Hatoum

Hatoum is a surname of Arabic origin used by families in the Arab world and among the global Arab diaspora. It is most commonly encountered in Palestinian and Lebanese communities, and in countries where migration has spread Arab families, such as parts of Europe and North America. In English-language sources the spelling Hatoum is the standard transliteration, though some families use variant spellings depending on transliteration practices.

Notable people with the surname include Mona Hatoum (born 1952), a Palestinian-British visual artist known for installation, sculpture, and video works. Her practice often engages themes of displacement, politics, and the body, employing everyday objects and materials to explore confinement, security, and social tensions. Hatoum has exhibited widely in major museums and international venues and has held teaching positions at European institutions.

The surname Hatoum thus appears in contexts related to contemporary art, Middle Eastern heritage, and the broader Arab diaspora. As with many Arabic-origin names, its precise etymology can vary by family history and linguistic adaptation, and no single authoritative derivation is universally cited in English-language references.