Can someone tell me the about the Lebanese surname "Ghostine"?

Question

I have a girlfriend whose last name is "Gustin" but in Lebanon it would be known as "Ghostine." Supposedly her family there is from a place known as Zgharta, but when her grandfather emigrated he severed all ties to his family there. She wants to reconnect and figure out her geneology. Can anyone tell us anything about that name "Ghostine" and how to find her family there?

Answer 1

Hey Thomas,

You should check the website below. It is common for names to change as they cross the ocean. There are Ghostine references at this site.

Answer 2

I believe that most Christian Lebanese names are not of Arab ancestry even though they are considered to be Arabs. Remember that Lebanon was occupied by recently by the French for many centuries and many Lebanese have in fact French names and surnames with spellings that have been altered to reflect a more Arab name. In history Lebanon was home to the Phoenicians and was a crossroads for the Romans, Greeks, Goths and other civilizations. There is a good chance "Ghostine" is not a native Lebanese name but from elsewhere. If your girlfriend's grandfather was a Maronite Catholic or of any other Catholic rite, there is a chance that baptismal records survive revealing his parent's names and where they lived. Catholic churches usually maintain records of baptisms dating back many years. You will have to locate the church he attended to contact them.