- H.M. Balyuzi (‘The Bab The
Herald of the Day of Days’)
June 7, 2018
19th Century Persia: System used for surnames
In times past the people of Persia had no surnames, but in
many instances they were known by the name of the district, city, town, or even
the village from which they came: for example, Khurasani, Mazindarani, Tihrani,
Isfahani, and Shirazi. There were also various honorific prefixes and suffixes
by which a person was distinguished. A descendant of the Prophet Muhammad had
(and has) the prefix of 'Siyyid'. At times, 'Mirza' took the place of 'Siyyid',
and at times the two were used together. 'Mirza' by itself did not denote any
particular ancestry, except when placed after a proper name to mark royal
descent. The suffix 'Khan' served at one time as a title, but with passing
years, it became merely honorific, even meaningless, and at no time was it a
surname. The prefix 'Haji' or 'Haj' indicated then, as now, one who had made
the pilgrimage to Mecca. Mashhadi and Karbila'i, as prefixes, marked pilgrimage
to Mashhad or Karbila, but as suffixes pointed out nativity. There were also
innumerable titles conferred by the sovereign in Iran, consisting of diverse
combinations, sometimes ludicrous, sometimes grammatically impossible.
Occasionally they indicated a definite rank and profession. As time passed,
these titles multiplied absurdly, until they were swept away by legislation in
the 1920's. Finally, a person was often distinguished from others by a
combination of prefixes and suffixes attached to his name which, if omitted,
might cause him to be taken for another Person.
