A question for DUers of Armenian ethnicity:

[Redstone]

Does the last name of everyone who's Armenian end in the letters "ian?"

I've wondered about this for years, because it seems to be true. Even my girlfriend of so long ago, Mary Arabian, wasn't actually Arabian, but Armenian.

Just something I've been curious about, like if all Algerians (I've know a few) have last names that begin with the letter B.

Redstone

[Bunny]

1. Hagopian.

The last name of a good friend of mine, she was of Armenian descent.

[ZombieNixon]

2. Not Armenian myself, but many Armenian names if not most

end in 'ian.' I think it means "son of," kind of like Mc- for the Scottish or Irish.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Every one I've met has been "ian"

I've always been fascinated by it too.

Cher's part Armenian. Her real name is Cherilyn Sarkisian.

My old boss? Last name Hartounian.

[Flaxbee]

7. A friend all through jr. high and high school with a Sarkisian

She was exceptionally intelligent.

And Armenian.


edited because I first typed something that made absolutely no sense. :D

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Pretty sure.

[Tektonik]

5. Some end in -yan

[PeaceNikki]

6. Most

Everyone I know does (and I am related to Armenians)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_surnames

Typical Armenian last names (family names) end with the originally Persian suffix -ian, -yan, or sometimes -jan.

Many Armenians have other kinds of surnames. When they moved from Armenia or from the Middle East, such as to escape genocide, 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 (was Aznavourian). Other times the name was translated, as "Tashjian" becoming (approximately) "Stone". Some old Armenian family names never had a -ian suffix.