Khouri

Khouri (also transliterated as Khoury, Arabic: خوري‎, Ḫūrī) is an Arabic surname that is unique to Arab Christians. The term Khouri means "priest" in Arabic. It is popular in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, and Jordan. It is often given as a last name to a new priest or minister, replacing the old one. It is common for a family to keep the Khouri surname for generations past the life of the priest. Catholic and Orthodox clergy (particularly Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic and Maronite Catholic) are the largest numbers of people with this name; all three Rites having a married priesthood according to Catholic and Orthodox norms. Khouri is uncommon as a given name. The name is also uncommonly spelled Kure, Kury, Cury, Curi, Coury, or even Coorey.