Khan
The origin of the surname Khan
Khan is a Turkic-Mongol title, “leader” or “ruler,” widely used by Muslims across South Asia.
How Indian surnames work
Indian surnames are extraordinarily diverse, varying by region, language, religion and community. They may indicate an ancestral village or place, an occupation, a community or title (Patel, historically a village headman; Sharma; Gupta; Reddy), or a father's name; in the south, patronymics and initials are common, and Sikh names traditionally use Singh (“lion”) and Kaur (“princess”). A single surname can therefore carry deep information about origin and heritage.
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Khan mean?
The surname Khan means Leader, ruler. Khan is a Turkic-Mongol title, “leader” or “ruler,” widely used by Muslims across South Asia.
Where does the surname Khan come from?
Khan is a surname of Indian origin.
What kind of surname is Khan?
Khan is a other surname.
How common is the surname Khan in the United States?
Khan is the 665th most common surname in the United States (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 46,713 people.