Armenian surnames

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1 Suffixes and prefixes
2 Root names
3 See also
4 Common Armenian surnames
5 External links

[edit] Suffixes and prefixes

Typical Armenian last names (family names) end with the originally Persian suffix -ian, -yan, or sometimes -jan. Example: Petrosian. That ending comes from the old Armenian word meaning "son". So the last name "Petrosian" means "son of Petros", the Armenian form of the name Peterson.

Some Armenian last names have an additional -s after -yan, -ian, etc., yielding -yans, -ians, etc., although that is not common.

A -ian or -yan ending does not guarantee that a name is Armenian. It might instead be Irish, Persian, Chinese, etc.

The prefix "Der"/"Ter" (meaning "lord") is typically Armenian. It might be followed by a space or attached directly to the root. If someone possesses a surname containing "Der" or "Ter" it usually signifies that this person has a priest in the family.

[edit] Root names

As in many other languages, last names in Armenia often derived from the family's occupation. For instance, a priest might have been named Vartabetian. The first part is from the occupation, with -ian attached.

Many other languages use that principle for last names. For example, in Sweden many surnames end in -son.

Many Armenians have other kinds of surnames. When they moved from Armenia or from the Middle East, such as to escape genocide, some changed their last names to adapt better to their new societies. Sometimes the -ian or -yan ending was dropped and the root kept, such as Charles Aznavour (was Aznavourian). Other times the name was translated, as "Tashjian" becoming (approximately) "Stone". Some old Armenian family names never had a -ian suffix.