Suffixes and prefixes

Typical Armenian last names (family names) end with the patronymic

Patronymic

A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...

 suffix -յան or -եան, transliterated as -ian, -yan, or sometimes -jan. Example: Petrosian. or Bakunc with a suffix of unc. So the last name "Petrosian" means "son of Petros", the Armenian form of the name Peterson.

Some Armenian last names have an additional -ts after -yan, -ian, etc., yielding -yants, -iants, etc., although that is not common. However, an "-ian" or "-yan" ending does not guarantee that a name is Armenian. It might instead be Irish, Persian, Chinese, English, Cornish, or Indian - to name but a few.

The prefix տեր Der-/Ter- (meaning "lord") is typically Armenian. It might be followed by a space or attached directly to the root. If someone possesses a surname containing "Der" or "Ter" it usually signifies that this person has a priest in the family.

It is important to note that Armenian surnames, although traditionally ending in -ian, -yan etc. are not all like this. Similarly to many foreign surnames, mistakes in translation have been made over the years and names such as Agon, Bastirma, Kraovov etc. It is best to ask the person of interest to find out if they are Armenian or not.

Root names

As in many other languages, last names in Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

 are often derived from what was historically a family's occupation. For instance, a priest might have been named Vartabetian. The first part is from the occupation, with -ian attached.

Many Armenians have other kinds of surnames. When they moved from Armenia or from the Middle East, some changed their last names to adapt better to their new societies. Sometimes the -ian or -yan ending was dropped and the root kept, such as Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...

 (was Aznavourian). Other times the name was translated, as "Tashjian" becoming (approximately) "Stone". Some old Armenian family names never had a -ian suffix.

Common Armenian surnames

• Abadjian
• Abajian
• Abalian
• Abassian
• Abbaghian
• Abdalian
• Abeghian / Apeghian
• Abovian / Apovian
• Abrahamian / Aprahamian
• Acemyan / Ajemian
• Acopian / Agopian
• Adalian
• Adamian / Atamian
• Adruni
• Aghayan
• Aghbashian
• Aghajanian
• Aghazarian
• Aghassian
• Aharonian
• Aklyan
• Aloyan
• Altunian / Altounian
• Antebian / Aintablian
• Antreasian
• Arabian
• Arakelyan / Arakelian
  Arakelian
  Arakelian is an Armenian surname that is patronymic from the personal name Arak'eal ,from the Greek translation 'appostolos' meaning apostle....
  
  
• Araradian / Araratian
• Aramian / Aramyan
• Arakelian
  Arakelian
  Arakelian is an Armenian surname that is patronymic from the personal name Arak'eal ,from the Greek translation 'appostolos' meaning apostle....
  
  
• Ardashessian / Artashessian
• Ardzivian
• Ardzruni
• Aronyan
• Aroyan
• Arshakuni / Arshaguni / Arshagunian
• Arslanian
• Artinian
• Arzumanian
• Ashjian
• Aslanyan
• Assadourian / Asatrian
• Assarian
• Assayan
• Astvadzadourian
• Atchabahian
  Atchabahian
  Atchabahian also shorted to 'Atcha', 'Bahian' or 'Atchaba', is an Armenian surname, of mixed Armenian and Iranian origin. It derives from a mixture of an old Armenian word atch, an old Persian world 'abah'...
  
  
• Avakian
  Avakian
  Avakian is an Armenian surname. It derives from the Armenian word avag, meaning "oldest", "old", or "big", perhaps signifying that a male ancestor was a prominent individual in his community...
  
  
• Avedissian / Avetisyan
  Avetisyan
  Avetisyan is an Armenian surname. People with the name include:* Arsen Avetisyan, an Armenian football player* Kamsar Avetisyan, professor of Armenian studies* Khachatur Avetisyan, an Armenian-Soviet composer...
  
  
• Avedikian
• Aviet or Avietissian
• Avtomian
• Azarian
• Azatyan / Azadian
• Azizian
• Aznavourian
• Babaian / Babayan
• Babajanian
• Baboian
• Badalian
• Bagdazarian
• Baghdadlian
• Bagratuni / Pakradouni / Pakradounian
• Balasian
• Balian
• Balikian
• Baltaian
• Bamanian
• Baronian / Paronyan
• Barsamian
• Basmajian
• Bedrosian / Petrosyan
• Belekdanian
• Berberian
  Berberian
  Berberian or Berberyan is an Armenian surname. It may refer to:*Ara Berberian , an American Bass singer*Cathy Berberian , an American Mezzo-soprano and composer*Charles Berberian, French cartoonist, collaborator of Philippe Dupuy....
  
  
• Boboian
• Bogosian
• Boyajian
• Bozian
• Bozigian
• Chakmakian
• Chilingirian
• Cholakian
• Cibrian
• Dadashian
• Dadekian
• Dadourian
• Demirjian
• Derderian
• Dermovsesian
• Deukmejian
• Deyrmenjian
• Dzaghgouni
• Djansezian
• Eghian
• Ekmekjian
• Eskandarian
  Eskandarian
  Eskandarian is the surname of:*Alecko Eskandarian , Iranian-American football player*Andranik Eskandarian , Iranian-American football player...
  
   / Iskenderian
• Esmerian
• Fanoosian
• Galoyan
• Galstyan / Galoustyan / Kalousdian
• Galstanyan
• Gambaryan
• Gamburyan
• Garabedian / Karapetyan
  Karapetyan
  Karapetyan, Karapetian or Garabedian is an Armenian surname. It can refer to the following people:- Garabedian :* Carla Garapedian, an American documentary filmmaker* Charles Garabedian, an American artist...
  
  
• Gasparyan
  Gasparyan
  Gasparyan is an Armenian surname.Gasparyan, Gasparian or Kasparyan in Eastern Armenian, or alternatively Kasparian or Kasbarian can refer to the following:-People:...
  
   / Kasbarian / Kasparian ‎
• Gazanian
• Gevorgyan
  Gevorgyan
  Gevorgyan or Gevorgian is an Armenian surname. It can refer to the following people:* Ara Gevorgyan, an Armenian musician* Artur Gevorgyan, an Armenian-American boxer* Nahapet Gevorgyan, an Armenian politician...
  
  
• Gharakhanian
• Ghazaryan
• Giragosian / Girogosian
• Gorgodian
• Grigorian / Krikorian
  Krikorian
  Krikorian is an Armenian surname. It may refer to:* David Krikorian, Cincinnati politician and Ohio congressional candidate* George Krikorian , entrepreneur* Greg Krikorian , journalist * Mark Krikorian , writer...
  
  
• Gulazarian
• Gulbenkian
• Hadjetian
• Hagopian / Hakobyan
  Hakobyan
  Hakobyan is an Armenian surname with the meaning "son of Hakob". This surname has multitudes of transliterations into Latin alphabet: Hakobian, Akobyan, Akobian, Hagopyan, Hagopian, Agopyan, Agopian, Acopyan, Acopian, Akopyan, ......
  
  
• Hakobjanian
• Haladjian
• Haroutunian
• Haroutiunian
• Harpootlian
• Hayrapetyan
• Hekimyan
• Hintlian
• Houssian
• Hovhanesian / Hovhannisian
• Hovsepian
• Isagholian
• Ishkhanian
• Istamboulian / Istanboulian
• Izmirlian
• Jalalyan
• Janikyan
• Kapoian
• Kaprielian / Gabrelyan
• Kassouni
• Karadjian
• Karapetian
• Kardashian
  Kardashian
  Kardashian is an Armenian surname. "Kardash" means 'stone' + 'carver' in Armenian and patronymic suffix "-ian".The most notable people with the surname Kardashian come from one family:First generation:...
  
  
• Kazandjian
• Keosseian
• Kezerian
• Khachadurian / Khachatourian/Khachaturian
• Khederian
• Khederlarian
• Khorozian
• Khrlakian / Kherlakian
• Kinosian
• Kirakosian / Giragosyan
• Kocharian / Kocharyan
• Koundakjian
• Kouyoumjian
• Krikorian
  Krikorian
  Krikorian is an Armenian surname. It may refer to:* David Krikorian, Cincinnati politician and Ohio congressional candidate* George Krikorian , entrepreneur* Greg Krikorian , journalist * Mark Krikorian , writer...
  
   / Grigoryan
  Grigoryan
  Grigorian or Grigoryan is an Armenian surname. It can refer to the following people:* Armen Grigoryan, a Russian rock musician* Artem Grigoryan, a Russian rugby league player* Artur Grigorian, an Uzbek boxer...
  
  
• Krjalian
• Kupelian
• Lylozian
• Mamigonian / Mamikonian
  Mamikonian
  Mamikonian, Mamikoneans, or Mamigonian was a noble family which dominated Armenian politics between the 4th and 8th century. They ruled the Armenian regions of Taron, Sasun, Bagrevand and others...
  
  
• Manoogian / Manukyan
  Manukyan
  Manukyan is an Armenian surname. It can refer to the following people:* Edward Manukyan, an Armenian-American composer* Matild Manukyan, an Armenian-Turkish businesswoman* Mkkhitar Manukyan, a Kazakhstani wrestler...
  
   / Manoukian
• Marashian
• Mardirosian / Martirosyan
• Margaryan
• Maroutian / Marutyan
• Melkonyan
• Mentsoyan
• Merdinian
• Mesdjian
• Mkhmeljian / Nazlikian
• Minassian
  Minassian
  Minassian, Ter-Minassian or Ter Minassian is a surname or Armenian origin. The prefix "Ter" indicates priesthood descent.It may refer to:*Nicolas Minassian*Rouben Ter Minassian*Medrik Minassian...
  
  
• Mkrtchyan
• Muratian / Mouradian
• Mooskian
• Mousissian
• Moutafian
• Movsesian
  Movsesian
  Movsesian or Movsesyan is an Armenian surname, meaning "son of Movses". It may refer to*Sergei Movsesian*Alexander Movsesyan...
  
  
• Musaelian
• Musayelyan
• Nakashian
• Nalbandian
  Nalbandian
  Nalbandian is an Armenian surname from նալբանդ nalband "one who makes horse shoes", which is of Persian origin, it may refer to:-People:* Armen Nalbandian, American Jazz pianist/composer* David Nalbandian, Argentine professional tennis player...
  
  
• Natlinian
• Narcessian
• Naroyan
• Nazaryan
  Nazaryan
  Nazaryan or Nazarian is an Armenian surname. It means "son of Nazar." It can refer to the following people:* Armen Nazarian, an Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler* Armen Nazaryan , an Armenian judoka...
  
  
• Nerguizian
• Ohanian
• Ohanyan
• Ourfalian
• Ovesian
• Paboojian
• Panosian / Panoosian
• Papazian
• Parisyan
• Pashian / Pashayan
• Petrosian
  Petrosian
  Petrosyan , Petrosian, Petrossian, Bedrosian or Bedrossian is one of the most common surnames in Armenia. It is a patronymic from the Armenian first name Petros .The following people share this surname:*Armenak Petrosyan , Armenian professional footballer*Giorgio...
  
  
• Poponian
• Portoian
• Reizian
• Rodnoian
• Sahakian
  Sahakian
  Sahakian or Sahakyan is a fairly common surname in Armenia originating from the patronymic Armenian equivalent to Isaac. Sahakian translates to Son of Isaac, or descendant of Isaac....
  
  
• Sandruni
• Sarafian
• Sarkisian / Sarkissian / Sargsyan
  Sargsyan
  Sargsyan , also Sarkissian or Sarkisyan, these latter two being transliterations of the Russian spelling Саркисян, is an Armenian surname...
  
  
• Saroyan
  Saroyan
  Saroyan is a family name of Armenian origin. It may refer to:* Camille Saroyan, a character in the TV series Bones* William Saroyan , Pulitzer Prize–winning American-Armenian author...
  
  
• Sasounyan / Sasounian
• Seferian
• Seropian
• Sevan
• Sevhonkian
• Sibrian
• Simonyan
• Skendarian
• Stepanyan
• Suzmeian/Suzmeyan
• Tachdjian
• Takoushian
• Tankian
• Torigian
• Taslakian
• Tateossian
• Tatilian
• Tatiossian
• Tavitian
  Tavitian
  Tavitian is a Romanian surname of:* Bernard Tavitian* Harry Tavitian , Romanian jazz pianist and singer...
  
  
• Topalian
• Torossian
• Toumanian
• Tufenkian
• Tumanyan
• Yardumian
• Yeterian
• Vartoogian
• Vratsyan
• Virabyan
• Vosgrichian
• Yeghiayan
• Yeghiazarian
• Yerevanian
• Zadian
  Zadian
  -External links:*...
  
  
• Zeitunian / Zeitunlian / Zentuntsian
• Zildjian
• Ziririan
• Zornakyan