Khan (surname)

Not to be confused with Kahn or Kan (surname).

Look up Khan or khan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Khan (/xɑːn/) is a surname of Turkic and Mongolian origin, used as a title in various global regions,[1] and today most commonly found in parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Eastern Europe, Uzbekistan and Russia.

It is derived from the historic title khan, referring to military chief or royalty. It originated as a hereditary title among nomadic tribes in the Central and Eastern Eurasian Steppe during antiquity and was popularized by Afghan dynasties in the rest of Asia as well as in Eastern Europe during the medieval period.[2][3]

The surname Khan is extremely common among Muslims in South Asia[4][5] of Afghan descent, but also, to a lesser extent, among Muslim Rajputs and those of Mongolic descent. Khan as a last name is also used by the Maithil Brahmin and Kashmiri Hindus, native to the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.[6][7] In the Caribbean, the surname is largely carried by Muslims of Indo-Caribbean descent.[8][9]

As of 2014, Khan is one of the most common surnames worldwide, shared by over 22 million people in Asia and 23 million people worldwide.[10] It is the surname of over 108,674 British Asians, making it the 12th-most common surname in the United Kingdom.[11]

Notable people

Scholars, intellectuals and academics

Politicians and rulers

Actors and entertainers

See also: Khans of Bollywood

Sportspeople

In science and technology

  • Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistani metallurgist, considered the founder of Pakistan's gas-centrifuge programme
  • Akhtar Hameed Khan Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner
  • Fazlur Khan, Bengali-American structural engineer and designer of Chicago's Sears Tower and John Hancock Center
  • Ishfaq Ahmad Khan, Pakistani scientist in particle and nuclear physics
  • Munir Ahmad Khan, Pakistani nuclear engineer, credited as the father of Pakistan's Atomic Project
  • Mohammad Islam Khan (1957–2010), Indian glycobiologist, scientist at the National Chemical Laboratory
  • Naeem Ahmad Khan (1928–2013), Pakistani nuclear physicist and university professor of physics
  • Shaukat Hameed Khan, Pakistani nuclear physicist
  • Mohammad Ajmal Khan, physician in Delhi, India, one of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia University
  • Muhammad Siddiq Khan (1910–1978), librarian of the Central Library of the University of Dhaka and the founder of the university's Department of Library Science
  • Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Pakistani agricultural scientist, professor of horticulture at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in Pakistan
  • Razib Khan, Bengali-American geneticist

Other professions

  • Abul Kashem Khan (1905–1991), jurist, political leader, and industrialist from Bangladesh
  • Alan Khan (born 1971), South African radio presenter
  • Amjad Khan (1940–1992), Indian film producer
  • Baseera Khan, American artist
  • Chantal Khan Da Silva, Canadian journalist born to a Pakistani-Brazilian family; currently residing in the United Kingdom. An NBC News reporter and editor.
  • Fazal Khan, Pakistani lawyer and Pashtun human rights activist
  • Gauri Khan (born 1970), Indian interior designer and film producer (wife of Indian star Shahrukh Khan)
  • Hakim Khan descendent of Shershah Suri and chief commander of Rana Pratap's army
  • Inayat Khan, (1882–1927), founder of Universal Sufism and the Sufi Order International
  • Irene Khan (born 1956), Bangladeshi lawyer, former Secretary General of Amnesty International
  • Kiran Rao Khan (born 1973), Indian director, film producer and screenwriter (wife of Indian star Aamir Khan)
  • The (unknown) 'M Khan', the subject of many gag routines on The Mary Whitehouse Experience because of long-standing graffiti visible from a major London road[13]
  • Mansoor Ali Khan (born 1979), Pakistani journalist and television anchor
  • Mirza Abu Taleb Khan (1752–1805/6), Indian tax-collector and travel-writer
  • Mohammad Sidique Khan (1974–2005), London train suicide bomber
  • Nawab Muhammad Hayat Khan (1833–1901) British-Indian administrator and aristocrat
  • Nick Khan Iranian American President of WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment
  • Noor Inayat Khan (1914–1944), British spy in occupied France
  • Oghuz Khan, legendary forefather of the Turkic people
  • Peter Khan (born Afghan-Khan), Australian member of the Universal House of Justice of the Bahá'í Faith
  • Shahid Khan, co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and Fulham F.C. of the EFL Championship, Founder, co-owner of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) promotion.
  • Shahal Khan, American Businessman and founder of Burkhan Family Office.nawab Malik Ameer Muhammad Khan he belongs to kalghan Awan tribe
  • Sussanne Khan (born 1975), Indian interior fashion designer and entrepreneur
  • Syed Ahmed Khan (1817–1898), Islamic scholar
  • Tariq Ali Khan (born 1943), British-Pakistani writer, intellectual and socialist
  • Tasmin Lucia Khan (born 1980), British Bangladeshi journalist and news presenter for BBC News
  • Tony Khan (born 1982), American businessman; co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C. along with his father Shahid, and CEO, President of All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor Wrestling.
  • Vilayat Inayat Khan (1916–2004), former head of the Sufi Order International
  • Usman Khan (1991–2019), Islamic terrorist and perpetrator of the 2019 London Bridge stabbing
  • Zia Inayat Khan, the Pir of the Sufi Order International

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ^ Foundation, Encyclopaedia Iranica. "Khan". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ Khan entry in Hobson-Jobson: the Anglo-Indian dictionary
  3. ^ As cited in The Baburnama, 2002, W.M. Thackston p273.
  4. ^ "Krum | Bulgar khan | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. ^ People of India Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hassan & J C Das page 1139 to 1141 Manohar Publications
  6. ^ Kaul, Upendra (4 September 2020). "My name is Khan, and I'm Kaul". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 11 September 2023. It is hard to believe that surnames – Peer, Wali or Khan, are common Hindu surnames. At the same time a Muslim carrying his last name as Rishi or Pandit…… sounds incredible, but it is a common feature in Kashmir.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ Anwar, Tarique; Bhat, Rajesh (23 February 2008). "Kashmiryat in Kashmiri surnames". Two Circles. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Ever heard a Hindu by the surname Peer, Wali or Khan? Or imagine a Muslim carrying his last name as Rishi or Pandit…… Sounds incredible but it is a common feature in Kashmir, where unlike in other parts of the country, Muslims and Hindus have been sharing the same surnames since ages.
  8. ^ "HISTORY OF MY PEOPLE: The Afghan Muslims of Guyana". www.islamawareness.net. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Top 10 most common surnames in Guyana | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Khan" (surname distribution), Forebears.io, 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  11. ^ "England Genealogy Resources & Parish Registers". forebears.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Shakib Khan: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Origin of 'M Khan' Graffiti". Everything2.com. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
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