Khan (surname) explained

Khan is an ancient Indo-European surname and in the variant of 'Khan' of Turko-Mongol origin, used as a title used in various global regions^[1] today most commonly found in parts of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Iran. In the Caribbean the surname is largely carried by Muslims of Indo-Caribbean descent.^[2] ^[3] In Bengal this surname is used by many Hindu communities like Brahmin, Kayastha, Bagdi etc. The use of this surname among Hindu communities in Bengal started during Sultani period after great Vaishnavite poet Maladhar Basu was honoured by the name 'Gunaraj Khan'. 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.

The name's earliest discovered usage as a title for chiefs and for monarchs dates back, respectively, to the Hepthalites and the Hepthali Empire, two proto-Mongolic societies in Inner Asia during antiquity; in the Pannonian Basin and Carpathian Mountains and their surrounding regions of Central and Southeast Europe, the title was used by the Pannonian Avars and the early Bulgars during the early medieval period before being more widely spread by various Muslim chieftains in a region spanning the empires centred in modern-day Turkey and Crimea to those in the Indian subcontinent.^[4] ^[5]

The surname Khan is occasionally found among people of Afghan, Muslim Rajputs and Mongolic descent, but it is far more common among Muslims in South Asia.^[6] ^[7] Khan as a last name is also used by Kashmiri Hindus, native to the Kashmir Valley of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.^[8] ^[9]

, 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

Bahlul Khan Lodi (1401–1489) was the chief of the Pashtun Lodi tribe. Founder of the Lodi dynasty from the Delhi Sultanate upon the abdication of the last claimant from the previous Sayyid rule. Bahlul became sultan of the dynasty on 19 April 1451 (855 AH).
Raja Hasan Khan Mewati was a Muslim Rajput Ruler of the Khanzada Dynasty of Mewat.
Khushal Khan Khattak (1613–1689; Pashto: خوشال خان خټک), also known as Khushal Baba (Pushto; Pashto: خوشال بابا), was a Pashtun poet, chief, and warrior.
Mirwais Khan Hotak, revolted against Safavid Iran and established the Hotak dynasty.
Azad Khan Afghan rose to power between 1752 and 1757, and controlled part of the Azerbaijan region up to Urmia city, northwestern and northern Persia, and parts of southwestern Turkmenistan and eastern Kurdistan.
Mohammad Khatirjama Khan, leader of Pathan tribe, gained control over north Indian territory of today's Uttar Pradesh in the 20th century, formed his capital in the area known as Barwaliya.

Scholars, intellectuals and academics

Ahmed Raza Khan (1856–1921), Sunni Islamic scholar of south Asia
Dilwar Khan, Bengali poet
Gul Khan Nasir (1914–1983), poet, historian and politician from Pakistan
Geoffrey Khan (born 1958), professor of Semitic Languages at the University of Cambridge
Muhammad Mojlum Khan, non-fiction writer best known for The Muslim 100
Muhammad Siddiq Khan (1910–1978), Bengali academic from Bangladesh, "father of the Library and Information Science discipline in Bangladesh"
M. A. Muqtedar Khan, Indian American Islamic philosopher, Sufi and academic
Rukhsana Khan, Pakistani-Canadian children's writer and storyteller
Salman "Sal" Khan, Bengali-American educator, known for the online Khan Academy
Sirajul Hossain Khan, editor of Pakistan Times and the Eastern News Agency
Wahiduddin Khan, Islamic scholar and peace activist
Wasiullah Khan, Pakistani-American educator and founder of East–West University in Chicago
Yasmin Khan (b. 1977), Associate Professor of History, Kellogg College, Oxford

Politicians and rulers

Abdul Majid Khan, former MP for Habiganj-2, Bangladesh
Abdul Majid Khan Tarin (1877–1939), senior political figure of the North-West Frontier Province, British India
Abu'l-Khayr Khan, founder of Turkic Shaybanid Dynasty of Uzbekistan
Akram Khan (born 1970), Indian politician
Imran Ahmad Khan, British politician, former Conservative MP
Ali Haider Khan (1896–1963), Nawab of Longla, Minister of Power (Assam Province)
Alivardi Khan (1671–1756), Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa
Ali Amjad Khan (1871–1905), Nawab of Longla, Magistrate
Amanullah Khan, Sovereign of Afghanistan 1919–1929
Amir Khan (Pindari) (1768–1834), Pindari leader in the early 19th century, later the Nawab of Tonk
Arif Mohammad Khan, Indian politician and current governor of Kerala
Asaf Khan, Wazir (Prime Minister) of Emperor Jahangir and Shahjahan
Asif Nawaz Khan Janjua (1937–1993), former Chief Of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
Ataur Rahman Khan (1907–1991), Bengali activist politician, later Chief Minister of East Pakistan
Ayub Khan (field marshal), Pakistan Army's only Field Marshall and president of Pakistan
Ayub Khan (Emir of Afghanistan), former emir of Afghanistan during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Bahlul Khan (died 1488), founder of the Lodi dynasty
Bairam Khan (1501–1561), Mughal commander, mentor and guardian of Akbar the Great
Bilge Kul Qadir Khan, first ruler of Kara-Khanid empire
Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, politician in Afghanistan
Bostan Khan Tarin, 19th-century Pashtun clan warrior
Chaudhry Ali Akbar Khan (1911–1967), Pakistani Federal Minister for Home Affairs 1964–1966
Dilal Khan (1585–1666), Muslim ruler of Sandwip
Dost Mohammad Khan, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Cabool and Afghanistan during the 19th century
Fatali Khan Khoyski, first Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Fateh Naseeb Khan, Chief General of Alwar Armed Forces
Feroz Khan Noon (1893–1970), former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Franklin Khan, Trinidad and Tobago politician
Fuad Khan (born 1955), Trinidad and Tobago politician
Ganj Ali Khan, military officer and Governor in Safavid Iran
Genghis Khan (1162—1227), Mongol warlord of the 12th century
German Khan, Russian oligarch
Ghazala Khan, mother of American soldier Humayun Khan
Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan Khokhar, one of Pakistan's first Federal Ministers
Ghulam Jilani Khan (1925–1999), Governor of Punjab 1980 to 1985
Habibullah Khan, Emir of Afghanistan from 1901 to 1919
Hafiz Khan, Fijian Businessman, former Senator, and President of the Muslim League
Haydar Khan, 2nd Wazir of Sylhet
Hulagu Khan, ruler of Mongolian horde
Humayun Khan (soldier), United States Army Captain, died in the Iraq War in 2004
Iftikhar Khan (1909–1949), had been nominated to become the first local Commander in Chief of Pakistan
Imran Khan, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022
Ismail Khan, former Afghan politician and warlord from Herat
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Badshah Khan (1890–1988), Pashtun leader and activist
Khan Sahib Shahal Khan Khoso (1909–1956), Baloch leader, MLA West Pakistan Assembly from 1953 to 1956
Khizr Khan, first ruler of Sayyid Dynasty, fourth period of the Delhi Sultanate
Khizr Muazzam Khan, father of American soldier Humayun, known for a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention
Khudadad Khan (1888–1971), Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Kublai Khan, king of China and founder of Yuan Dynasty
Kutb Khan, commandant of Mahim when it was under Gujarat Sultanate
Krum Khan, ruler and founder of Bulgaria
Liaquat Ali Khan (1895–1951), 1st Prime Minister of Pakistan
Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission since 15 June 2021
Maryam Khan (born 1989), member of the Connecticut State House
M.J. Khan, member of the Houston City Council
Malik Umar Hayat Khan (1875–1944), elected member of the Council of State of India
Munawar Khan, soldier of INA and later Pakistani Army, known for Operation Gibraltar
Mahboob Ali Khan, 6th Nizam of Hyderabad, popularly known as Teesmaar Khan
Mir Osman Ali Khan (1886–1967), 7th Nizam of Kingdom of Hyderabad
Mir Lawang Khan, politician of Balochistan and brother of Gul Khan Nasir
Mete Khan, ruler and warlord of the Xiongnu confederation in 2nd century BCE China.
Sultan Fetih Mehmet Khan, Ottoman sultan notable for the capture of Constantinople
Muhammad Hamidullah Khan (1938–2011), Bangladeshi military leader, politician and author
General Muhammad Musa Khan Hazara, former Chief Of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
Muhammed Akbar Khan, the first Muslim to become a General in British Indian Army
Mohammad Daoud Khan, former (1909–1978), former Prime Minister and President of Afghanistan
Muhammad Khan Junejo (1932–1993), former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Murshid Quli Khan (1665–1727), founder of the Nawab rulers in Bengal
Nauroz Khan (1874–1964), Balochi Independence movement leader
Nahar Khan, The Ruler of Mewat
Nawab Ali Abbas Khan, Jatiya Party politician and three-time MP for Maulvibazar-2, Bangladesh
Nawab Ali Haider Khan, 9th Nawab of Longla, minister and leader of the Independent Muslim Party
Nawab Qaim Khan, 14th-century Ameer of the Delhi Sultanate and chief of Qaimkhani clan
Nawazish Alam Khan (Hindi: नवाज़िश आलम ख़ान), Indian Baloch politician and member of the Sixteenth Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh
Nisar Ali Khan (born 1954), Pakistani politician, former cabinet minister and opposition leader in the National Assembly of Pakistan
Prince Aly Khan (1911–1960), Pakistani United Nations diplomat
Prince Sadruddhin Aga Khan (1933–2003), diplomat, UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 1965 to 1977
Qasim Khan, founder of Qasim Khanate dynasty of Russia
Qasim Khan politician and deputy speaker of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022
Rabina Khan, councillor for Shadwell and former Housing Cabinet member in Tower Hamlets, London
Raeesah Khan, former Member of Parliament in Singapore
Raja Habib ur Rahman Khan (1913–1978), Indian freedom fighter with the Indian National Army
Raja Muhammad Zulqarnain Khan, President of AJK
Raja Muhammed Sarfraz Khan (1905–1968), member of the Pakistan Movement
Raja Sakhi Daler Khan Mangral, Kashmiri freedom fighter with the Indian National Army
Raja Saroop Khan, former Governor of Punjab
Rana Khudadad Khan, President of Pakistan Muslim League (Punjab)
Rana Afzal Khan (1949–2019), Finance Minister of Pakistan and PML-N Leader
Rana Mohammad Hanif Khan (1922–2005), Finance Minister of Pakistan
Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly from 2008
Rana Nazeer Ahmed Khan (born 1949), Pakistani former Federal Minister
Rana Phool Muhammad Khan, MPA from Bhai Pheru (Phool Nagar)
Purnendu Khan, MP from Uluberia Constituency of Bengal
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Saifullah Khan family is a prominent political family of modern-day Pakistan, also known as Khans of Mewat
Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (1920–2016), Pakistani general and diplomat
Sardar Farooq Khan Leghari (1940–2010), first Baloch president of Pakistan
Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan (1915–2003), founder of Azad Jammu Kashmir State
Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan (1915–1998), senior political figure and lieutenant of the Quaid-i-Azam in the Punjab
Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan (1934–2021), former Prime Minister and President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Sardar Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan (1892–1942), KCSI, Premier of the Punjab
Sikandar Khan Ghazi, commander during the Conquest of Gour and the 1st Wazir of Sylhet
Shah Mahmud Khan, former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Afghanistan
Shah Nawaz Khan (general) (1914–1983), Major General of the Indian National Army, one of the three of the famed Red Fort Trio
Shah Nawaz Khan Janjua (1914–1983), Indian freedom fighter with the Indian National Army
Shah Nawaz Khan, revolutionary in India of the Janjua Rajput
Shaista Khan, Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688
Shaybani Khan the Uzbek ruler of Samarkand and king who revived Shaybanid Dynasty
Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan (1893–1985), the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan
Sulaiman Khan Karrani, Sultan of Bengal
Sultan Suleiman Khan (Suleiman the Magnificent) (1494–1566), Ottoman Turkish Sultan
Tughral Tughan Khan, 13th-century Mamluk Governor
Turram Khan, revolutionary fighter from Hyderabad whose name has become eponym of bravery in many Indian languages
Tikka Khan (1915–2002), former Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
Wazir Akbar Khan (1816–1847), prince and general in Afghanistan
Yulbars Khan Uyghur General of Kuomintang, also known as "Tiger General" for his bravery, provincial Governor of Xinjiang province from 1951 to 1971
Yusaf Khan (Muhammad Yusaf Khan) (born 1948), former Vice Chief Of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
Zafar Khan, former general in the Afghan National Army, Daku Muhammad Khan from chakwal belongs to dhurnal Awan tribe

Actors and entertainers

Sportspeople

Khan, former ring name of retired American professional wrestler Dave Bautista
Imran Khan, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, politician and former cricketer and captain of the Pakistan cricket team
Akram Khan (cricketer), former captain of the Bangladeshi Cricket Team
Amir Khan (British boxer), British boxer of Pakistani descent
Mohsin Khan, former Pakistani cricketer
Moin Khan, former Pakistani cricketer
Muhammad Essa Khan, former Pakistani footballer
Athar Ali Khan, Bangladeshi former cricketer, selector and cricket commentator
Carla Khan, Pakistani professional squash player
Hajra Khan, Pakistani footballer
Kaleemullah Khan, Pakistani footballer
Jahangir Khan, former Pakistani professional squash player and World No. 1
Jansher Khan, former Pakistani professional squash player and World No. 1
Mir Sultan Khan, Pakistani chess champion
Nafees Iqbal (Mohammad Nafees Iqbal Khan), Bangladeshi cricketer
Nasim Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Shahid Khan Afridi, Pakistani cricketer
Salman Khan, Indian cricketer
Shahrukh Khan, Indian cricketer
Junaid Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Usman Khan Shinwari, Pakistani cricketer
Simon Khan, English golfer
Tamim Iqbal (Tamim Iqbal Khan), Bangladeshi cricketer
Younus Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Sajid Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Shadab Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Sharjeel Khan, Pakistani cricketer
Vitaly Khan, Kazakhstani freestyle swimmer
Zaheer Khan, Indian cricketer
Rocky Khan, All Blacks 7s rugby player
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan international cricketer
Zahir Khan, Afghanistan international cricketer

In science and technology

Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistani engineer, considered the founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons 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 scientist in nuclear physics, 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

Haman Khan, a prominent Gundam villain in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and the principal antagonist in its sequel Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ; and her father Maharaja Khan
Kamal Khan, the main villain in the James Bond film Octopussy
Kamala Khan, the fourth character to assume the identity of the Marvel Comics superheroine Ms. Marvel
Khan, Primus of House Aico, a game character from Paladins
Khan, character from the web series Corner Shop Show
Khan, one of the villains in the Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars computer game
Khan, a Chinese-American detective from the Khan! 1975 US television series
Manga Khan, a DC Comics character
Rizwan Khan, main character in the 2010 Bollywood film My Name Is Khan
Dark Khan, the main antagonist of the crossover video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe who is the merging between Shao Khan and DC Comics villain Darkseid
Shadow Khan, the group of villains in the animated series Jackie Chan Adventures
Shiwan Khan, a recurring enemy of The Shadow
The Mandarin, archenemy of Iron Man, whose real name is Khan, also from Marvel Comics, including the film Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Khan Noonien Singh, an antagonist in the Star Trek franchise and the titular character of the 1982 film The Wrath of Khan
Mr Khan, British Pakistani character on the British TV show Citizen Khan
Shere Khan, a treacherous tiger who is the arch-enemy of the feral boy Mowgli in Rudyard Kipling's novels The Jungle Book (1894) and The Second Jungle Book. (1895) He made appearances in the 1942, 1967, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2016, and 2018 films. He has also appeared on the TV series such as the 1989, 1998, and 2010 versions; as well as the 1990s cartoon series TaleSpin and Jungle Cubs.
Kobra Khan, a cobra-themed Snake-Man from the He-Man franchise such as the 1980 and 2002 TV series.
Khan, a firm but fair chimpanzee leader in the 2017 video game .
Yasmin "Yaz" Khan, a companion of the Thirteenth Doctor on the science fiction series Doctor Who.
Minhkhoa "Khoa" Khan, also known as Ghost-Maker is a character that appears in DC Comics. He is a vigilante and was an old friend of Bruce Wayne.

Notes and References

Web site: Foundation . Encyclopaedia Iranica . Khan . 7 December 2022 . iranicaonline.org .
Web site: HISTORY OF MY PEOPLE: The Afghan Muslims of Guyana . 2024-08-16 . www.islamawareness.net.
Web site: Top 10 most common surnames in Guyana Loop Caribbean News . 2024-08-16 . Loop News . en.
https://books.google.com/books?id=rcjmiBm8hHQC&q=khan Khan
As cited in The Baburnama, 2002, W.M. Thackston p273.
Web site: Encyclopedia Britannica. Krum | Bulgar khan | Britannica . 20 January 2022.
People of India Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hassan & J C Das page 1139 to 1141 Manohar Publications
Web site: 4 September 2020 . Kaul . Upendra . My name is Khan, and I'm Kaul . live . 11 September 2023 . https://archive.today/20230405053256/https://www.greaterkashmir.com/amp/story/todays-paper/my-name-is-khan-and-im-kaul . 5 April 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. . .
Web site: 23 February 2008 . Anwar . Bhat . Tarique . Rajesh . Kashmiryat in Kashmiri surnames . live . 11 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080226225421/https://twocircles.net/2008feb23/kashmiryat_kashmiri_surnames.html . 26 February 2008 . 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. . .
http://forebears.io/surnames/khan "Khan"
Web site: England Genealogy Resources & Parish Registers. forebears.co.uk.
News: Shakib Khan: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday . The Times of India. 30 March 2020.
Web site: Origin of 'M Khan' Graffiti . Everything2.com . 12 April 2001 . 9 June 2012.