Atallah is the first known person with whom the Abou Rjeily Family started in the 17th century in Mount Lebanon.

He is the son of Nasr and Nasr is the son of Merjan. Nasr has a brother called Nader from whom descend the two families: Nader and Berberi.

Merjan belongs to one of the Christian families who came from Hawran (Now in Syria) to Kesrouan (Mount Lebanon), then to Jbeil (Mount Lebanon) after the Islamic conquest in the seventh century. His family settled down in Barbara for a long period of time in order to preserve its beliefs.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century. Atallah moved to the Ktéléh village in Metn (in the valley between Metn and Aley), which was one of the feudalities of the Lamaï princes, and precisely prince Murad el-Lamaï.

Atallah got married and had four children: Elias, Farès, Yaghi and Dib.

When his sons grew up, they showed great enthusiasm in serving prince Murad. Atallah visited the prince to congratulate him for an achievement he made. The prince addressed him in front of his followers: “this is Abou al-Rijal” (Father of the men), to thank him for the services he and his family rendered to the prince. Then Abou al-Rijal became the official name of his descendants, who were proud of this nickname; it became common and later it was converted into the name “Abou Rjeily”.

The descendants of Atallah multiplied until they had a fight with the Lamaï princes, sons of Murad. The family decided to leave the province and to move to another area, in compliance with the traditions at that time. Part of them went to Bhamdoun, Hab Ramoun, Ramliéh and the villages that were controlled by Abed el-Malak family and settled down there. Another group headed to Bekaa Valley.