What is the reason why most of our last names end in "ian"???

[djsinister]

Could anyone enlighten me please. Thanks in advance. :cool:

[Thai-Samurai]

I think it means 'that's what you are' Like I'm a Bagdasarian, and you're a 'somethingian' see. That's a complete and total guess though.

Cuz we're Armenian. Hey there we go.

[sad_eyes]

"ian" means belonging to in old armenian. I believe it has something to do with the country name. armenia, for example, I am from canada, so I am canadian. Ehhh, actually....ahh, I dont know. I am interested though, can somebody answer the question above???

[jgm1975]

One answer I found, and which I think is quite credible, is that the "-ian" ending is a Ancient Persian suffix meaning "from the family of". So "Danielian" means from the family of Daniel. There are many Farsi names today that also end in "-ian". The original Armenian ending of family names is actually "ouni" as in "Bagratouni". But centuries of Persian influence over the Armenian language also influenced the way in which family names end.

[Hayq]

ive heard it is a turkish suffix meaning, "one who", given to Armenians by Turks...I dont think Armenians have had last names until a thousand years ago...

[Metsamor]

It's not really "ian", it's "yan" :cool:

[MadHandle]

It's not really "ian", it's "yan" :cool:

It can be both and jgm1975 was right on point. Like my last name means Stranger/Outsider or somethin like that. And ian doesn't come from Armenia...Armenia is called Hayastan...Armenia is just the english term, Hayastan is the one accepted by Armenians in Armenia.

[Metsamor]

It can be both

Yes, but I think that (correct me if I'm wrong), "ian" is for mostly the Middle-eastern Armenians and "yan" is for Armenian Armenians, (so called "Russian-Armenins). It goes without saying that "yan" should be the right model as being the one adopted my our fatherland! ... :D

[xBaron Dants]

Yes, but I think that (correct me if I'm wrong), "ian" is for mostly the Middle-eastern Armenians and "yan" is for Armenian Armenians, (so called "Russian-Armenins). It goes without saying that "yan" should be the right model as being the one adopted my our fatherland! ... :D

The reason why Hayastantsis write "yan" (with a "hi" in Armenian) is because of the spelling change that occured at Stalin's request in the 20s. This is why the great linguist Hrachya Ajarian decided to sign his name as "Hrachia Ajar". ever since the spelling rules changed, and actually requested that his name be written with a "yech" on his grave. The "yech" version would therefore be the "correct" one, so actually, it doesn't go without saying.. :rolleyes:

[Che_Ka]

Thank you, Mister Pear.

However, even in the 'correct' spelling scheme, Armenian last names may end in "yan" -- as when the last letter of the root word of the last name is a vowel. Example: Dadoyan. :)

BTW: The Ian/Yan suffix basically means "of." In the case of last names, it historically meant "son of." But even in modern Armenian, we use the suffix commonly for proper words. For example, "Yerevanian amarneru shad dak en"..."Araradian tashdi hogheru haroosd en snoontnerov"...or quite simply "Amerigian Miatsial Nahankner" (USA).

[xBaron Dants]

I'll let Che Ka handle this from now on. :laugh:

[Che_Ka]

chigh mu tba? ;)

seriously though, my post wasn't supposed to sound as condescending as it did! gu neres!

[xBaron Dants]

No no, I'm serious. I completely trust your abilities in handling this situation. Linguistics is YOUR thing, not mine. :)

[Che_Ka]

LOL My keraganootyoon book is coming in handy already. ;)

[EYYBABA23]

-IAN does probably originate from Persian since most of the Persian kingdoms and their families had the -ian ending in their names such as Hakhamaneshian, Samanian, Solukian, Sassanian and etc. and this is about 2500 years ago when they existed. Now, -ian does mean "of" or "from" which could either relate to a city that a certain family was from, or the name of the family itself like Grigorian or Hoktemberian. I have serious problems accepting that TURKS forced that on us since we had our last names in ian and so did some Persian tribes and dynasties way before the TURKS could enforce anything on us. As far as Stalin changing stuff, I have no clue, but could be credible information.

[xBaron Dants]

Also strange that Armenian royal families usually had the "uni" ending instead of the "ian".

[ArmoBarbi]

I tend to believe that ian or yan means, like some of you said, "of" or "son of". This would also explain the ending going with an Armenian male name.

I was told by several people that the last names in Armenia used to be made for each generation from the grandfather's first name. Ex: Grandfather (on father's side I pressume) of a new born child is named Arakel - the child's last name is Arakelian/Arakelyan. So maybe it means "grandchild of"? Aha! http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/kao/otn/pfinger.gif That must be it!

Stalin didnt start it though right? Its just a spelling thing... Hmm

[hyebruin]

actually my last name is miss bruni :p

[ArmoBarbi]

actually my last name is miss bruni :p


http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys2/503_2.gif (Congrats)

[Anonymouse]

One answer I found, and which I think is quite credible, is that the "-ian" ending is a Ancient Persian suffix meaning "from the family of". So "Danielian" means from the family of Daniel. There are many Farsi names today that also end in "-ian". The original Armenian ending of family names is actually "ouni" as in "Bagratouni". But centuries of Persian influence over the Armenian language also influenced the way in which family names end.

Actually the family names that ended with "ouni" were mostly from the Persian court.

[Ari]

very intresting read this thanks alot i

im a Minasyan but they also have Minassian i think something like that anyways