AssyroChaldäer

AssyroChaldäer, also spelled Assyro-Chaldean, is a term used to describe Christians of Assyrian heritage associated with communities from the historic Assyria region in the Near East. The name blends two overlapping identities: Assyrian, linking people to the ancient Assyrian heritage and Aramaic-speaking communities, and Chaldean, tied to certain church traditions and, historically, to the Chaldean Catholic Church. The term is used variably, and many individuals and groups prefer simply “Assyrian” as an umbrella label for ethnicity and heritage, with church affiliation noted separately.

Language and religion are central to many AssyroChaldäer communities. They speak Neo-Aramaic dialects such as Assyrian Neo-Aramaic (Sureth) and Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, often alongside the languages of their countries of residence, such as Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, or European languages in the diaspora. Religiously, members may belong to several Christian denominations, including the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Syriac Catholic Church, and various Protestant groups. Ethnicity and religion intersect but are not always perfectly aligned, and identity can vary by individual and context.

Historically, the terms gained prominence in the modern era as communities in the Ottoman Empire, Mesopotamia, and later Iraq navigated social and political change. The AssyroChaldäer diaspora grew after waves of migration prompted by conflict, persecution, and economic opportunity, extending communities to North America, Europe, Australia, and other regions. Today the label reflects a diverse, multinational community with shared historical roots in Mesopotamia, ongoing language maintenance, and evolving expressions of cultural identity.