נחמיה, פרק ז׳, פסוק ס״ג

As the exiles returned to Zion, maintaining accurate records of family lineage was a vital task, particularly for the priesthood. Yet, some family histories were complex, leaving their exact origins in doubt. The records include certain priestly families whose ancestral lines were not entirely clear, specifically the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators explains that the family of Barzillai had a unique story behind its identity. Unlike standard practice where a family is named after a paternal ancestor, this group adopted its name through marriage. The original head of this priestly family married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite. Following this union, the family took on the wife's family name and was known by it from then on, rather than tracing their title through their own father's line.