Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan is the world's ninth-largest country. Situated in Central Asia, its lands have been inhabited and conquered by various nomadic tribes and empires, including the ancient Scythians, the Mongol Empire, and the Kazakh Khanate, which was established in the mid-15th century. Modern Kazakhstan was eventually incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 18th century, and later became part of the Soviet Union in 1920, before gaining independence in 1991. Throughout its history, Kazakhstan has been home to notable figures such as Al-Farabi, an influential philosopher and scientist of the 9th-10th centuries; Abay Kunanbayev, a revered 19th-century poet and philosopher; and Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country's first President who served from 1991 to 2019, and played a crucial role in shaping the nation's political landscape.

The regions of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is divided into 14 regions (known as "oblys" in Kazakh) and three cities of national significance:

Akmola Region
Aktobe Region
Almaty Region
Atyrau Region
East Kazakhstan Region
Jambyl Region
Karaganda Region
Kostanay Region
Kyzylorda Region
Mangystau Region
North Kazakhstan Region
Pavlodar Region
West Kazakhstan Region
Turkestan Region (renamed from South Kazakhstan Region)

Cities of national significance:

Almaty
Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana, and before that, Akmola)
Shymkent

Kazakhstan history

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Kazakhstan history

Kazakhstan geography

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Kazakhstan geography

Researching family history in Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan genealogy

Kazakhstan ethnicity

Kazakhstan is a diverse nation, boasting a rich tapestry of ethnicities that contribute to its unique cultural landscape. The majority of the population consists of ethnic Kazakhs, who account for most of the country's inhabitants. Other significant ethnic groups include Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Tatars, and Uighurs, each adding their own distinct customs, languages, and traditions. This remarkable blend of ethnicities reflects the country's complex history, geographic location, and its legacy as a crossroads of trade and migration on the ancient Silk Road, making Kazakhstan a vibrant and multicultural society.

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Kazakhstan surnames

Kazakh surnames are an essential aspect of researching family history, as they often reflect a person's lineage, occupation, or geographical origin, offering valuable insights into their ancestors' lives and social standing. Due to the multicultural and multiethnic composition of Kazakhstan, there is a diverse range of surnames found within the country. Examples of Kazakh surnames include "Abishev," which means "son of Abis," indicating that an ancestor may have been named Abis.

Examples of different Kazakh surnames:

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Patronymic

References