Among The Sephardim
Among the Sephardim (Spanish-Portuguese Jews) "hakham" is the official title of the local rabbi, but it is not known how old the title is. Shelomo ben Aderet addresses some of his responsa to people with "le-hakham Rabbi . . ." (Responsa, Nos. 79, 395), others again with "la-rab Rabbi . . ." (Nos. 219, 346), but it is possible that "le-hakham" simply means "to the wise." The plural, "hakhamim," is generally used in the Talmud, and also by the Tannaim, to designate the majority of scholars as against a single authority. The Aramean equivalent is "rabbanan."
The surname Hacham(i) represents both Sepharadic and Ashkenazic Jews in its variations: Hachami, Hachamovich, Hachamson.
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