Main contributor: Sydney Owens
Persian surnames
Persian surnames

Persian surnames are last names primarily used in Iran and among the Iranian diaspora around the world, including in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Central Asia. Persian surnames are also used by members of the Persian Jewish community, who have historically lived in Iran and other parts of the Middle East.

The Persian language, also known as Farsi, is the primary source for Persian surnames. Persian surnames may also have Arabic or Turkic influences, reflecting the historical and cultural interactions between Iran and neighboring regions.[1]

History of Persian surnames

Lined up Persian warrior statues in Tehran, Iran
Lined up Persian warrior statues in Tehran, Iran

Before 1979, the nation that is known today as Iran was known as Persia. Persia has a vivid past, rife with empires, conflicts, and astonishing invention.

The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and grew to become one of the largest empires in the world, spanning from Egypt to India. In the 18th century, Persia was weakened by internal conflicts and foreign invasions, including by the Afghans and the Russians. The Qajar dynasty, which began in the late 18th century, sought to modernize and centralize the Persian state, but faced numerous challenges from foreign powers and domestic rebellions.

In the 20th century, Persia experienced significant political and social changes, including the 1905 Constitutional Revolution, the oil nationalization movement led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in the 1950s, and the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which overthrew the monarchy and established an Islamic republic.[2]

While Persians have a long history that reaches back to antiquity, they only started using last names in 1919. Before then, a person's given name would typically have a number of various prefixes and suffixes attached to it. As one of the world's first civilizations, they utilized names to symbolize a lengthy and illustrious past. Persian last names often allude to a family's geography or place of origin, just like last names from many other ethnic groups.[3]

Persian naming conventions

Persian literature book
Persian literature book

Persians didn't have last names prior to 1919. Naturally, when Reza Shah took over and made it a requirement, this situation altered. Ahmadi has since become the most common surname in Iran.[4]

Traditionally, children take their father's last name according to patrilineal naming customs. Women are not, however, required to adopt their husband's last name when they get married. They are free to hyphenate it and add it on their own if they so desire.

Names with a religious connotation are very common, but there are also many names that stem from pre-Muslim Persia and are based in the Persian language. For example, Mohammed and Ataollah have roots in the Muslim religion, while Shireen and Arman stem from the Persian language and are not related to the Muslim religion.

In addition to linguistic roots, Persian names also frequently take inspiration from powerful figures from classical Persian literature. The individual can be said to embody that character's reputation. If they are named after a hero or an intellectual, for instance, they may be associated with bravery or thoughtfulness.[5]

Nowadays, a family's hometown or location is often reflected in the surname. For instance, a person with the last name Tehrani is likely to have Tehrani ancestry. There are other surnames that could contain a "son of" suffix. The word Hassanzadeh means "son of Hassan." This type of name structure can be separated to make Hassan-Zadeh or Hassan Zadeh. Although it's not particularly prevalent in contemporary Iran, the title "Sheikh" designates someone as the leader of a religious Islamic organization. A person with the title "Haj" has completed their journey to Mecca.[6]

Most popular Persian surnames and their origins

Ahmadi has become one of the most well-known Iranian names since the introduction of surnames.

Surnames from Persia have a royal quality to them. Persian names also have a history attached to them. In Muslim nations like Iraq, Iran, and Oman, these Farsi names are increasingly prevalent. The most popular Persian last name is Mohammadi, followed by Hosseini.

Iranians do not always use a middle name. Instead, they might use two first names, then their last name. The rarest Persian names are Sallow and Fernsby. There are several different meanings for many common Persian surnames.

Top Persian surnames and their meaning

Below are the top seven Persian surnames[7] along with their meaning:

  1. Agha is a respectable title for a known military officer.
  2. Ahmad, meaning "the most praised people". It is a common title given to a popular person.
  3. Amani, meaning "wish". It is a very popular surname of Persian origin.
  4. Ansari, meaning "supporter". Ali Ansari is a famous professor of Iranian history.
  5. Azad, meaning "a free man". Afshan Azad is the name of the popular actress from the Harry Potter series.
  6. Azimi, meaning "glorious" or "magnificent".  Lima Azimi was a well known Afghan athlete.
  7. Bayat, meaning "a strong man" or "a warrior". It is a common title given to a popular person.

Geographic locations for Persian surnames

Persian surnames are most common in Iran and other neighboring countries where Persian culture and language have a significant influence, but they can also be found in many other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

This includes Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Europe, and Australia. Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan are another popular location for Persian surnames due to historical and cultural ties between Persian and Central Asian cultures.[8]

Celebrities with Persian surnames

Andre Agassi at the Champions Shootout, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Andre Agassi at the Champions Shootout, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

There are many well-known celebrities with Persian surnames:

  • Andre Agassi — Andre Agassi is a retired American tennis player of Persian (Iranian) descent, despite his Greek-sounding last name. His father, Emmanuel Agassi, was an Iranian immigrant who changed the family name from "Aghassian" to "Agassi" upon arriving in the United States.
  • Sarah Shahi — Sarah Shahi is an American actress and former NFL cheerleader of Iranian (Persian) descent. Her birth name is Aahoo Jahansouz Shahi, which reflects her Persian ancestry, and she has used both names professionally.
  • Christiane Amanpour — Christiane Amanpour is a British-Iranian journalist and television host.
  • Nazanin Boniadi — Nazanin Boniadi is an Iranian-British actress and human rights activist.

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Contributors

Main contributor: Sydney Owens
Additional contributor: Cynthia Gardner