Berisha (tribe)
Coordinates: 42°09′N 19°54′E / 42.150°N 19.900°E
Berisha is a historical tribe located in the region of Pukë in northern Albania, that is, one of the Malësor (or Malissori) tribes. Berisha is a Catholic tribe, said to be the oldest of all Albanian tribes. First mentioned in the 17th century, oral tradition traces their geneaology to the 14th century. A part of the tribe migrated to Kosovo and Skopska Crna Gora during the Ottoman period. Today, the surname Berisha is common in Kosovo Albanians.
The historical tribal area of the Berisha is located in the Pukë district, south of the Drin, west of Fierza, in northern Albania. The centre is the Sapaç river basin, flowing into the Drin. Berisha traditionally borders with Dushmani and Toplana to the west, Bugjoni to the north, Iballja to the east and Kabashi to the south. The main settlements are Berisha e Vogël (Lower Berisha), Shopël and Berisha e Epërme (Upper Berisha), all tiny hamlets.
Durham also published an opinion of Franz Nopcsa who stated that the Berisha tribe occupied a much bigger territory but were driven from its major part by the Thaçi tribe.
The name of Berisha was recorded in 1691 as Berisa, on a map of Francesco Maria Coronelli. Baron Nopcsa established that most of the Albanian tribes trace their origin to the 1450–1650 period. It was claimed by Nopcsa that the name dated back to at least 1510. According to Elsie, it is said that the earliest tribe is the Berisha, whose geneaology tradition reaches back to 1360–70.Edith Durham recorded at the beginning of 20th century that members of Berisha and Merturi tribe claimed they were the oldest highlands tribe, which is accepted as accurate.
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