spanish, then converse with your long lost cousins. We've got more in common than you know! I quite enjoy getting mistaken for other nationalities. Which is why I plan to become fluent in Arabic, learn Greek, try some Turkish, and Italian and French will be a breeze with my Spanish background. 

Maa Salama!

Answer 7

Learn Mexican history, during the Catholic monarchy Fernando and Isabella expulsed the Moors and Israelites from Spain (A lot of that people were sent to occupy the Americas). The Moorish ruled great areas of Spain for more than 700 years. Hernan Cortez was Jesuit (Israel origin). He and a group of Jesuits discovered Mexico; in fact, they founded many cities in Mexico and the Southwest like; Monterey, Matamoros, (means kill the moors), Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, etc... Same thing Arabs, you can find cities in California from Arabian's origin like Calafia, Alhambra, and Alameda. You can find cities in Mexico, Merida, Cordoba, Granada, Salamanca, etc. During the Mexican's early colony, there were immigration from Spain, (gypsies), Portugal, morocco, and Greek. Most Mexican's Indian were depopulated because of the genocide caused by conquers. For decades, Mexico gave more priority to Spaniards immigrants. There were Philippines who changed Philippines for Mexico due of the trade during the Spaniard colonization, many Philippines merchandise didn't return to their country because New Spain rules the Philippines. Mexico was the New Spain before and Mexico was very important for Spain. The second empire in Mexico was the French, Maximiliano and Charlotte from Austria invaded Mexico. Emperator Maximiliano settlement Australians, Germans, and French immigration to Guadalajara, Toluca, puebla, etc. During the 1800 centuries Italians immigration founded cities in Michoacan , Veracruz, Aguas Calientes, etc. Mexico gave asylum to German and Poland’s, and Irish during WW1 to occupied Texas, Monterey, Durango, Chihuahua, Sonora, etc. Sinaloa was founded by German immigrant, a group of Russians immigrants funded Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California South and some immigrated to Sacramento California. Arabs from Morocco immigrate to Merida Mexico. During the 1800's centories President Guerrero abolished slavery, African Americans run away to mexico to be free. During the Lebanese revolution, Mexico opened the door to Lebanese immigrants many of them live in Merida and Veracruz. In 1846 Mexico lost the Southwest, Today, the Mexican population is extremely mixed with 60%, indigenous 30%, and 10% Caucasians. Mexicans are not different from other groups coming from other nationalities.

Answer 8

Generally no relation other than the fact that Mexicans have Spanish blood in them, and some Spaniards would've had some Arab ancestry as the Muslim Moors had dominated Spain for nearly 700 years.  Incidentally, in 1492, when Columbus set sail, the last Moorish kingdom in the south (Granada) was conquered by the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella.

Despite that however, most Spaniards really don't have much Moorish ancestry, and I'm inclined to think that the reason some Mexicans might look like Arabs is because a light-skinned mestizo (Spanish/Amerindian mix) that looks more Spanish than Amerindian could come across as Middle Eastern-looking (Middle Easterners are Caucasian but naturally a bit darker than Europeans).  Full-blooded Spaniards for the most part just look like dark-haired Europeans, like the Italians.  Some Spaniards are even blond.  In addition, there were actual Arab immigrants who settled in Mexico, like Salma Hayek's family for instance.

Answer 9

All mexican, arab, south ameican , middle east, greek , spain, indian more .. are same human type  but in fact 80% of mexican are arab.. they were mix..

Answer 10

well, i have been mistaken many a times for arab, Eqptian, Greek, Italian , Turk, Mediterranean including areas as Egypt. Syria, Jordon, and list goes on.....

I am surprised when i travel around the world but i am just half english and half spanish although i look more like a spaniard.
it's astonishing because when i meet people from arabian peninsula , they think i am arab but when i am in spain, mostly think i am spanish others believe i am from other parts as Hungary, greece etc.

Why so much similarities, i am surprised!

Answer 11

Im mexican everyone seems to think im arab. I think there is a relation between Mexican & Arab, its just very distant & brought to mexico by the spanish whom were carrying arab genes.

I think this relation is indeed very cool & makes me more interested in the middle east!

Also mexican cuisine is heavily influenced by arab ingredients ! look it up, we're more alike than we are different.

Peace!