alKhattab

alKhattab is an Arabic nisba and surname. The element is derived from the word khattab (خطّاب), traditionally interpreted as related to scribes or writing, and is connected to the root kh-t-t-b, which concerns writing or record-keeping. With the definite article al-, alKhattab can be understood as “the scribal one” or as indicating association with a family, clan, or heritage linked to the name Khattab. In naming practices, such nisbas often signal occupation, lineage, or geographic origin and may be used as a contemporary surname.

As a surname, alKhattab appears across the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim diasporas, frequently transliterated in various forms such as Al-Khattab, Alkhattab, or Khattab. The spelling variation typically reflects differences in language and orthography rather than distinct meanings. It is common for such names to be adopted as family names in modern times, even when the original association was occupational or patronymic.

In historical contexts, the element al-Khattab can appear as part of a patronymic in early Islamic and medieval sources, indicating descent from or association with a person named Khattab. It is not unique to a single individual and should be understood as a conventional element in Arabic naming rather than a standalone name with a single famous bearer.

See also: Khattab, a related form without the definite article; al-Khatib, a distinct surname from a different root meaning “orator.”