| View category for people with the Khan surname |
| Khan | |
| Variant(s): | Caan Kahn |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia: | Search Wikipedia |
Alternative Spellings[]
Xan (Chinese), Han (Turkish), Caan (Italian), Kahn (German)
Meaning/Origin[]
The family name is derived from a title meaning ruler, and having an origin in Mongol and Turkish history and language. It was a title used by rulers and nobility (sometimes spelled as xan, han). A ruler with the title of "Khan" controled a khanate. See Khan in Wikipedia.
Cultural Context[]
As a family name, Khan can have one of several connotations, all related to some extent to the root described under "Meaning" above:
- The term is used almost universally as a surname, or almost a suffix by people of Pashthoon (Pathans) ethnicity living in Afghanistan, India and bordering areas of Pakistan. In this way, it is often a synonym for Pashthoon/Pathan.
- It is also a family name for people that were bestowed the title of Khan or Khan Bahadur either by the British Raj.
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