Chughtai or Chagatai (Urdu, Persian: {{Nastaliq|چغتائی; Turkish: [[Çağatay]],) is a family name that originated in the Chagatai Khanate as taken up by the descendants and successors of Chagatai Khan who was the second son of Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan.[1] Accordingly, some of the other descendants of the successors of Chagatai Khan in South and Central Asia use variants such as Mirza, Baig and Khan.[2] [3]
The surname “Chughtai” originates from the Mongolian word “Chaghadai”, a derivative of “Chagan” meaning “white”. The suffix “-dai” is added to form “Chaghadai”. Over time, “Chaghadai” evolved into “Chughtai”, meaning, “he who is white”.[4]
. The Mughal Empire: Volume 5 of New Cambridge history of India: The Mughals and their contemporaries . 19, 60, 110 . John F. Richards . John F. Richards . 1995 . 0521566037 .