Most sources declare the family to be of Arab origin.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Some authors, though, advise not to make this judgement quickly, since some of their attested kings had Aramaic names like Sampsiceramus and Iamblichus.[10] Other kings, however—namely Azizus and Sohaemus—had clear Arab names,[11] and even Iamblichus, himself, was referred to as "Phylarch of the Arabs" by Cicero.[12] In any case, it is agreed upon that Emesa and its surrounding had a strong presence of Arabic-speaking people at the time.[13]