After the Crusaders' departed the Middle East the Christian communities fell victim to the persecution of the Mameluks and the Ottoman Turks after them.
The Mameluks had conquered Syria and Lebanon and remained rulers until the early 16th century when they themselves were consumed by the expanding Ottoman Empire.
They are known to be also located in the following places: Ain Saadeh, Bsaeba, Baabda, Hadath, Bawshriyeh, Jezzine, Rashkideh and Aoura.
At the turn of the 20th century the improved financial status of the family allowed its children higher education than was previously possible.
A large section of the family emigrated to countries outside Lebanon and mainly to the United States, Canada, France, Argentina, Brazil or Australia.
Different transliterations and spellings for the Arabic word for Howayek are extant: Hawayek is used by the majority of English settled members of the family as well as those that migrated to North and South America (United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc.).
[2] A list of the known spellings follows: Shaqif al Huwayyik, a mound or hill in the Beqaa, Lebanon Alternative Name: Shaqif al Houwayek Area: Al Beqaa, in Lebanon Coordinates & Location type: Area Type: Hypsographic Location Type: Slope Latitude: 33.54306 Longitude: 35.75278 (Decimal degrees) Latitude (DMS): 33° 32' 35 N Longitude (DMS): 35° 45' 10 E (Degrees, minutes and seconds) Çatal Höyük, a mound or hill close to Konya, Turkey.