What does 'ites' mean at the end of a name. I assume it denoted a group of people, but how big is the group. Could it be just a family or does it mean something almost as big as a nation

The reason asking is that in 2 Samuel 23, many of the men named as the most loyal and fiercest fighters for King David had an 'ite' in the name describing them. I also assume these men were Jews, and not foreigners. I somehow thought a name with an 'ite' meant foreigners to the Jews, but not sure now.


John Chaney

"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7