Khan (surname)

Uncommon card · No. 132094

Khan () is a surname of Turkic and Mongolic origin. First recorded as a hereditary title (khan or khagan) among nomadic tribes in the Central and Eastern Eurasian Steppe in antiquity, it denoted the royalty or military leaders of a historical khanate. However, it eventually declined in importance as a title and was adopted promiscuously as a surname, particularly among Muslims in South Asia during the Mughal Empire. Today, it remains a common surname in South Asia, Central Asia, parts of Iran, and parts of Russia. The surname Khan is extremely common among Muslims in South Asia, including among those of Pashtun, Gujjar, Rajput and Mongolic descent. Khan as a last name is also used by the Maithil Brahmin, Bengali Hindus, and Kashmiri Hindus, native to the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In the Caribbean, the surname is largely carried by Muslims of Indo-Caribbean descent. As of 2014, Khan is one of the most common surnames worldwide, shared by over 22...

Read on Wikipedia